Official Notice: The Village Board of Athens, NY has scheduled a public hearing for January 18th, 2023 at 6:30pm at the Athens Firehouse located at 39 Third St. The purpose of the hearing is to obtain citizens’ views and comments relative to the submission of an application to Empire State Development for financial assistance under the Restore NY Communities initiative. This project includes a plan to develop the property as an entity tentatively named the Athens Riverine Living Museum and Education Center. The following property will be submitted for consideration: 133 N. Washington Street, Athens, NY, 12015. 8000 Sq. feet of commercial property proposed for RH (rehabilitation) currently owned by the Scenic Hudson Land Trust, LLC.
A bit of background: This project will celebrate Athens’ riverine heritage and help us prepare for our future in the face of climate change. It will contribute to Athens’ on-going revitalization and attract people and businesses.
The project site is a 6-acre property with 1000 ft of Hudson River shoreline. It contains a vacant 8000 SF warehouse that will be repurposed as a river-related museum and educational center. The project will model sustainability in the natural and built environments. Project partners include the Hudson River Maritime Museum, Columbia-Greene Community College and Scenic Hudson Land Trust, LLC (property owner). Potential project participants also include the Hudson River Historic Boat Restoration & Sailing Society, Schooner Apollonia, Hudson Sloop Club, Hudson River Ice Yacht Club, Riverkeeper, Greene County Historian and the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse.
Athens residents may recall that this property was on track to become a construction and demolition debris processing facility in early 2020.
Please join us to learn more about this project.
Looking forward to this.
This is wonderful news, and hopefully will encourage people to participate in blocking unwanted blight in our community.
Yay, community action!