via Poughkeepsie Journal, 1/18/2012
Plans for urban renewal in the City of Poughkeepsie this year will include waterfront development and the demolition of the long-abandoned Nelson House on Market Street.
Mayor John Tkazyik addressed a crowd of about 150 Tuesday night at the annual State of the City address at City Hall.
“I will join with the county executive in a proposal for this contaminated structure of mold, asbestos and water damage to be razed and replaced with a multi-use structure, including desperately needed parking and office space,” he said.
Speaking of what he said was a “growing list” of vacant properties from people abandoning their homes, Tkazyik said he and County Executive Marc Molinaro would collaborate in forming a plan to develop Market Street into a “two-way thoroughfare” to enhance business and improve access to city and county buildings.
The mayor also announced the formation of a comprehensive waterfront development plan with funding from the Dyson Foundation. The plan, he said, would integrate the southern waterfront with Kaal Rock Park, Waryas Park, the Children’s Museum, the Hoffman House, the Walkway Over the Hudson and other waterfront properties.
The city will also take a closer look at mass transit services, Tkazyik said.
“It is incumbent upon us to reduce administrative costs and end the subsidy that the general fund is transferring to transit on an annual basis,” Tkazyik said, adding the city would look into the possible elimination of redundant bus routes.
Other plans include making structural improvements to the Walkway Over the Hudson and the installation of an elevator on the Highland side.
After leading a moment of silence for slain City of Poughkeepsie Police Detective John Falcone, who was killed in the line of duty last February, Tkazyik said city crime was down in certain areas.
Excluding fourth quarter reports, he said, data indicated a decrease from six homicides in 2010 to five in 2011, a decrease of robberies from 127 in 2010 to 87 in 2011 and a drop in the number of aggravated assaults from 224 to 155.