The Hudson Development Corporation (HDC) is a private, non-profit organization with a mission to promote business investment and development opportunities within the City of Hudson. On Thursday, August 17th, they conducted a one-hour tour of the John L. Edwards Elementary School building, currently for sale by its owner, the Hudson City School District.
I attended the tour with HDC Board members, community members, and my friend, neighbor, and colleague, Jennifer Belton. Both of us are running for the Fourth Ward Council members seats (currently unopposed) for next year.
Christine Jones, President of the Board of the HDC said, “Our mission is to promote business and jobs for Hudson. We have been reviewing the Feasibility Study that the city commissioned in 2019 and we think it makes a lot of sense for Hudson.”
In 2019, the City of Hudson commissioned a feasibility study to turn John L. Edwards into a Hudson Civic Center. Here is the link to the study.
There is another tour of the building on Thursday, August 24th at 10am. Meet outside the building. However, I do not recommend the tour for everyone. The building has been empty for years, and the air is still and heavy to breathe.
The cafeteria and gymnasium are impressive examples of mid-century architecture, all with views of the surrounding woods. The building, built in 1963, includes a Fallout Shelter, protected by cement and cinder blocks.
Is that a Hobart dough mixer a certain Hudson cookie maven could have been using to scale up cookie production for the past two years?
I have been saying since BEFORE this place closed, ( I worked there, and both of my children attended there) – Local Govt Offices or Temporary Housing. Why the City drags feet on issues like this is beyond me.
Why is it that adequate, affordable day care is never mentioned when housing, new forms of “urban renewal ” , and development are discussed on a regular basis?
The Hudson Day Care Center was forced to close do to structure issues caused by rain water seeping in over several years.
It’s time that the city’s most vulnerable citizens, our children, our considered and ” have a place at the table ” .