Community News

The Newburgh Preservation Association posed six questions regarding preservation issues to all candidates for Newburgh City Council. Due to the relevance of the questions to the mission of the Historical Society of Newburgh and her preservation partners in the city of Newburgh, the Society has agreed to post the questions and answers from ALL candidates on this website. The candidates have been asked to respond to the questions by September 1, 2009. The Historical Society will post all answers received by September 2, 2009. If the candidate answers the questions after that date, the answers will be posted within 24 hours of receipt.

The opinions and answers expressed by the candidates are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands. The inclusion of the survey and answers on the Historical Society’s website does not constitute endorsement by the Historical Society of any candidate or the information, opinions and answers expressed therein.

Please respond to each of these questions with a statement(s) of as long as you wish:

How important to you is the preservation of Newburgh’s historic buildings and landscape and why?

Angelo: The emphasis on our historic district containing many architecturally important buildings is a way of more effectively protecting our landmarks. Preserving our substantial architectural heritage would eventually help create Newburgh into a huge tourist attraction. Actually, I have served on the City Council for many years, and I can truly say I am probably the only elected official who continually fought demolition and worked for continual preservation and saving the historic district with many of our beautiful homes.

Cracolici/Dickinson: Look at our neighbor Beacon across the river to see how important historic preservation is. Visit Main Street in Beacon and see buildings brought back to life by investors and business owners. We all want the same for Broadway. Newburgh architecture is better than that of Beacon, and Newburgh will be an even more beautiful city with so many citizens involved restoration.

Mejia: Preserving our historic buildings and landscape is not only aesthetically important but it can also serve as a powerful engine for economic growth. As such, the preservation, redevelopment and productive reuse of our significant inventory of historic structures is a top priority for me not only as a potential elected official but most importantly as a resident of the City. One of the reasons we chose to relocate to the City of Newburgh was precisely because of the wealth of historically significant buildings in the area. Newburgh has the potential of becoming a major tourism mecca in the Hudson Valley that could generate significant employment opportunities and support more small business creation. The City of Newburgh is poised for greatness (it has been for a while), but we’ve lacked the political leadership of individuals willing to set aside personal goals and work towards a more dynamic, forward-looking vision of economic development that marries historic preservation with workforce and small business development.

Please tell us about places where you have lived or visited that have inspired you. How did those places utilize their historic buildings to further the cause of economic development?

Angelo: Places that I have visited are Montreal, Canada; Spain and Italy. Most foreign cities that I have visited utilize the value of their historic past. Newburgh has tried to do this. Our old city courthouse is now the Heritage Center. The former Newburgh Savings Bank has become another museum, the Karpeles Museum. The Dutch Reformed Church is being worked on and eventually will become a performing arts center or whatever the hard working committee decides it to be—possibly an opera house or it may be utilized by the library for many of its sophisticated programs.

Also, the Ritz Theatre is in the process of revitalization and many programs are being held in the lobby while work goes on. The former firehouse at the foot of Broadway has now become a wonderful photo studio. Let us not forget about the Broadway School. It was my recommendation to utilize it for our new city court.

Cracolici: I’m a Newburgher born and bred, a graduate of NFA who started his own business at a young age. So I haven’t had the same travel experiences that some of the other candidates have had. But I know the Hudson Valley and see what draws students and tourists to New Paltz. I know the changes that have taken place in Brooklyn and Harlem over the past 20 years. A lot of young families are spending almost a million dollars to buy a renovated row house in Harlem. They can have the same quality building and rental income here for a quarter of the price. I can’t finish answering this question without mentioning my travel in Sicily. That beautiful island works at preserving its historic character and streetscapes. If the Dutch Reformed Church were in Palermo, folks would be praying in it. Newburgh can learn a lot from historic Sicily.

Dickinson: I too was born and raised in Newburgh and had my first child here. Working in the school system for 29 years, I have experienced the city at its best and envision what it can become. Early in my marriage I had the opportunity to live in Greece for two years because my husband was in the military and stationed in Crete. Greece is the leader in honoring the past while adapting to current needs.

Mejia: Places that I’ve visited and which have made a lasting impression because of their efforts to utilize preservation efforts as an engine of economic development include Old San Juan in Puerto Rico; Quebec, Canada; Merida, Mexico; Antigua, Guatemala; and Bangkok, Thailand. While each of these cities face unique social, economic, cultural and political challenges they are all striving to preserve their history and architecture while creating a robust tourism industry that creates jobs and opportunities for local residents.

Would you support Planning / Zoning Board / ARC changes that would ensure that new in-fill structures are compatible with the surrounding original structures?

Angelo: Yes, I have always and will continue to support our Planning, Zoning, and Architectural Review Boards in their decisions. Actually, the Architectural Review Commission was a proposal from our first Democratic Administration Council and we also voted to extend the boundaries of our historic district. This was done between 1972-1979.

Cracolici: Ever since my first term on the Council I have spoken out for “one stop” service at the Building Department so that people undertaking a project in Newburgh are given the best available advice and don’t waste any time in starting and finishing their project.

Dickinson: It’s nice that the new construction we’re seeing (along Robinson Ave., for example) looks a lot like the surrounding “old” buildings. Even The Mount understands this. The renovated apartment buildings along Powell were designed to fit in with the traditional architecture of the historic district. The Mount’s new dorm on Liberty is an excellent example of an old city recognizing changing needs without losing its distinctive flavor. We’re glad you bring up the Planning/Zoning Board/ARC all in the same sentence.

Dickinson: Washington’s Headquarters right here in Newburgh is where victory in the American Revolution was declared. This Newburgh treasure became the birthplace of historic preservation in the U.S. when New York State acquired it in 1850. We have a duty to pass these stories to our children.

Mejia: Yes – it is extremely important that the city encourage infill that complements our existing urban fabric.

What improvements would you like to see in how the City interacts with the design, building and development community as well as with building owners & tenants, regarding maintenance and improvement to their properties?

Angelo: The city needs a stronger Code Enforcement Department. The city should implement a Design Review Committee. Design guidelines may be only advisory or they may carry various incentives. In some cases where they are mandatory, their requirements must be complied with. A section of the guidelines would describe the important visual characteristics of the existing buildings and environment that should be considered.

Cracolici/Dickinson: We think two months is a long time to wait for a permit on repairs a homeowner wants to do on his house. The interaction between the property owner and the building department has to maximize improving the whole city. It’s good to see that the Chapman Steamer fire house on Dubois at South is being developed. Another project that will make us proud is the restoration that is almost finished on Liberty Street near Farrington. Previous owners came to the city for a zoning variance and were turned down. Now that the zoning map has been reviewed and some blocks are designated R2, a lot of important work is going on. Too many of these buildings we would like to preserve don’t make financial sense as a single family. People can’t afford to restore them or maintain them. The city has to always be on the lookout for ways that contribute to the success of the city as a whole.

Mejia: In order to foster and sustain development and growth, our City needs to have strong, clear processes by which owners, tenants, and potential developers interact with the different agencies in our City. We need clear and more streamlined permitting processes for potential developers, homeowners and renters. I am also committed to reforming our building department to ensure that our code enforcement practices and strategies are modernized and that DPW, Planning and Development, Code Enforcement and our Police Department our working in sync with one another.

With so many buildings being taken back for non payment of taxes and other houses being foreclosed on by banks, what processes would you envision the City instituting for getting these properties back on the tax rolls?

Angelo: The city has crafted a 3-part property disposition plan that will include an auction soon to be held on October 1, 2009, at 11:00 AM at the Homewood Suites by Hilton, 180 Breunig Rd. located at Newburgh-Stewart airport, some properties by sealed bid, and other development areas as Request for Proposals.

Disposition methods are scheduled to come to fruition in September 2009. Habitat has also been deeply involved with the numerous properties the City Council has voted to give to this wonderful organization. To date 36 properties have been restored and how have tax paying families living in them. A joint proposal and agreement between Habitat and Leyland Developers is being built on East Parmenter Street. $7.8 million dollars has been brought into the city through Habitat’s efforts.

Cracolici: When I was on the Council I begged to be put on the Property Disposition Committee. I’ve always believed a business approach is the best way to handle city-owned property which means that you sell to buyers who have the proven financial ability to rehab. The Building Department needs to guide these buyers carefully, spell out the steps they need to follow, and monitor their progress so they have a CO by the deadline. The city has to have a strong reverter policy in place and not hesitate to act in the best interests of all residents. Each property that the city hangs on to hoping to get a high price two or three years down the road means it has to pay the County and School taxes on it and is also losing the city taxes it could be collecting if the property were back on the tax rolls. Plus, DPW has to board up the building and maintain it. The NPD has to protect it from vandalism. The NFD has to prevent its loss from an accidental fire. Meanwhile it continues to deteriorate from age and the elements.

Dickinson: A lot of our streets are shabby and look bad because the city owns too much property. We have to be not only concerned with preservation, but also with rebuilding. What belongs on all these empty lots?

Cracolici: A business approach would look at the cost/benefit ratio of holding on to these properties vs expediting their sale and development. It was shocking to see the HUD audit report and how CDBG money was used. To this day the city is not making an effort to recover the money owed by the waterfront developer.

Speaking of a business approach. Why did the City Council sell a building for $1 and buy it back for $150,000? How much will the Council get for this building at auction on October 1st? I voted against buying this building back when I was on the Council.

Dickinson: I was not on the Council when this purchase was made but I certainly would have voted against it.

One more thing about foreclosures, especially in this current economy. The city didn’t need to hire someone to sell its property. It needed to hire someone to give owners losing their homes strategies for coping and continuing ownership. Why turn a home owner into a renter and then sponsor an expensive program to increase home ownership?

Mejia:I strongly support the creation of a Community Land Trust and will work towards creating one in Newburgh by convening organizations and community groups working towards creating decent housing for Newburgh residents. We also need to work towards modernizing the city’s zoning ordinances to enable the conversion of large dilapidated buildings into cooperatives, artist live/work space and other appropriate mixed-use facilities. I would also look to partner with our key institutional engines of growth like the colleges and hospital to encourage more workforce housing for their employees. Efforts should also be made by the City and local organizations to work with owners to prevent foreclosures and increase opportunities for renters to become homeowners.

What local, regional and state planning and development organizations should Newburgh reach out to for advice and assistance in its economic development?

Angelo: The following local, regional, and state planning and development organizations that Newburgh should reach out to are Orange County Planning Department, Patterns for Progress, Orange County Economic Development Corporation, Federal Housing and Development Corporation, New York State Planning Federation, Preservation League of New York State, Empire Zone, Foreign Trade Zone.

Cracolici/Dickinson: Employees in City Hall know all the county, state, and federal grant sources.

Newburgh needs to improve its track record using grant money. Too much of it was returned when the last full time city manager was in office because projects weren’t finished or matching funds the city said it had on hand it didn’t.

Mejia: Elected officials must play a more proactive role in shaping policies at the County and State level and engaging not only state planning and development organizations- but also key elected officials—including the Governor’s Office as well as our local and state Congressional and Senatorial representatives. Regionally, the City of Newburgh needs to more proactively engage with the NY Port Authority in their ongoing redevelopment of Stewart International Airport. We also need to work more effectively with the Orange County Transportation department to ensure that we rebuild an effective public transportation system in the city. The City should also look to work more creatively with state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and it’s Office of Policy, Economics, and Innovation; the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and the Department of Transportation. These agencies have recently launched a “Sustainable Communities Initiative” from which the City could significantly benefit. Finally, our City should explore more innovative partnerships with national networks, coalitions and organizations such as the National Vacant Properties Campaign, Smart Growth America and the Congress for New Urbanism.

Cracolici/Dickinson: Thanks for asking us to share our philosophy of government with you!