Demolition Update

The disassembly of the brick buildings on North Front Street next to the Fugary Boat Club continues, and the prediction is that the connector building and the north building will be gone by the end of the week. But there is hopeful news for the south building--the one that has been determined to be structurally sound.

The south building had been scheduled to be demolished in April, but I learned today that Eleanor Ambos--owner of the Pocketbook Factory and the Allen Street School--has gotten involved and is working to persuade Bentley Meeker, whom she knows, to keep that building standing. Of course, with the other two buildings gone, a major impediment to developing the site--lack of parking--has been eliminated, and with the $14 million upgrade to the City's waste water treatment plant soon to begin, another major impediment to development--odor from the treatment plant--may also be alleviated.

In the meantime, there are wonderful salvaged building materials for sale at the site. Douglas fir and heart pine flooring--all pegged, so there are no nails--and heart pine columns--8-foot columns selling for $30 a piece; 12-foot columns for between $30 and $55 each. If you have need for such materials, it would be great to keep these things in Hudson.