A three-hour tour
A Clearwater-load of activists takes on Kingston's ambitious waterfront development plans

by Sasha Sittner Kingston Times May 19, 2005

A 25 percent increase in population in Kingston; a significant change in the Mid-Hudson Valley view shed caused by some 2,580 housing units built up six stories high along the Kingston riverfront; the potential for destruction of natural habitat and fear of a hefty tax burden placed upon residents of Kingston. These issues and others have rallied a growing coalition of local, regional and national groups into taking action, resulting in a firm set of recommendations to take to developers that may shape the future of this city.
The neophyte organization dubbed Friends of the Kingston Waterfront (FKW) enjoys the participation of an alphabet soup of groups: Friends of Rondout, Friends of Historic Kingston, Hudson River Heritage, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Riverkeeper, Sustainable Hudson Valley, Scenic Hudson and the Sierra Club. Last Saturday FKW hosted a trip down the Hudson River aboard the legendary sloop Clearwater to educate the public about the proposed waterfront developments and outline their recommendations.
Saturday morning started out with low grumbles of thunder and threats of precipitation falling on the heads of the guests and crew of the Clearwater, so many came equipped with rain gear. Ilfra Halley, who grew up on the Rosebud reservation among the Lakota Sioux, performed an ancient ceremonial song, shaking a rattle to accompany her sonorous voice to call in the directions and open the trip down the river.
After Halley's opening song the captain of the Clearwater issued a firm warning to be careful of the boom because "it will swing around and if you don't watch it will connect with your head like a bat to a baseball." The assembled then gingerly walked the plank and the journey began.
"There's a scary example of what could happen up north," said Ray Curran of Scenic Hudson as he waved a hand over the condos dotting the waterfront of Port Ewen's Hudson Harbor development. The development provides a sharp contrast to the rolling hills and mature forests, breaking up the green vistas along the Hudson River. He continued, "They've razed all natural vegetation in the area in selling a view." The Hudson Harbor development is composed of 89 units, whereas the proposed Tilcon site, known as The Landing, will contain 2,200 units on 524 acres and the former brickyard site - dubbed Sailor's Cove - will consist of 360 units taking up 78 acres. The combined area of impact will be roughly 25 times the size of Hudson Harbor.
"We're not anti-growth, but we're pro-smart growth," said Elizabeth Ryan of Hudson River Heritage, a group that began 30 years ago and has a legal designation as steward of the Hudson River National Historic Landmark District. Ryan said that her organization wanted to lend its support, and has filed for a review by the federal government to assess the impacts of the two projects.
"In a sense we are victims of our own success; we have done such a spectacular job of greening up the region but it has made the area desirable to developers," said Ryan. She shared her concerns about the eagles that nest in the area, drinking water issues and the developers' refusal to address impacts on the communities across the river. Ryan stressed that she is "terribly concerned with the rate of change." She continued," The rate of development is overwhelming these communities; it's so fast people don't have time to deal with it."
Ryan spoke of alternatives, saying that there are smart-growth groups in every town in the region that are "diverse in makeup. It's a shared concern that cuts across most demographics." Most members of the groups participating in Saturday's informational cruise stressed that they are not necessarily anti-growth - but they each reiterated the opinion that there needs to be a full study of the impacts the developments would pose as well as a plan in place to reduce those impacts.

TOO MANY UNITS
FKW's stance is that the Kingston projects have "too many housing units; they violate the unique character of Kingston and of the Mid-Hudson Valley and the projects imperil natural habitat and limit public access." The group recommends that the number of housing units be reduced by more than half, and maintains that this is not an arbitrary designation but rather the limit as to how much impact the community can tolerate. The considerable size of the projects will add significant traffic to streets that are already overburdened and will affect the sewage treatment plant, utilities and schools, said the group in forecasting that the needed upgrades will result in a major tax burden on current residents. Many participants said they feel that because the developers are planning to sell to New York City commuters and retirees that the community won't see much of a return on its investment.
FKW is also asking that the developments "reflect the character of Kingston and of the Hudson River Valley." Many of the neighborhoods in Kingston are configured in a traditional grid-type of network. The proposed developments will be a series of cul-de-sacs that, according to FKW, may isolate the residents. Ann Loeding of Friends of Rondout said, "The cul-de-sac doesn't in any way reflect the character of the surrounding area; it's its own little community full of pods." She said that what FKW is asking for is more of a grid pattern. "We want something that really reflects the tradition and history of Kingston."
FKW recommends that a smaller development, one that would integrate the architectural details and overall character of existing neighborhoods, would help maintain the historical feel of the waterfront.
The group also advises that the developments include provisions that will "protect the natural habitat and provide significant public access." Manna Jo Greene, who organized the trip, became involved with the Clearwater organization and efforts to protect the ecology of the region starting ten years ago. "I don't think that the city has adequately assessed the ridge and the waterfront," she said. "How many [developments] can we endure without disrupting the beauty and integrity of the area? Our stake is in keeping those two areas as intact as possible." Greene also said she's hoping that what is eventually developed in the area will be constructed with sustainable materials. She said she built her home using green building methods and reduced her fuel costs by 80 percent.
"They haven't made provisions for people to just hang out," said Loeding. "We're going to need park space - concentrated park space rather than just itty bitty little park space in a few spots."
Curran presented illustrations of the site as developers have proposed it; the developments snake up and down the mile-and-a-half of riverfront in a dense knot. Some housing units fill up craters resulting from mining done at the turn of the century. Curran then took out plans that showed an overview of the modifications that FKW plans to present to the developers. These showed larger swaths of green than the developers' versions, with the steep slopes and ridges left open and undeveloped. Curran's mock-ups also provided for a wider greenway that would be set along the river's edge.
Curran said that recently developments seem to popping up all over the region: "There has been a terrific interest in the Hudson Valley since 9/11," he said, adding that while interest had been building prior to that fateful date, with city-based people moving into the area and commuting to the city via the railway, the climate of fear in the post-9/11 era prompted many more to become either second homeowners or commuters. He described the mentality of many city dwellers as being: "Hey, I could do that." He said that in addition to the commuters, the second population that developers are continuously talking about is a generation of retirees who have either become disenchanted with the idea of being snowbirds or who merely want to stay closer to home.
Regardless of what groups may be coming to the Mid-Hudson region, many are concerned that the huge developments will obscure the beauty that initially draws people to the area.

WHAT'S A VIEWSCAPE WORTH?
Avery Smith, president of Friends of Historic Kingston, referenced a news story trumpeting the sale at Sotheby's of Asher Durand's Hudson River School Kindred Spirits painting for a record price.
"You can't attach a value to landscapes," he said. "Asher Durand's painting just sold for $35 million. I don't know what a viewscape is worth, but it is certainly significant." Smith brought up tourism as well. He said that historically tourism has sustained Kingston through some of the lean years. Many visit the $35 million-worthy landscapes of the region and funnel money into the area throughout the summer months. Smith's angle was that if development alters the landscape, tourism may suffer. Ryan also spoke about the region's classification as a tourist area.
"There is an extraordinary sense of history; the area has a huge opportunity to support its sense of place and see itself as a huge asset to market and not just give it away." Indeed, as Loeding admonished the group, "If the city doesn't hear from us, they're not going to think we care." She stressed the importance of attending planning board meetings and hearings concerning the developments in order to open the discourse and offer public opinion.
As the Clearwater headed back to Rhinecliff, Molly Shubert of Scenic Hudson instructed the group to "take one last look back; here's an opportunity to take a look at that area of proposed development." The greater meaning of her words was not lost on the crowd.

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