Letter to Mr. Ward, CEO of CSX - Requesting Your Assistance in Addressing a Piece of Csx Owned Property in the City of Hudson, Ny.

Letter

I am writing to request your assistance in addressing a piece of CSX owned property in the City of Hudson, NY. Though small in size and importance to the railroad, the parcel is key to a major development project that could transform Hudson's waterfront area.

The Hudson Development Corporation (HDC) is the local development corporation whose mission is to sustain, promote and attract projects that improve economic opportunities for businesses and residents, create jobs and enhance the quality of life in the City of Hudson.

The HDC, and the City of Hudson, is partnering with Sustainable Community Associates to bring a $25 million dollar mixed-use project to the former KAZ warehouse site on Front Street in Hudson, just southeast of Amtrak's Hudson Station. The proposed development calls for:

· Residential Space: A mix of 67 one- and two-bedroom units with varied layouts

· Modern Co-working Facility: Offered for independent contractors, startups, and self-employed people to have a flexible work environment, conference rooms, services and printing, without the cost of a full office

· Commercial Space: 24,600 square feet of space (including co-working) centered on retail designed to serve the local community, as well as office space with a focus on job creation

· Live/Work: The proposal includes 10 live/work spaces suitable for businesses smaller than a storefront on Warren Street, but requiring first-floor frontage

An important component of this project is the acquisition of a small CSX owned parcel. Obtaining ownership of this parcel allows for the critical Front Street frontage for businesses and access points for public infrastructure, including roads and sidewalks.

Beginning in February 2015, HDC has made consistent efforts to communicate with the CSX's Real Estate Office in Jacksonville, Florida. With almost two years of outreach resulting in dead-end communication, little constructive feedback, and no formal response from CSX, the City's largest redevelopment project since the 1980s has effectively come to a halt.

The CSX parcel, located immediately south of 60 Front Street, contains one small building that is used infrequently as a "crew shack" when doing switching operations on the sidings a half a block away. The developer, Sustainable Community Associates, has proposed a one-acre land-swap, which would replace the current CSX parcel with a one acre parcel directly on the CSX rail siding.

This parcel is of little significance to your great railroad, but it is of tremendous consequence to the people of the City of Hudson and the ambitious plans to redevelop this historic Hudson River city. I ask that you please give your attention to the matter and instruct your Real Estate Office to engage HDC in discussions to try and make this property available for this worthy project.

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