CONNECT

What's going on Madame Brett Park?

I know there is a planned development there. Is it underway? They have started tearing down the buildings.

Comment

Comment by Ben Royce on August 5, 2011 at 12:34pm: You have a right to your opinion, here's mine:

1. not preserving historical buildings

2. zoning for residential in a lot completely unsuitable for it

Preserve the buildings, and put in institutional/ business zoning. THAT'S intelligent development. What is currently happening in the middle of Madam Brett park, is dumb, and wrong.

That's my opinion, you don't have to like it, but I back up my opinion with the following observations that I don't think anyone with a cognizance of intelligent development would disagree with: you NEED to preserve and resue historical structures and you NEED to understand the location and surroundings and pick the right zoning. Does anyone disagree with that?

So it is a complete failure here, at this site, on both counts, by the city and the developer, in my mind.

Just my opinion.

Comment by Bud Siegel on August 4, 2011 at 5:58pm: The City has tried for years to get the owner of this property to commit to a multi-use development on this parcel consistent with Beacon's comprehensive plan. Now those goals look like they will be achieved (fingers crossed). We should all applaud the zoning and planning boards and the city council for their hard work in making this project move forward in a way we all will benefit from.

Comment by Ben Royce on August 4, 2011 at 3:43pm: Charlie:

I've been booed for enthusiastically embracing the T.O.D., so my thoughts and motivations are not quite as you portray them. I run by these structures 2-3x a week for years, and some are fit only to be torn down, but a few definitely aren't. And anything that might be built in their place, if not exactly a plastic McMansion, is pretty much the same thing in spirit compared to what is being lost.

I'm attached to Beacon's history and it's historical structures. If you must pillory me for this sentiment, go ahead. But if you understood why you think the way I do, I think you'll find a motivation here that has a lot to with what is good for beacon, in anyone's estimation

development: yes, absolutely. but INTELLIGENT development. presently, the location just seems dumb, really dumb, for anything residential, in the middle of a park, practically inaccessible under the railroad bridge. i hope they rebuild tioronda bridge though. and mean REBUILD the HISTORICAL structure

Comment by Ben Royce on August 3, 2011 at 9:05am: "crappy spaces and the property would be improved without these structures"

wow

Comment by Bud Siegel on August 2, 2011 at 7:06pm: Here is a conversation that will mean nothing to the planning and zoning boards and to the people of Beacon. But let me just make a final comment. These are not historic buildings as far as I know. They are crappy spaces and the property would be improved without these structures. And what McMansions and strip malls in Beacon are you talking about? There must be an alternative universe that I'm not privy to. I don't think the plans for this property include any of that.

Comment by Ben Royce on August 2, 2011 at 6:10pm: the "unusued and crumbling buildings" are what makes beacon beacon. tear them down, you remove what makes beacon interesting. we've already lost too many historic buildings, i don't want to lose anymore. i want to see them preserved and resurrected. i don't want yet more mcmansions and strip malls. i think many in beacon agree with me

Comment by Bud Siegel on August 2, 2011 at 5:30pm: From what I hear, people tried to discourage those that took a run down drug infested east main street and fixed it as nice as it is today, using much the same language. I wish we would all encourage viisionaries to take down unusued and crumbling buildings and repurpose those spaces with nice residences and commercial uses that help us all on the tax front here in Beacon. This seems like a project that fits the bill to me.

Comment by Ben Royce on August 2, 2011 at 4:34pm: I'm not saying making out is comparable to drug use, and I'm also not denying the drug use in the park should be stopped.

But from a sales perspective, drug use, make outs... constant joggers, hikers, fisherman congregating... off in an isolated corner of Beacon as your only neighbors: not a real estate plus.

I honestly don't think it's a good place for residential development. Sell the property to Scenic Hudson, or have some sort of business or institution.

I'm just talking about what is a suitable use for the property because of it's placement.

Comment by Henry on July 29, 2011 at 10:52pm: Make out sessions? This is a bad thing? What is this...Mayberry ?

Comment by Bud Siegel on July 29, 2011 at 6:22pm: I'm not sure what it says about Beacon to say that it is not functional to develop private property because treaspassing and drug use won't stop.