Beacon's Mayor: Addressing Varied Challenges Vital
One of those thriving municipalities is the City of Beacon in Dutchess County, where Scenic Hudson has played a pivotal role in attracting the world class Dia:Beacon modern art gallery. The city also is home to Scenic Hudson's most innovative undertaking, the transformation of a pollution-blighted 23-acre site into a model "green waterfront."
This willingness to promote appropriate mixed-use development is one of Scenic Hudson's defining characteristics, according to City of Beacon Mayor Clara Lou Gould.
"We didn't need another waterfront park," Ms. Gould said. "We told Scenic Hudson we wanted a working waterfront, and they listened and respected our wishes. People sometimes criticize Scenic Hudson for taking a long time to get things done, but it takes time to do things correctly, and that's how Scenic Hudson works." |
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Esopus Supervisor: Parks and Economic Progress Matter
This diversity and the subsequent improvement in quality of life also were cited by Ray Rice, supervisor of the Town of Esopus. "Scenic Hudson and the town have been 'preservation partners' for the past decade, and we've created five terrific public parks. Hundreds of acres of open space have been saved for future generations, and the increased tourism has boosted the economic development of our town and improved the quality of life of our residents," Mr. Rice said.
But such improvement can have a downside. "It's also causing tremendous development pressures, which makes it imperative that Scenic Hudson continue assisting communities like ours with rational conservation." |
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Business Leader Notes Role in Cement Plant Fight
The most pressing development issue for Scenic Hudson involves the coal-burning cement plant and mining operation proposed for the City of Hudson in Columbia County. Scenic Hudson's coalition-building approach in this opposition campaign has fostered support in the business community.
Richard Katzman, CEO of home appliance manufacturer Kaz, Inc., one of the largest employers in Columbia County, said, "I am personally opposed to the St. Lawrence Cement project because it is drastically out of scale in terms of pollution and impacts on community character.
It would be an overwhelming heavy industrial area in the middle of light industry, retail, agriculture and tourism. This would harm the health of the community as well as hurt existing businesses without generating any significant economic benefit."
Mr. Katzman noted that Scenic Hudson has a great deal of credibility because "they do not take blind 'green' positions but rather have consistently looked for the best ways of accomplishing responsible economic development." Continued... |
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