Spirit Of Beacon Day Opens Web Shop For T-Shirts & Hats As They Come Out Of Hibernation

The Spirit of Beacon Day Committee has been a little quiet since the whirlwind event production that was the Spirit of Beacon’s 45th Day last September 25th, 2022. Doing all they could to coordinate the day so that it wouldn’t crack, the Committee immediately went back to their jobs in teaching, designing, grocery storing, coaching, writing, and everything else free spirits do to pay the bills in Beacon and beyond.

With Shipping and Free Pickup now in place, the Spirit of Beacon Committee has opened their web shop for online orders of the t-shirts and hats - while supplies last! Free Pickup is an option for locals. In true Beacon fashion for a new business or enterprise, the Open Hours for pickup are selective and read like an Onion article: “Hours for pickup are varied and not consistent. Generally range from 12-2pm on the weekday, and sometimes on the weekend. For Free Pickup, please email spiritofbeacon@gmail.com after you order to see when Katie (the Spirit of Beacon Committee President) is at the co-work desk to give you your order. Alternatively, she will email you. Or find your place of residence to put it in your mailbox and disappear.”

The logo was designed by Kim Dei Dolori, and t-shirts designed by Allie Bopp. Design direction for all from Katie James, Inc. The hats were produced by Joker Ink, and the shirts produced by Remark Printing.

Will the t-shirts be a new color this year? Who knows! Only you can get the original design now. And sport that hat. Click here to shop now.

Eviction Timeline Uncertain at 925 Wolcott Ave, As is Tenant's Possible Work/Trade/Board Agreement With Landlord When Served With Eviction

Evictions look different than this house debris at 925 Wolcott. An eviction of a person, group of people or family looks like all of their stuff outside on the sidewalk. Their vacuum cleaner, washer and dryer maybe, boxes of stuffed animals and clothes. Sometimes these items are soggy and wet after days of sitting outside in the rain.

Soggy stuff on the front lawn and sidewalk is what it looked like when a recent Beacon elementary school student’s family was evicted days before the holidays. Their things were outside for the entire community to see.

The day before their eviction, the student’s playmates asked them at the end of the school day: “Can you play tomorrow?” The student answered: “I don’t know. My mom says that we are moving tomorrow if we can’t find a new place today.” The students accepted the answer at face value, while the parents who heard the student’s answer doubted the precise nature of it. Perhaps the student was parroting an exasperated claim by their parents. Wishfull thinking.

The next day, the student’s family’s things were indeed on the sidewalk, looking like this house debris in the picture above, but in the reverse. The house was in tact, but their stuff looked like debris.

Note: To answer a reader’s question: This story is an example of what an eviction can look like. It is not illustrating the burning of this house by a former tenant on the day of his own eviction hearing. The rest of that story is below.

Note: To answer a reader’s question: it is unknown if the owner of the student’s house and the owner of 925 Wolcott Avenue are the same owner. This story is to illustrate an eviction, and what that looks like from an owner’s house perspective that is standing with their tenant’s personal possessions outside, and an owner’s house that has been destroyed by the tenant that the owner is seeking eviction on.

The Intended Eviction of Brian P. Atkinson

The picture above is a reverse eviction. The tenant of 925 Wolcott Avenue, Brian P. Atkinson, was arrested for arson after setting the house he lived at on fire the day he was due in court for an eviction hearing. This fire endangered many people, required multiple fire departments to control, destroyed one property, and damaged two other properties.

Several locals familiar with the situation said that he turned himself in, which was later confirmed by the City of Beacon Police in an article. The building’s owner, Yeshia Berger, who also owns the multi-unit house across the street at 916 Wolcott Avenue, told A Little Beacon Blog that Brian was caught on camera, removing the camera shortly before the house caught fire. The fire was so hot it almost melted a firetruck and did damage two neighboring houses. A gasoline-sniffing dog was used to investigate the debris. The flames were so so high, they could be seen across the Hudson River in Newburgh.

Brian, it was later learned after the first media reports came out about the fire, was due in Beacon City Court that Tuesday for his eviction hearing. The newspaper, The Highlands Current, had called the Beacon City Courts to acquire information and learned of his court date. When the building owner spoke with A Little Beacon Blog, he stated that the person who set the house on fire was a prior tenant was not living there anymore.

People familiar with Brian’s living habits, including neighbors who could see the property, confirmed that Brian had been on the property during the day and night right up until the fire, collecting trash and maintaining the property. A light would be on at night, indicating he was living inside. Locals say he was a skilled carpenter, and had been “hired” recently by the building owner.

Locals and the Police Report say that the house was under construction, and had been stripped to the studs inside. However, the Police Report says that the house was unoccupied. According to neighbors and locals, Brian was known to be living there. And in fact, may have experienced the power shut off on that Monday.

Midhudson News reported that renovations had begun on the house, but were stopped by the City of Beacon. A Little Beacon Blog has filed a FOIL to gain access to the permit for construction, and the City of Beacon’s stop-work notice, if either exist.

Neighbors have confirmed that construction work had begun on the house to fix the front porch. The City of Beacon’s Building Department nor City Administrator have not responded to questions on this matter. Perhaps they will divulge during a public City Council Meeting.

According to information obtained by The Highlands Current, Brian had been served with an eviction hearing on December 21, 2022, citing unpaid rent. His hearing was set for Tuesday, January 3, 2023. Some locals indicated that he was in agreement with the building owner to provide services for the house in trade for living there. It is not clear then, how soon after he completed his last task, that an eviction notice was given to him.

The Torching of 925 Wolcott Avenue As Metaphor For Housing Crisis

While torching anything is wrong and not justified, the igniting of 925 Wolcott Avenue has come to represent a literal expressing of “burn it all down” when people reach the end of what they see as a broken system.

This fire has lit up the Beacon community to use this situation as illustrative of the housing crisis Beacon is experiencing - and has been experiencing since its settlement, as different people move in over the decades. But now, is hitting different classes and races, so different voices are speaking out.

Questions that arise include:

  • Why are people’s names not included on property companies, making it hard to find the people who own a building?

  • Does the City of Beacon regularly inspect the interior of rental units to make sure they are safe and humane? Movement is being made on short term rentals for Airbnb, but what about long term rentals? The long-term rental market is a quieter market who usually fears the landlord and does not make complaints. Unlike Airbnb, where there is a public platform for renters to write reviews about their rental units, and owners can write reviews about renters.

  • The City of Beacon may have stopped work on outside construction because it did not conform to laws, but were the people living inside OK this day, and years prior?

  • How far do people want local and state government to go, because there is already overreach? How is this all to work? With so many already existing laws that leave some people invisible?

Eviction Hearing and Tenants Rights

After much protest and arguments by residents of the City of Beacon in 2021, the City did enter into an agreement with Legal Services of the Hudson Valley to assist people facing eviction. Most people might not know about it, if they missed a single news report about it.

The information for how to use the tool designed for tenets rights is buried in the City’s website in a blog post dated March 2022 (as opposed to being front and center on the City’s home page, since losing one’s home is such a traumatic event).

You can find those legal assistance services here, which includes a direct phone line for Beacon residents. People are encouraged to call, even if they fear their landlord and assume they don’t have much time to find a new place.

It is unknown if any of the tenants of 925 Wolcott Avenue who were told to leave their boarding rooms by the landlord prior to the fire pursued legal help. The benefits of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley include attempting to connect someone with rent arrears assistance. However, some tenant/landlord agreements or leases are verbal or do not meet the standards of what a rent arrears assistance program requires, so some people do not even try to get this help.

If a new building owner wants everyone out, there are ways to do this, including:

  • Paying people to help them move.

  • Giving them time to move once notice is given.

  • Helping them find a new location.

Buying property is tricky. Once new financing is in place, often rent has to go up to sustain it, and repairs need to be done to the property. Math. Additionally, tact.

Arrested Arson Suspect of 925 Wolcott Avenue Fire Was Scheduled For Eviction Hearing Day Of Fire

The house at 925 Wolcott Avenue once known as “The Gate House,” and known for being a boarding house, has been demolished after being allegedly set on fire by previous tenant.

As first reported by the Highlands Current, 56 year old Brian P. Atkinson, who has been arrested for arson for the fire of the boarding home at 925 Wolcott Avenue on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, was due in Beacon City Court that same day for an eviction hearing, as stated in court records obtained by the Highlands Current. The fire destroyed the house and caused heat damage to two neighboring houses. 925 Wolcott has since been demolished, one day after the fire.

The newspaper reported: “According to court records, Atkinson was scheduled to be in City Court on Tuesday for eviction proceedings which had been filed against him for non-payment of rent on Dec. 21 by the building’s landlord.” It is not clear yet for how long the non-payment of rent is being disputed.

As told to A Little Beacon Blog by the building’s current owner, who stated that he purchased the building 6 months ago, there was no one living in the building at the time of the fire, including Brian.

According to the Beacon Police in a press release, the building was “unoccupied as it was currently under construction.” The Beacon Police also said Brian was “undomiciled.”

According to reporting by Mid Hudson News, construction on the house had been stopped by the City of Beacon. ALBB awaits comment from the City of Beacon’s Building Inspector Bruce Flower or City Administrator Chris White on that reporting.

Raging Fire Destroys Multi-Unit House Under Renovation In Alleged Arson (925 Wolcott Avenue)

Photos Posted by the Beacon Fire department. See all of them here.

At 6:35am, flames and smoke at 925 Wolcott Avenue could be seen above roofs of neighboring houses.

On the morning of Tuesday, January 3, 2023, between 6am and 6:30am according to neighboring residents who called 911, the house at 925 Wolcott Avenue known to longtime Beaconites as “The Guest House” because it was a group home, was engulfed in a raging fire, which destroyed all 3 floors. According to Zillow, the house had 9 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms.

According to those at the scene, there was no one living inside of the house at the time of the fire. The house had been purchased 6 months ago, according to the new owner, and was under renovation.

First responders could not yet confirm that there were no injuries, but they indicated that no one had been inside to need assistance. By 9:30am, once the fire was contained and smoke remained, fire fighters began searching the rubble to make sure no one was inside, as they searched for “hot spots” to continue to put out. Also at that time, Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White could be seen exiting the scene.

Flames at 925 Wolcott Avenue in Beacon could be seen high above trees and houses from Newburgh in the early morning before sunrise.
Photo Credit: Mid Hudson News, Anastasis Amanatides

At 6:35am, flames and smoke could be seen above roofs of neighboring houses. According to one resident who called 911 at approximately 6:35am, other people had also called in to report the fire. According to that resident, no sirens were immediately heard approaching, even though they may have arrived at the building already.

UPDATE 1/6/2023: Other readers did recall hearing sirens. It was a multi-agency event, so several first responders from different communities were there.

The fire was so hot at 925 Wolcott Avenue, it peeled the vinyl off the neighboring house.

In Beacon, during slow periods on the road, or in quiet hours, emergency response units have been known to flash their lights but not their sirens, perhaps out of noise consideration.

According to first responders at the scene, they arrived at 6:30am to fight the fire. Several fire departments assisted as mutual aid, including Rombout, Fishkill, Glenham, and others. Those at the scene said the blaze was so hot, that it almost melted a fire truck.

UPDATE 1/6/2023: Other readers did recall hearing sirens. It was a multi-agency event, so several first responders from different communities were there.

UPDATE 1/6/2023: As reported by the Highlands Current, first responders included: firefighters from the Village of Fishkill, Castle Point and Glenham. Both of Beacon’s ambulance services, Ambulnz and Beacon Volunteer Ambulance, assisted. the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office and MTA police also assisted. Rombout and Chelsea firefighters provided standby coverage in the city. The fire is being investigated by the Beacon Police, the Dutchess Sheriff’s Office and the Dutchess Fire Investigation Division.

The fire’s heat did peel vinyl siding off the neighboring house, and those residents were vacated from their home while the fire was put out near their home with water. Central Hudson poles on the sidewalk near the house were also burned.

Central Hudson was also on the scene to find the gas line under the ground to shut it off to prevent any gas leak. They began digging using a private contractor trained in such excavation.

Beacon City School District Administrative building is nearby, as is Sargent Elementary School. Containment of the blaze was ongoing during the morning arrival of students via bus, car and those who walk. Sargent Elementary PTO issued an update via Instagram to those transporting to expect delays, and that the drop off circle was not in use, but that the school was not physically impacted by the fire.

According to Mid Hudson News, the 3rd floor of the house collapsed. Experts on the scene predicted the entire building would need to be demolished.

Alleged Cause Of The Fire

According to those at the scene, arson was suspected by fire fighters, who called in the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division, who reportedly prefers to not use the word “arson” in their title anymore. Their truck is labeled Dutchess County Emergency Response Field Support Unit. A black dog trained to sniff for gasoline was seen exploring the scene.

Inside, the house had been stripped to the studs. According the building’s owner who spoke to A Little Beacon Blog, the suspect had turned himself in for setting the fire. According to the owner, the suspect could be seen removing a security camera before allegedly pouring gasoline throughout the house. The owner said the suspect had been a tenant in the boarding house prior, but did not live there now. ALBB reached out to Beacon Police Chief Sands Frost and City Administrator Chris White for confirmation and/or comment, and has not yet received a response.

UPDATE 1/6/2023: The Highlands Current reported in the print version of their article published after the online version was published: “Police said he walked to the department and turned himself in immediately after starting the fire. He is in custody at the Dutchess County jail in Poughkeepsie and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. in Beacon today (Jan. 6).”

According to Beacon City Court when ALBB followed up, that preliminary hearing got adjourned and postponed to the following week, the date still to be released.

UPDATE 1/3/2023 5pm: The Beacon Police Department issued a Press Release confirming arson. Read it here.

According to reporting by Mid-Hudson News: “The property had recently been sold and construction was being performed at the property until the project was shut down by city officials.” A Little Beacon Blog has reached out to Beacon’s Building Department Inspector Bruce Flower and the City Administrator Chris White for comment and has not yet received a response.

As the building’s owner looked at the wreckage, he reflected to ALBB that it was a landmark. When asked if he had plans to designate it historic, he answered that he did not. As for any historic designation, ALBB reached out to Beacon’s City Planner John Clark, who said: “So sorry to hear about the fire. This building, although old enough, is not included in the City's Historic District and Landmark Overlay Zone and, as far as I know, not on the National Register of Historic Places. It was also not on a list of residential buildings considered last year for the HDLO, which concentrated on properties closer to Main Street.”

Longtime residents of Beacon remember 925 Wolcott Avenue as a boarding house for men. Old pictures show the condition of the inside of the house, including notes residents wrote to each other, as well as architectural details.

NOTES FROM THE KITCHEN

Tenants of the house had left each other common area notes, according to old photos on Zillow. These say: “Please THINK! ALL of us here must share common “stuff” such as toilets, showers, sinks, one stove. Be kind and clean up any messes you make” The note was signed with a smiley face.

Another note says, in all caps, indicating importance: “Unused stove burners not be considered.The back left burner is used less often. It needs to be covered up when you cook. This reduces fat and grease buildup.”

The third note instructs in green marker: “Please don’t touch any of the heaters.”

It is not known when the last time the building was inspected while people lived inside of it, before it was purchased and gutted.

Tips can be sent to the Beacon Police Department and to A Little Beacon Blog.

Congratulations Beacon Historical Society For A Sold Out Event For "Beacons Of History" - ALBB Proud To Sponsor

Congratulations to the Beacon Historical Society for their sold out event, ”Beacons of History”! Learn more here about the honorees: Sgt. Tony Lassiter and the Melzingah Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

A Little Beacon Blog was able to be a sponsor this year, with our ad projecting onto the screen with other sponsors. Without the work of the dedicated volunteers maintaining Beacon’s history, research that media publications like A Little Beacon Blog conduct would not be possible for deep dive articles. We would not have the visions of what Beacon has looked like over the decades. Beacon’s history is so vast, part of ALBB’s mission is to preserve it, as it explains why things are the way they are in a moment.

Here at ALBB, we focus on “Beacon now,” and what Beacon becomes tomorrow or in the next few hours. Knowing where Beacon came from up until this minute is vital in understanding each other in this community, as the lines between families and intersections between communities is what made Beacon’s history and where we are today living in it.

A Little Beacon Blog’s sponsorship is only possible thanks to the ongoing support of our sustaining sponsors (and reader contributions, job listings, event promotions, and advertorials!). For the “Beacons Of History” event, ALBB dedicated our advertisement to our sponsors:

Start your advertising campaign today to promote your business and support A Little Beacon Blog.

Contribute any amount if you like what you read, or become a monthly sustaining contributor.

"Hometown Heroes" Banner Campaign Honors A Woman For First Time In Poughkeepsie - Helen Murphy

As first reported by the Beacon Free Press, the “Hometown Heroes” banner campaign in Poughkeepsie has honored the first woman to be featured in the series: Helen Murphy. As reported by Kristine Coulter, Helen joined the Women’s Army Corp (WAC) in the U.S. Army in 1942 when she was 20 years old. According to one of Helen’s five daughters, Patricia Maio, Helen “worked for the NY State Army Ordinance Division with an office at IBM. In 1942, she joined the Women’s Army Corps in the US Army. She was an Air WAC.”

I was aware of the Town of Poughkeepsie’s Hometown Hero banners and noticed that all of the banners hung in the Arlington were of men.
— Anne Shershin

As another first, while at Boot Camp, Helen was the first woman to be selected to be in the first contingent of WAC’s to go out west. While stationed in California at the Santa Ana Air Force Base, she was then selected to model the uniforms in Hollywood. According to her daughter, Helen was in a recruiting film starring Eleanor Parker, Faye Emerson, and Nina Foch. She also made recruiting appearances on the radio show “Queen for a Day,” and was on stage with Frank Sinatra.

More of Helen’s story is published in the Beacon Free Press, which you can pick up now. She was honorably discharged at the rank of Staff Sargent in 1945 and worked for the U.S. Veterans Administration in Poughkeepsie until 1947. She married Lt. Warren Murphy, who was from Fishkill, and began life traveling and moving her family every 2 years, which her daughter said was hard on her, yet she loved the service and being a service wife, her daughter Patricia said.

Patricia noted that Helen loved working at the American Legion Post. She eventually ran for Commander of the Arlington American Legion Post 1302, and was the first Female Commander of that Post. “She was very proud of that,” Patricia told the Beacon Free Press. Helen was involved in the Legion until her 90s. Helen died in 2016.

How The Honor Came To Be

Second page of the article on Helen Murphy, the veteran and first woman to be honored in the “Hometown Heroes” banner campaign in Poughkeepsie. Anne Shershin initiated the vision and effort to get Helen honored.

Another woman with the Post, Anne Shershin, had the idea to honor Helen in the “Hometown Heroes” banner campaign. “I was aware of the Town of Poughkeepsie’s Hometown Hero banners and noticed that all of the banners hung in the Arlington were of men. I knew Helen Murphy from the American Legion Auxiliary Post 1302,” Anne told the paper.

“I thought it would be lovely for Helen to be remembered with a hometown hero banner. My Auxiliary unit agreed to sponsor the banner. I contacted Helen’s daughter, Patricia Maio, and the Dutchess County Veterans Affairs, and they helped to get Helen’s discharge papers. The American Legion supplied the picture of Helen. We put everything together and submitted the application to the Town of Poughkeepsie. It took a whole community to make the banner happen.”

Read the full story in the November 9th issue of the Beacon Free Press, which dedicated most of its coverage to Veterans on Veterans Day.

Newly Repaired Dummy Light Pops Up - Beaconites Cheer

After being accidentally hit by a City of Beacon vehicle during the highly anticipated and appreciated milling of paving of Main Street this spring 2022, Beacon’s iconic Dummy Light hardware has been repaired by the City of Beacon’s Highway Department, financed by the City. The re-painting was commissioned to artist Erica Hauser to refresh the re-paint job she voluntarily did years prior (ALBB covered it in 2015), that had since gotten chipped from various vehicle collisions.

City of Beacon Mayor Lee Kyriacou hugs the Dummy Light after its restoration of parts and paint, after a City of Beacon employee accidentally hit it during milling and paving this spring.
Photo Credit: City of Beacon

During this week’s 8/15/2022 City Council Meeting, Mayor Kyriacou announced the restoration: "You may have heard this, the Dummy Light is back where it is." Mayor Kyriacou is known for his adherence toward historic preservation. Read the City’s full press release here.

During that meeting, City Administrator Chris White said: "I just want to thank Micky Manzie (Beacon’s Superintendent of Streets) for such a terrific job in locating all of the pieces of the light. And thank Dave Way and Sean Duturo for doing a fabulous job for putting it back."

After the unfortunate incident took place, City Administrator Chris told A Little Beacon Blog during a rally at Pohil Park for preserving abortion rights: “The employee who it hit is one of our best, and they felt so badly after it happened.”

Financing For The Dummy Light Repair

During City Council Meetings in weeks prior, City Administrator Chris mentioned that some funding for the acquisition of parts to repair this Dummy Light had been allocated from film fees generated from film projects being filmed in Beacon, like the recent regular, Poker Face.

Statement From The Artist Who Re-Painted The Dummy Light, Erica Hauser

After hearing City Administrator Chris note that a person was paid this time to repaint the Dummy Light, A Little Beacon Blog remembered that the person not paid prior was the local artist Erica Hauser, formerly of Catalyst Gallery, that has since closed during the pandemic (but her art lives on and on). ALBB reached out to Erica to learn more about the commission. Here is a brief interview with her:

ALBB: I thought I heard during a City Council meeting that someone was commissioned to recently repaint the Dummy Light during its repair. If true, was it to you?

“Yes it was me! Mark Price at Beacon Recreation called me after he heard that I had carefully low-key repainted it in 2012 - which was inspired low-key by Dan Weise, after I'd done a painting and shirt of the light in 2009 - and touched it up in 2015.

“I'd been thinking it needed a repaint anyway, even before it was hit in April by the paving truck. But it was nicer this time to be employed and paid by the City - or by the Beacon Recreation Department - to do it!

“I did it in early July, meant to coincide with the re-installation of the repaired light, but as we know that just happened last week, to great jubilation by all. Well maybe not by those who are worried about people hitting it.

“As for the paint job itself: these were the original colors and design circa 2006 when I first saw the thing. So in 2012 I wanted to match it. The yellow diamonds were actually faded peeling reflective stickers, so I just sanded it clean and painted yellow diamonds instead.

“I don't know how long ago the base was yellow, but people on the Beacon page surely know. I asked Mark if he wanted me to paint it all yellow, but he said no, it should be as it has been most recently. I'm saying this, because I had doubted it after some people were blaming the dark green color for the accidents!

“I was worried that they thought some artist had made the decision, which I would never take it on myself to do, in fact, I had meticulously matched the dark green and historic red!”

Thank you, Erica, for sharing these painting details. For Beacon history enthusiasts, you can add these details to your trivia cards.

Dummy Light In Pictures

According to Brian of @SpandexandSprinkles, the Dummy Light was in the last episode of “Severance,” which filmed in Beacon in March, 2021. ALBB has not fact checked this yet, as we need to check our subscription to Apple TV, but if you can confirm, let us know.

Dummy Light Safety Discussions

The paving collision prompted discussions about safety and the Dummy Light. Located at the intersection of Main Street and East Main (near Dogwood), the Dummy Light was supposed to replace a traffic cop decades ago near the train tracks. At this point, it is an obstacle in an already very unclear intersection which involves a hill and inconsistent crosswalks.

People in social media have suggested some sort of roundabout be created. Beacon’s City Planner John Clark has indicated that something be done to improve traffic and walking flow there. And Beacon’s City Administrator Chris has indicated that other vehicles have hit the cement base since the toppling of the Dummy Light during milling and paving of spring 2022.

It seems as if the campaign to Save Beacon’s Dummy Light is not quite over…

Dummy Light Down; Gets A Dunce Cap After Being Hit During Milling. Was Historic Landmark Protected During Milling?

Dummy light knocked off by a City of Beacon vehicle during milling on Main Street.
Photo Credit: Anonymous Citizen Reporter

Beacon’s Dummy Light with orange cones placed on top of and beside it while the City of Beacon works to restore it.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

This week, one of Beacon’s most iconic landmarks located at the intersection of Main Street and East Main Street - the Dummy Light - was knocked off its pedestal by a City of Beacon vehicle. As reported by 97.7 The Wolf, citing RoadsideAmerica: "Only three of these old, dangerous, middle-of-an-intersection traffic lights are still standing." A reporter at 101.5 WPDH recently discovered Beacon’s Dummy Light, which does have a devoted fan base like a website.

Based on the photo above showing the light split on the ground, it does not appear that protection was placed around this endangered species of a light to aid in prevention of large trucks milling around it.

Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White said on the City’s Facebook page. “As many of you know, the City has been milling Main Street the past two days in preparation for repaving next week. Yesterday afternoon, one of our vehicles accidentally backed into the ‘dummy light’ at Main and East Main Streets. Fortunately, the base is intact and undamaged, and the light (which was not original...it was a replacement of the original with LED bulbs) will be replaced so that it matches as closely as possible the dummy light that was damaged.”

In his post, the City used a photo of the Dummy Light erected, before it was hit. As of that post and now, the light remains off the base.

Immediately after the Dummy Light was hit, more than one reader reached out to ALBB to inquire how to fundraise to get the Dummy Light restored. Beacon’s City Administrator, Chris implied that the City has started the restoration project.

From other articles, it looks like City Administrator Chris was whipping around different media threads trying to calm everyone after the light hit the ground, breaking into several pieces. As reported by 97.7 The Wolf, City Administrator Chris commented in a thread: “The City is not trying to remove this light: it was damaged during the milling of Main Street. Please take a deep breathe, everyone. This was an accident, and our driver feels terribly about it.”

After 97.7 reached out to him for further comment, he responded: “The dummy light will return!”

Citizen Reporter and Photographer Jean Noack took one of the photos used by 97.7, and questioned: “The mayor could not be reached immediately for comment on the actions of the city employee that resulted in the damage.”

Damage caused to buildings and structures by City owned vehicles does happen, and the resulting actions toward those employees is unknown, in terms of what is viewed as an accident and dismissed, and what is viewed as an accident resulting in disciplinary charges assigned to the driving employee, assuming that every employees feels terribly about an accident.

Disciplinary actions are difficult to track in the City of Beacon, with the exception of one case that has been a set of charges resulting in aggressive disciplines. Hopefully the current City Administrator is weighing these charges and accidents equally. Not knowing who the driver was, ALBB’s opinion is that no dicipline results in this accident, and that simluar consideration be given to everyone in all City of Beacon departments.

A Little Beacon Blog will file a FOIL to try to get a list of other accidents by city employees, and which resulted in discipline, to see if fair treatment happened, or if disciplines were pursued aggressively toward targeted individuals.

What cannot FOIL is accidents that were not as public and were not reported at all by supervising staff.

Beacon's City Council Announces Passage Of Law Prohibiting Evictions Without Good Cause - Mayor Votes Against - Council's Responses

On Monday, March 7, 2022, Beacon’s entire City Council voted to pass a law prohibiting residential evictions without good cause, known to some as the “Good Cause Eviction Law.” Mayor Lee Kyriacou, who is a landlord, voted against the law. The press release prepared by Beacon’s City Council has been provided in full below.

Beacon’s Eviction Without Good Cause Law accounts for many situations, including requiring landlords to provide good cause to raise the rent above 5% if contested by their existing tenant requesting proof of necessity if the tenant/landlord discussions break down and the landlord pursues going to court to let a judge decide on the legality of the rent increase.

Where Is This Law Coming From?

Beacon is joining in the national movement within the housing crisis for all people to not let long-term rentals be a cut-throat rental market business model anymore. Other municipalities in this area have crafted and signed similar legislation, including Newburgh, Kingston, Poughkeepsie and Albany. Each of those communities, including Beacon, experienced the decimation of many of their historic buildings during the federally funded program Urban Renewal, which ended up mattering when rent regulation laws were enacted. Albany currently has one lawsuit against it, brought on by three landlords and their companies, asking for the law to be rescinded, as reported in the Times Union. There is proposed legislation in New York State Legislature that would enact a similar measure statewide.

It is in part because of that destruction that these communities cannot enact forms of rent stabilization found in New York City today. A new law in New York State, the Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 2019, allows for a declaration of a housing crisis in a locality, but is based on having a number of historic buildings still in tact. However, as has been especially demonstrated in the past several years, laws are created, and laws are walked back upon when levels of harm are represented by groups of people advocating for change.

Residential Real Estate As A Business Model

During this process of legislative debate, advocates for Beacon’s law stressed that housing is a human right and needs more protection. Landlords who showed up to public meetings to speak answered that money they invested in a property is their retirement plan and should not be impeded upon. However, price hikes in any business model usually proves bad for business, and results in a client-business breakdown. Some Beacon landlords showed up to speak in favor of the law.

Even in the short-term rental market, or a client-services market - if a client is used to paying one price over a long period of time - to suddenly hike that price usually ruins the business/client relationship. In the housing market, the long-term landlord may replace the tenant quickly in an unregulated market, but in the equally unregulated service or even the short-term rental industry which has online reviews tied to it, pricing is regulated by online reviews (social pressure), proper business relationships, and providing great service. Because secure housing is such a desperate need, some residential landlords don’t often face social pressure to keep rent increases stable, or provide stellar service in some cases.

Said the lead author of the law, Councilmember Dan Aymar-Blair, to A Little Beacon Blog about the passage of this law: “Tenant-landlord issues are most often resolved out of court and I hope that continues. The law has clear definitions of what constitutes good cause eviction and that framework can be used for discussions before anybody has to go to court. I hope landlords and management companies that depend on abusing tenants for profit margins will see their business model won't work in Beacon.

“I hope that Beacon will next come together to address the lack of affordable housing for all income ranges. Good cause eviction means that tenants can organize and participate without fear of retaliatory evictions and jacked rents.”

Was This Vote Expected This Night?

The week prior, The City Council was not anticipating voting on the law on March 7th. Week after week, the law had been pushed forward by the Council to even get it to the stage of Public Hearing, which is where it was the Monday evening of this week. For months, the City Council heard resistance from its retained legal counsel, Keane and Beane, who also represents developers building rental units in the City of Beacon, to advise the City not to create a law, stating on public record that it would be difficult to defend if a lawsuit was brought against the City. The Council then discussed the possibility of hiring a different law firm to represent a lawsuit in that case, should that happen.

Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White stressed throughout several discussions his concern for “fiduciary” spending of taxpayer dollars on legal costs defending this law. It is not clear on his definition of fiduciary, since he has currently authorized at least $110,000 of taxpayer dollars in the pursuit of terminating employment of a longtime city employee of the Highway Department, in addition to over $50,000 in paid-leave salary for that employee to not work during a labor shortage.

This law was in its second round of Public Hearing, where anyone in Beacon could come speak their mind about it. With this law being discussed on social media and out in real life for several months, it was hard for the community to ignore the effort. Landlords came to speak in favor or against, as did tenants. Advocates for the law even held a holiday caroling/protest in December 2021 at Pohill Park, which marched to City Council to confront the then City Councilmembers during their last days on council before the new members started.

Self-Fulfilling Prophesy Of Rent Hikes Before The Law Passed

After at least one tenant came forward to public City Council Meetings to speak in favor of the law, word circulated that some landlords had begun raising rents in anticipation of the free-for-all rent hike situation getting regulated.

That Beacon tenant reported at the next Public Hearing, that after she spoke in public at a City Council Meeting, she had subsequently asked her landlord to fix something necessary in her apartment, whereby she received by text from her landlord saying that he would fix it. In the same text, he declared he was also raising her month-to-month rent by $600/month. This hike, after an agreed upon hike of $100/month over the summer, resulted in a $700/month hike within one year, she told A Little Beacon Blog. This renter is White, works in the non-profit sector, and volunteers to teach classes in a corrections facility in the evenings.

Usually, if the City Council expects to vote on a legally binding resolution the night of the closing of a Public Hearing, the Resolution is noted in the official Agenda for the City Council, and a vote is taken that evening. This can be fore anything simple like having a Public Hearing for allowing firefighters to live further away from Beacon, hearing from the community, and then voting affirmatively right after if the public doesn’t bring overwhelming objection.

But this vote wasn’t on the evening’s agenda after the Council closed the Public Hearing, yet they discussed putting it on the agenda during the opening of the meeting. A Little Beacon Blog asked Councilmember Dan if the Council expected to vote that evening. He answered: “Yes. When we started to hear that landlords were retaliating against renters, we had no choice. Seeing that the outstanding amendments would have weakened the law and allowed this retaliation to continue for another month, we pressed forward.”

When asked if he was surprised to see it not initially on the agenda, Councilmember Dan answered: “No, it wasn’t an issue.” You can listen to how they all discussed putting the vote on the agenda at the beginning of the City Council Meeting here.

When Did This “Eviction Without Good Cause” Movement Start?

In the Before Times, during the pre-pandemic days, and during the former administration under Mayor Randy Casale, rents were already on the rise in Beacon. Former Councilmember Terry Nelson suggested pursuing the Emergency Tenants Protection Act of 2019. During that administration, where Lee Kyriacou was then a Councilmember, the common response by then Mayor Casale and some councilmembers to Councilmember Terry’s urging was that rents would self regulate under market conditions.

When the new administration came in, with former Councilmember Lee Kyriacou winning the election to become Mayor, the new Mayor Lee Kyriacou gave a platform for the Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 2019 to be considered, after Councilmember Terry continued to bring it up. Mayor Lee would state that he was doubtful that Beacon qualified for the tenant protection. Yet he dedicated space at a public Workshop Meeting for expert opinion to explain why Beacon did not qualify.

The Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 2019 requires a locality to know its rental vacancy rate, and of those, that the buildings are ones built between February 1, 1947 and December 31, 1973. Many of Beacon’s buildings that were of that age had been bulldozed during the federally ordered Urban Renewal period. You can get an introduction to Urban Renewal from the blog Newburgh Restoration, who describes it as a “tragedy” when mentioning how 1,300 buildings were demolished there, 9 streets “plowed under,” and “The city’s African American community was uprooted, with thousands of businesses and residents displaced.” A similar situation happened in Beacon. The Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 2019 requires that these buildings still exist to qualify.

During the time of Beacon’s Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 2019 discussion, Mayor Lee also stated that Beacon does not have a housing survey to know its vacancy rate. He did not imply that Beacon was in a hurry to conduct such a study. However, he did support spending at minimum of $50,000 on a Parks and Recreation study to be told what people want from a central Community Center. Two such centers used to exist in Beacon, and Beacon’s current tiny Parks and Rec building at 23 West Center Street is bursting at the studs with services and volunteerism.

The City Council’s pursuit of more tenant protections continued, with Councilmember Dan Aymar-Blair pushing to have a Good Cause Eviction Law considered. Councilmember Dan took the lead on drafting the law with other Councilmembers and the City’s retained law firm, Keane and Beane.

A Little Beacon Blog reached out to former Councilmember Terry Nelson to get his take on the passage of this law, and if he thought his early efforts helped from years ago. He responded: “It’s not really for me to say if my efforts helped, but I would like to think they did. It’s always a good thing when renters get the protections they deserve. But any law only works when there is effective enforcement. Attention must be paid to the level of enforcement of the new law.”

What Some City Council Members Said Upon Voting

Before casting his vote of Yes, Councilmember George Mansfield, who consistently voiced concern about leaving renal rates in the hands of a judge on a case-by-case basis, said this to explain his vote in favor of the passage of the law:

“This is a complicated issue, and I appreciate everyone who has come out during the course of this discussion.

“I'd like to first say that Keane and Beane, our lawyers, have represented this community and looked out for them for as long as I've been on council - or maybe I've been here longer than Keane and Beane has, but. So I truly respect your advice and consider that greatly in my decision.

“I also think, that I can see through our discussions, that we have an opportunity to respond to Albany - that there might be an opportunity - I don't feel like we are risking an expensive lawsuit going forward - that we can respond.

“I would have preferred to wait for the Albany decision to come down. But I think we have time to respond between maybe passing this and actually going to quote and the cost of litigation associated with that.

“One of my goals when we pass a law such as this is to help as many people and to hurt as few people in the decision. And in the end, no one is fully happy, and no one got fully what they wanted out of these discussions.

“I think that there is an urgency right now, certainly listening to some - part of the urgency is created not only by the greed, but by the fear of this law being passed. I think that is what is happening to some people. Landlords are raising rents objectionably and unconscionably right now. They've been known to do that in the past as well.

“My decision tonight will be based on helping as many people and hurting as few people going forward. Thank you all for being part of this conversation.

Mayor Kyriacou had this to say before casting his lone vote of No:

“The issue that I have respect to authority is that I have been sitting on Council for a long time. The nature of how City's get their authority from the State is not supported in this area. I'm sorry, but that is what it is. You all may have a different view, and I'm very respectful of that view.

“The second of my concern is, if we are picking away to help renters, and I think we do need to help renters, pitting one part of the community against the other is the wrong way to do this, and this does exactly that. Which I find that just sad.

“I know we want to help renters. Again, the County has announced a rental support program for people in low-income. That I think is the correct approach. It's something that we all as a community pay taxes to support, and I'm supportive of that. Pitting one part of the community against the other is the wrong way to go. I'm just saddened as I listen to us just dividing ourselves.

“The ones that I am focused on helping is low-income renters. There are plenty of renters that have come to Beacon who are fully capable of paying the full rents that are out there now. That's why those rents are out there. If we afford them the same rights, they will push low income renters out, and that's the group I really, really wish to help. I don't think this law is structured correctly do to so. Those are my concerns.”

In answering the Mayor, Councilperson Justice McCray gave their answer before voting in favor of the passage of the law:

“To that point, this law is designed to keep people in their homes, so I don't see how this would push low-income renters out,” Justice said.

“Just to talk about eviction:

“Evicted individuals are 11% to 15% more likely to experience a loss of employment and medical insurance as compared to individuals who have not been evicted (Harvard University)

“Children victimized by eviction are typically forced to transfer schools; a traumatic destruction of stable educational and peer relationships that has been shown to have a lasting negative impact on childhood development. (National Education Policy Center)

“All adult populations, once evicted, experience higher-all cause mortality, increased instances of emergency room visits, higher rates of addiction and relapse, depression, and suicide. (National Library of Medicine)

“Cost-burdened households spend more than 30% of their income on rent, and severely cost-burdened households spend more than 50% (Disrupted)

“I came onto Council as a community organizer working in social and racial justice. Passing Good Cause is crucial for bringing racial justice to housing. More than two-thirds of Black families in New York State rent. Among renters, Black households are the most vulnerable to eviction, the most likely to experience discrimination from landlords, and the ones most likely to be displaced when neighborhoods change.

“High rents and gentrification have had a devastating impact on Black communities in New York State. In my social justice work over the past couple of years, I’ve built connections with Black members of our community who lived here for years, and because they weren’t protected by this law, they’re gone. I don’t get to walk around the corner and share meals with them anymore. If you’ve been here for not even 10 years, you’ve seen the active displacement of Black people in Beacon. Good Cause is an important step in promoting community stability and combating displacement.

“According to a study published last week by the Pratt Center for Community Development Urban Democracy Lab, Legal Aid Society, Housing Justice for All, and the Community Service Society: “Black Households In New York Are 3x As Likely To Face Eviction As White Households”

“Councilmembers and community alike have stated that housing is a human right. It’s not just a philosophy. Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 25: Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, and housing…

“I support Good Cause Eviction.”

The Press Release From The City Council After The Vote

Below is the press release from the City Council, that has not yet been published to the City’s website yet. In earlier discussions as the law was debated, City Administrator Chris White asked the Keane and Beane attorney if the law, if voted on, could be delayed to be published to the City Code and delay enforcement, to which the attorney answered that it could. It has not been stated as to the date that this law will be published to the City Code.

BEACON, NY MARCH 8, 2022 - In last night’s City Council meeting, the Beacon City Council passed their hard-fought “good cause eviction” law tonight with the support of all six City Council members. By providing Beacon’s housing court with a framework for what constitutes an eviction with good cause, the City Council hopes to end the leniency of eviction proceedings against tenants, allow greater access to due process, and mitigate the displacement of residents. The law builds upon the fact that housing is a human right and that apartments and houses are not just commodities, they are homes.

“To clear up misconceptions, this law does not change that evictions require the courts. What it does is sets relevant standards for the proceedings that protect tenants,” said Wren Longno, Ward 3 Councilmember.

Specifically, grounds for eviction with good cause include:

  • Non-payment of rent

  • Substantial lease violations

  • Property damage

  • Committing a nuisance

  • Refusal of access

  • Illegal activity

  • Bad-faith refusal to sign a written lease

  • If the landlord wants to move themselves or a family member into the rented unit.

  • Additionally, rent increases above 5% will require a justification before a judge in cases where the tenant objects to the increase. The law intends to end the practice of arbitrary evictions and steep rental increases which are de facto evictions.

“Beacon is a popular place to live, and with good reason, but increased rents of 20% or more have become common which is simply impossible for most people.” said Councilmember At-Large Paloma Wake “While this law does not directly address affordable housing per se, we know that stable housing has compounding benefits for the entire city. When basic needs are met, individuals can be more active and thriving members of our community.”

Since Councilmember Dan Aymar-Blair for Ward 4 first introduced the law in August 2021, neighboring communities of Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, and Kingston passed their own similar versions of the law.

While no legal action has been taken against these municipalities, over several workshops, the City Council discussed the potential of a lawsuit brought by landlords. The City Council concluded that the risks posed to the city by a lawsuit were low, particularly the threat of legal expenses.

“Passing Good Cause is essential for bringing racial justice to housing,” said Ward 2 Councilmember Justice McCray. “More than two-thirds of Black families in New York State rent; and among renters, Black households are the most vulnerable to eviction, the most likely to experience discrimination from landlords, and the ones most likely to be displaced when neighborhoods change. If you’ve been here for not even 10 years, you’ve seen the active displacement of black people in Beacon. Black households in New York are three times as likely to face eviction as white households. Good Cause is an important step in promoting community stability [preserving diversity] and combatting displacement.”

Similar laws are still being considered around New York State, including New Paltz and Ithaca. A statewide bill is also actively under consideration.

“Tenants can now organize and speak up about their living conditions without fear of retaliatory evictions and jacked rents,” said Aymar-Blair. “Now that the folks who depend on affordable housing can fearlessly join the conversation, the City Council is ready to turn its attention to creating new affordable housing for low-income residents and working families.”

Molly Rhodes, Ward 1 Councilmember said, “We hope this can be a launching point where both tenants and landlords feel inspired to come together to help the city craft future housing policies and vision.”

From:

City of Beacon Councilmembers Dan Aymar-Blair, Wren Longno, Justice McCray, Molly Rhodes, and Paloma Wake

“Pitting One Part Of The Community Against The Other” - Governing Laws Already Do This

One of Mayor Lee’s stated concerns is for avoiding this legislation is to avoid “pitting one part of the community against the other,” implying tenants vs landlords. This type of “pitting” has already existed in the form of legislation in New York State, especially so in New York City and parts of Albany, Erie, Nassau, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Westchester counties where rent control is still in effect, according to the Residential Tenants Rights Guide. These members of the community are already pitted against each other when the landlord pursues going to court to evict a tenant - if it reaches that point, and the tenant doesn’t self-evict.

A Little Beacon Blog has spoken to people who work in different areas. Families who have the same job year after year - fixed income if you will - who cannot afford a large rent increase - and then need to move out of Beacon to Wappingers or Newburgh to find comparable rent. Nurses. Home care workers. Self-employed creators. Service-industry folks like bar tenders and restaurant managers can barely afford to live in Beacon, yet they work here. Some commuting from counties over. “Artist lofts” are very limiting for who qualifies to live in those units, and can be discriminatory.

It is unclear who these low-income people are that Mayor Kyriacou says he advocates for, since the people he seems to say can pay these rising rents may be from certain private sectors, or people who rent apartments as second get-away homes, or are never home because their jobs who can afford this rent send these new Beacon citizens to other locations to do their jobs. Or, are the blessed collection of employees who can work remotely from home.

Beacon Paid $50,452 To Willing and Able Highway Department Employee To Not Work

In 2021, the City of Beacon paid $50,452 of admin leave to Reuben Simmons, an employee with the Highway Department who is of mixed race and identifies as Black. ALBB has confirmed this amount with Reuben when we asked if he would make public his payments from the city for 2021. This is as per union rules as Reuben understands them, when an employee is presented with a discipline, the City can give up to 30 days suspension without pay, after which the employee is placed back on payroll while the process continues. Reuben has been served with 2 disciplines totaling 60 days over a course of at least 8 hearings with the City and their attorneys.

Reuben has worked for the City of Beacon in the Highway Department since 2002, where he started in the Summer Help position. He worked his way up to Laborer, then Maintenance Worker. During that time, he was appointed Union President for the City of Beacon CSEA Local 814 Unit 6662.

In 2017, Reuben was appointed Highway Superintendent, the lead position in that department, by then Mayor Randy Casale, with the support of then City Administrator, Anthony Ruggiero. In 2018, Dutchess County reached out to the City of Beacon to let the City know that the job title was incorrect, and that Superintendent of Streets was the proper title, but required a different Civil Service exam to qualify for the position. Fellow employee Michael “Micki” Manzi qualified for the test, and replaced Reuben as Superintendent of Streets. All of the people mentioned here except Reuben are white. To this day, the job title is stated on the City of Beacon’s website as Highway Superintendent.

During this transition under the management of then City Administrator Anthony Ruggiero, Reuben was not given the opportunity to take the required Civil Service exam in order to accept or maintain his job position of Highway Superintendent. Extending this opportunity to someone in an existing role is not unheard of in the City of Beacon. Listen to Reuben tell it in his own words on the “Wait, What Is That?” podcast.

For example: at the 5/17/2021 City Council Meeting, current City Administrator Chris White announced that longtime Water Department employee Ed Balicki, who is white, would become Superintendent of Water and Sewers. “We are moving Ed to the proper title,” explained City Administrator White to the City Council at that meeting. “Ed will have to take a Civil Service Exam…We don't think there will be any issue.” Ed passed the exam, and was re-titled.

In Reuben’s case, he was stripped of his title, and demoted back down to Maintenance Worker, then promoted to Working Supervisor, and demoted to Maintenance Worker within a 2 year period. During the first week of January 2021, he was placed on his first round of unpaid leave, and the order of City Administrator Chris, accompanied by a stack of charges against him signed by City Administrator Chris, which ALBB did see documentation of. These charges amounted to lists of generalities of what intersections Reuben was accused of not doing work, returning late from lunch, and an auto accident that Reuben reported to his supervisor Michael Manzi by way of announcing it on the Highway Department radio, and again in a later discussion, according to Reuben.

Auto accidents are not uncommon in the Highway Department, or other departments within the City of Beacon where vehicles are driving by city employees. What is not disclosed by the City of Beacon is when these auto accidents happen, and if they are reported. For example, the public is not informed of when the new Highway Garage gets a dent in a garage door,, for instance, or if an employee did get into a fender bender, and if that incident got reported or not. Additionally, the public is not regularly informed when an employee resigns or is fired, but the public is informed of each new hire when that employee is presented to the City Council the night of a vote to hire them.

Recently, two employees of the administration resigned, which were announced during City Council Meetings: Beacon’s first HR Director, Gina Basile, who left after a year and seven months on the job, according to her LinkedIn, and the Mayor’s Assistant, Collin Milone.

Gina was tasked with reviewing the Highway Department’s work atmosphere, and found it to be troubled: “Beacon’s New HR Director Hears From City Employees About Discrimination, Inequality, Growing Tensions; Suggests Solutions; Begins With Highway Department.”

Shortly thereafter, a Diversity and Inclusions Statement was presented and passed in the City of Beacon, when then City Councilmember Air Nonken Rhodes stated: “This isn’t lip service.”

The City of Beacon has hosted at least 8 hearings against Reuben in 2021, which involve the city’s labor attorney and an arbitrator. During the 8th meeting, the City of Beacon actively closed the meeting to the media, by requesting that ALBB leave the call (ALBB was sent an invite to the hearing via Zoom by the arbitrator at Reuben’s request). The city attorney stated that the meeting was closed, and that Reuben had wanted it closed. Reuben denied that, stating that he wanted the hearings open to the public from the beginning, and then stated it again in an article on ALBB.

During this time, In 2021 alone, the City of Beacon under the direction of City Administrator Chris has made two transfers to cover unplanned costs from unrelated areas of the budget to another area of the budget called “Employee Discipline,” bringing that unbudgeted total to over $110,000.

Reuben was put on unpaid leave in January 2021 for a 30 day period, followed by a second 30 day unpaid leave period for disciplinary reasons. The City of Beacon has not made public what those disciplinary reasons are (though ALBB has seen the first stack of the vague charges), or why they have spent so much money for a willing and able Highway Department employee to not work for over a year, during a national labor shortage. During the summer of 2021, the City of Beacon could not completely fill the 6 Summer Jobs it seasonally fills to fill its department.

New Marker Dedicated For Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier At Madam Brett Homestead By Melzingah Chapter Of DAR

Left to Right: NY State Vice Regent, Pamela Barrack; Melzingah Regent Joan Miskell; President General, NSDAR Denise VanBuren, Melzingah Vice Regent Ethel Fyffe.
Photo Credit: Melzingah Chapter of DAR

On November 18, the Melzingah Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) held a Never Forget Garden Marker Dedication on the grounds of the Madam Brett Homestead.

VFW Post 666 Commander Harold Delamater and Marine Corps League Det 861 Adjutant Tony Pulliam were invited to participate in the ceremony.

The marker was received from the New York State DAR organization in honor of Denise VanBuren, President General and Melzingah Daughter. The marker is in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; and is for all who visit the garden to express patriotism, with the noble purpose of remembering all whose lives were courageously given in service to the United States of America, both at home and abroad.

A permanent marker will be placed in the Spring of 2022.

9 Properties Object To City's Proposed Historic Designation - Mayor Lee Kyriacou Proceeding Anyway - Read Their Letters/Reasoning Here

historic 378-382 main street.png

After the construction of 344 Main Street a few years ago, several development issues came to light that the people of Beacon objected to. This project triggered a massive undertaking of refining the City’s zoning codes to simplify or tighten regulation. During that time, then Mayor Randy Casale and then Councilmember Lee Kyriacou would walk around the city identifying commercial buildings and residential houses that they felt should be deemed historic, thereby being given these properties protection, design requirements, and overarching regulation on neighboring non-historic buildings, should the owner of a non-historic building want to build something that would have - in the eyes of City Council or Zoning/Planning Board Members - negative impact on the neighboring historic property.

In the chess game that is City Planning, historic buildings can be used to block proposed building projects, like this one here at 475 Main Street next door to the Howland Cultural Center years ago. Now that Mayor Lee Kyriacou has become mayor, defeating Randy in the last election, Mayor Lee moved forward with proposing building designations for 35 buildings and houses, and first presented them in March 2020. Several homeowners and commercial building owners came to a public meeting to object, and the topic was put on pause. Then the pandemic hit.

The subject was raised again in 2021, this time with a reduced number of 18 commercial buildings, which were brought to the public for a formal and required Public Hearing. Building owners could speak their objection and write letters of opposition. Despite receiving 9 objections from building owners - half of the first round of building owners - Mayor Lee Kyriacou wants to move forward with the vote to ignore their objection. In order to do that, he needs a “supermajority” vote from the City Council, to override the building owner’s objection.

If that happens, and if the building owner decides to challenge the city legally, Mayor Kyriacou at the last City Council meeting agreed with City Administrator Chris White that the City of Beacon needs to be sure it has “iron clad” reasons for how it is proceeding with forcing a building to have historic designation despite an owner’s objection, should a building owner take legal action to challenge.

Said City Administrator Chris White: “In light of the opposition of the 9 owners, Drew (one of the City’s attorneys from Keane and Beane) and I talked about that we laid out a compelling case, because if one of them were to challenge, then we want to make sure.” Chris continued to say that he asked Beacon’s City Planner to “take a second look” at the compelling reasons.

Said Mayor Kyriacou after City Council members gave their feedback to the presented reasons for historic designation for each building: “I'm very appreciative of everyone's comments” He voiced concern for preserving Beacon’s history. “I like the comment, Chris, about being iron clad about how we are doing this.”

The letters of opposition from the building owners has been published below.

Correspondence from 8 (of the 9) Owners of Properties Nominated for Designation in the Historic District Landmark Overlay Zone

On May 14, 2021 the City of Beacon sent 18 certified letters to the owners of properties nominated for historic designation in the Main Street corridor. The letters informed property owners of the proposed nomination, invited them to speak at a Public Hearing on June 7, 2021, and welcomed them to reach out to the City with any comments and questions beforehand. A sample letter to property owners can be found on page 2 of the City’s document.

Nine property owners responded with their objections to the City. The building owners of Max’s On Main, at 246 Main Street, despite their letter not being included below. Owner Richie Kaplan called in during the 6/7/2021 meeting to verbalize his opposition and state that he sent in a letter of opposition. In response, City Administrator Chris White noted the letter and said it was part of public record.

All letters of opposition (except 246 Main Street, Max’s On Main) can be found starting on page 5 of this document. For the ease of reading, they have been republished below with pictures of the building for quick reference.


Sample Letter Sent To Targeted Building Owners

May 13, 2021

VIA CERTIFIED MAIL

[Property Owner's Mailing Address]

Re: Notice of Public Hearing
Property Proposed for Historic Landmark Designation- City of Beacon

Dear [Property Owner]:

The City of Beacon is considering designating multiple properties along Main Street in Beacon as historical landmarks to be included in the City’s Historic District and Landmark Overlay Zone (“HDLO”) and has proposed including your property located at 246 Main Street. A copy of the historic resource inventory form describing your property is attached. A remote public hearing to discuss the proposed designations is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on June 7, 2021, which you can participate in through the following link: https://bit.ly/2Qc4Yhd

You are invited to attend to present any comments or information you would like considered by the City Council or submit them prior to the public hearing to publichearing@beaconny.gov or by mail to HDLO Public Hearing, City of Beacon, 1 Municipal Plaza, Beacon, NY 12508. Any objection to the proposed designation must be submitted in writing prior to the public hearing.

Designation of Historic Landmarks

On June 7, 2021, the City Council will hold a public hearing to receive comments on its proposal to designate your property as a historic landmark pursuant to Section 134-4 of the Code of the City of Beacon (the “City Code”). The City Council, property owners and any interested parties may present comments or documentation at the public hearing which will become part of a record regarding the historic, architectural, or cultural importance of the proposed landmark.

In determining whether to designate a new historic landmark, the City Council shall consider any comments or information presented prior to and during the public hearing to determine whether the proposed landmark meets one or more of the following criteria:

  1. Has distinguishing architectural characteristics of a period, style, method of construction, indigenous materials or craftsmanship;

  2. Has special character or historic or aesthetic interest or value as part of the cultural, political, economic, or social history of the community;

  3. Is eligible for inclusion on the State or National Registers of Historic Places.

The City Council is required to make a decision within 60 days of the conclusion of the hearing. A super majority vote of five (5) Council members is necessary to designate a new historic landmark if the property owner objects to such designation.

Benefits of Historic Designation

Landmark designation results in an honorary status for a historic building, imposes certain measures of protection on the building to prevent incompatible development, and offers other benefits for the property. For example, additional uses are permitted by special permit from the Planning Board in the HDLO pursuant to Section 223-24.7 of the City Code (primarily beneficial in residential districts). Such uses include (a) specialized business uses of low traffic volume, normally associated with history, the arts or cultural uses, appropriate to the structure and compatible with the neighborhood, and (b) residential, hotel or professional uses, provided they are appropriate to the structure, compatible with the neighborhood and are located on a street that can accommodate increased traffic as determined by the City Council.

In accordance with New York State Real Property Tax Law Section 444-a and Section 199-10 of the City Code, if you alter your property to restore or rehabilitate a historical feature, and the project results in an increase in assessed property value, you may be entitled to a phased tax exemption from the portion of your property taxes attributed to the increased assessment.

In certain instances, you may also be eligible for historic preservation grants, such as the Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Fund for Historic Interiors, or the New York State Environmental Protection Fund.

Certificate of Appropriateness

If your property is a designated historic landmark, applications for a building permit involving alteration, construction, or demolition of an exterior identified historical feature that is visible from a public street, public sidewalk or public park on a designated historic landmark or property shall require certificate of appropriateness approval from the Planning Board. In reviewing an HDLO application and plans, the Planning Board shall consider the factors outlined in Section 134-6.C of the City Code. The certificate of appropriateness required under Chapter 134 of the City Code is in addition to, and not in lieu of, any building permit. Additionally, any sign application involving an HDLO parcel requires review by the Planning Board, not the Building Inspector.

An applicant whose certificate of appropriateness has been denied may apply to the Zoning Board of Appeals (“ZBA”) for a certificate of economic hardship to obtain relief from the requirements of Chapter 134 of the City Code. In order to obtain a certificate of economic hardship, the applicant must demonstrate the existence of economic hardship by establishing:

  1. The property is incapable of earning a reasonable return, regardless of whether that return represents the most profitable return possible; and

  2. The property cannot be adapted for any other use, whether by the current owner or by a purchaser, which would result in a reasonable return; and

  3. Efforts to find a purchaser to acquire and preserve the property have failed.

The ZBA will take into consideration the economic feasibility of alternatives to removal, alteration or demolition of a landmark or portion thereof, and balance the public interest in preserving the historic landmark, or portion thereof, and the interest of the owner in removing, altering or demolishing the landmark or portion thereof. An applicant will not be charged an application fee, professional review fees, or fees to prepare and publish any public notice incurred in connection with the certificate of appropriateness or economic hardship application, except for any fees associated with another land use application concerning the historic property.

Central Main Street Design Standards

All currently nominated properties are located in the Central Main Street (“CMS”) District, which already requires site plan review by the Planning Board for significant exterior building changes. When considering any application in the CMS District, a site development plan application, or special permit, pertaining to a designated historic property, the City Council or Planning Board shall also consider the standards set forth in Section 134-7 of the City Code. Such standards are similar to the general design standards in the CMS District and include:

  1. The design, character, and appropriateness to the property of the proposed alteration or new construction.

  2. The scale and height of the proposed alteration or new construction in relation to the property itself, surrounding properties, and the neighborhood.

  3. Architectural and site elements and their relation to similar features of other properties in the HDLO.

The design standards in the CMS and Historic Preservation articles are intended to protect designated historic buildings from incompatible development on adjacent parcels. For proposed buildings on CMS parcels in the HDLO, abutting an HDLO parcel, or having a property line frontage directly across the street from an HDLO parcel, any fourth-story or corner tower shall require a special permit from the City Council, not the Planning Board. Furthermore, the Planning Board may, at its discretion, reduce certain on-site parking requirements for projects located in the CMS district that involve a designated historic property (see City Code § 223-41.18 G(3)). The Planning Board may also waive setback requirements for certain designated historic properties in the CMS district (see City Code § 223-41.18 J(15)).

We hope you will join us for the public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 7, 2021 and/or submit any comments you might have prior to the hearing. If you have any questions regarding this process, please do not hesitate to contact me at publichearing@beaconny.gov.

Sincerely,

Christopher White
City Administrator

Encl.


PROPERTY OWNERS OF 246 MAIN STREET

The property owners of 246 Main Street, the Kaplan brothers, submitted a letter of objection explaining why they did not want the designation, but it was not included on the City’s website.

During his first call to the Councilmembers on 2/3/2020, Richie Kaplan stated: “We have been here since 2006. In 2017 we had the opportuinty to purchase the building. And we did. Thought that would be advantagious to the value of our business. We've done it and we are happy that we did do it. At that time, we did not know anything about Histroic Overlay or District. Or that our building would be included in it. Since we've been here, we think we have been good citizens. Been active in the community if we could. We want to continue.” He stated that he could comply with whatever the process was, but he ultimately filed an objection.

Richie told A Little Beacon Blog: “After the pandemic and the burden it has been, it will be more difficult for us. We didn't realize what the historic nature was that the piece of wood on the top of the building carried. I don't think it's fair that a handful of people can decide what a private person can do. We'll do the best we can. It's hard to have your hands tied more than they already are.”


LETTER OF OBJECTION FROM PROPERTY OWNER OF PROPERTY NOMINATED FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION 1154 NORTH AVENUE

Mr. White,

As the owners of 1154 North Avenue, we object to the proposed designation of the property as an individual landmark or as a contributing element in the Main Street Landmark District.

We are fond of the building and are delighted the public can once again fully enjoy it (with art galleries on both floors). Converted for auto-related uses prior to WWI, it was open to commercial customers through much of the 20th C, then closed for 40 years and used for the storage of private cars. We intend to maintain the building in its current form, keep it open to the public, and construct a new building on the adjacent parcel (replacing the former site of the Eagle Hotel, demolished long ago). We hope this project can help restore a proper sense of arrival at the west end of Main Street. Landmark status for 1154 would substantially complicate matters and further delay or derail that effort, without achieving a corresponding public purpose.

In our view, the proposed designation is neither justified, nor necessary to maintain the integrity of the existing historic district covering the west portion of Main Street ... a goal which we cherish.

The three listed criteria of ‘distinguishing architectural characteristics’, ‘special .... value as part of the community ... ‘, and ‘eligible for inclusion on State or National Registers ...’ are loosely interpreted in the designation letter. 1154 North Avenue is a handsome 19th Century structure, but one much changed over the decades. The current ‘garage’ door is the latest in a series of door replacements, though that opening does date from the original 19th C construction. The ‘covered-over corner storefront’ reflectstwo major changes made in the 20th C: the first in mid-century when a large section of masonry was removed and new steel framing introduced to accommodate showroom windows when the commercial use changed from garage to car sales; and the second when those windows were blocked up and a passage door opened to allow secure storage of private cars for the building owner.

We respectfully request that 1154 North Avenue NOT be included as a landmark or contributing building in any expansion of the HDLO.

With thanks,

Jinny St. Goar Joe Donovan

......
Hudson Todd LLC 4 Cross Street Beacon, NY 12508


LETTER OF OBJECTION FROM PROPERTY OWNER OF PROPERTY NOMINATED FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION 4 CROSS STREET WHICH SITS WITHIN THE PARCEL AT 172 MAIN STREET

Mr. White,

As the owners of the buildings at 172 Main Street and 4 Cross Street, we object to the proposed designation of the 4 Cross Street building as an individual landmark and/or to its designation as a contributing element in the Main Street Landmark District.

The building at 172 Main Street (commercial, facing Main) is already included in the HDLO, as is the undeveloped section of land between 172 Main and 4 Cross. We have no concerns about that designation.

We are deeply concerned about the proposed designation of the 4 Cross Street building (residential, facing Cross, on the same tax parcel as 172), as our long-term plans for this area are still evolving, and such a designation could place major constraints on our ability to create a unified, functional and attractive structure at the corner of Cross and Main.

In our view, the proposed designation is neither justified, nor necessary to maintain the integrity of the existing historic district covering the west portion of Main Street ... a goal which we cherish. The three listed criteria of ‘distinguishing architectural characteristics’, ‘special .... value as part of the community ... ‘, and ‘eligible for inclusion on State or National Registers ...’ are loosely interpreted in the designation letter. 4 Cross Street is a utilitarian 20th Century structure, one example among hundreds of nearly identical structures located throughout Beacon and the mid-Hudson area.

If the same standards employed in evaluating 4 Cross were applied equitably, every building constructed before 1972 could be proposed for landmark status in Beacon. Singling this structure out for landmark status appears arbitrary and creates an undue hardship for us as owners.

We respectfully request that the 4 Cross Street building NOT be included as a landmark or contributing building in any expansion of the HDLO.

With thanks,

Jinny St. Goar Joe Donovan

......
Hudson Todd LLC 4 Cross Street Beacon, NY 12508


LETTER OF OBJECTION FROM PROPERTY OWNER OF PROPERTY NOMINATED FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION 250 MAIN STREET

To whom it may concern,

We do not wish for 250 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508 to be designated for Historic Landmark.

Thank You, Fa Tuan Ni


LETTER OF OBJECTION FROM PROPERTY OWNER OF PROPERTY NOMINATED FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION 257-267 MAIN STREET

Mr. Christopher White City Administrator

Dear Sir,

I received your letter regarding our building located at 257-267 Main Street, Beacon and the City’s interest in re-designating our property as a ‘historic-property.’ I’d like to give a brief background if I may. Our company “26 East Main Street, LLC” purchased the property sometime around last August/September of 2020. We had been in contract to purchase for more than a year dating back to the summer of 2019! Once Covid hit, our closing was put off numerous times due to constant rescheduling of engineers, attorneys, banks, title companies, etc, all due to the pandemic. Then when we finally closed, almost 2/3 of the units were either with expired leases, unpaid rents, and/or vacancies as well as many other neglected items left unaddressed in/around the property for more than a year as a result of absentee-management. I am happy to report, that after an incredibly difficult, painful, costly, and challenging year, we are finally just starting to see some light at the end of this very long and dark tunnel, hoping for a better 2022.

We have been in property management and development for approximately 20 years. We purchased this property for (2) reasons; one- to manage as existing for a period, two- for the possibility to develop. There are (3) properties immediately neighboring us to the West on both street corners that have been completely built new, and a third currently under construction across the street and a few doors from the gas station. After removing former buildings, all of these brand new buildings are beautiful and greatly enhance and add value to Main Street. These owners rightfully enjoyed the freedom from restriction to develop their properties as we hoped and expected someday to have same, and feel otherwise would be greatly unjust.

We spent a significant amount of money investing in Beacon and this property. The justification for the large investment was solely based on the possibility to rebuild on our property as the aforementioned neighbors have. By adding this designation to our property, that opportunity seems greatly diminished, if at all.

After consulting with our attorneys, we have arrived at the conclusion that we are strongly against this proposal and do NOT want this designation/restriction/limitation placed on our property and further feel it will greatly devalue our investment, and doing so against our will (especially in light of all we just sent through the last (2) years) would just add further salt in our wound.

Please strongly consider NOT placing this unwanted designation on OUR property against our will, further causing financial damage and hardship to our already struggling investment.

Thank you for your time and consideration during these challenging times. Sincerely,

Vincent Satriano
26 East Main St, LLC


LETTER OF OBJECTION FROM PROPERTY OWNER OF PROPERTY NOMINATED FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION 274 MAIN STREET
RECEIVED BY CITY HALL ON JUNE 9, 2021

Good day,
We are property owners at 274 Main Street, Beacon, New York We would like to thank you for all efforts put forth to preserve the integrity of Beacon.
After much thought and participating in the public hearing on Monday, June 7, we would like to kindly decline the designation of our building.
As many changes have been made to our building over the years, it does not completely fit the criteria to designate it a Historic Landmark. Not to mention it would be extremely detrimental from a financial standpoint as well.
We hope you will not consider us as this time.
Thank you for your time.

Kindly,
Michael and Tina Pomarico 274 Main Street
Beacon, New York


LETTER OF OBJECTION FROM OWNER OF PROPERTY NOMINATED FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION 291 MAIN STREET

To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing to object the proposed landmark designations at 291 Main St, Beacon NY.

Sincerely,
Telephone Building Beacon LLC


LETTER OF OBJECTION FROM ATTORNEY OF PROPERTY NOMINATED FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION 372 MAIN STREET (SALVATION ARMY)

June 7, 2021

Mayor Lee Kyriacou
And Members of the City Council City of Beacon
1 Municipal Plaza
Beacon, New York 12508

Rebecca A. Valk, Esq.

rvalk@cuddyfeder.com

Re: Proposed Nomination – Salvation Army Property at 372 Main Street. Historic Properties Overlay Zone

Dear Mayor Kyriacou and Members of the City Council:

I am writing this letter on behalf of our client, The Salvation Army, owner of property at 372 Main Street, known as tax parcel number 6054-29-018818 (the “Property”). This letter shall serve as Salvation Army’s objection to the nomination of the Property for landmark status under the City’s Historic Preservation Law.

The nomination of this Property is inappropriate as the Property fails to meet either of the criteria relied upon in the Historic Resource Inventory Form dated April 2021 (the “Inventory Form”).

The Inventory Form sets forth the rationale for the City Council’s nomination of this Property for

landmark status. A property nominated must meet one or more of the following criteria:

134-4 Designation of landmarks and historic districts.

B. The City Council shall determine whether a proposed district or landmark meets one or more of the following criteria:

  1. (1)  Has distinguishing architectural characteristics of a period, style, method of construction, indigenous materials or craftsmanship;

  2. (2)  Has special character or historic or aesthetic interest or value as part of the cultural, political, economic or social history of the community;

  3. (3)  Is eligible for inclusion on the State or National Registers of Historic Places.

The Inventory Form for this Property relies upon portions of two of these criteria, alleging that the Property: (1) possesses distinguishing architectural characteristics of a period and style (subsection 1); and (2) has special historic and aesthetic value as part of the cultural history of the

City (subsection 2).

June 7, 2021 Page 2

As to the first criterion, the Inventory Form states “The building retains its original character. This religious structure is one of the more intact examples of its type, scale and period in the City.” This conclusory statement does not establish a legitimate basis for the designation of either the church building, which was concededly rebuilt in 1911, or of the building behind the church, which was admittedly constructed in 1961.

It is true that the church building has characteristics consistent with the period of its construction. However, that alone is insufficient to qualify for designation under the City’s code. To qualify the building must have “distinguishing architectural characteristics,” i.e., noteworthy, remarkable, odd, or unusual.1 The Inventory Form does not identify such features; rather, it lists features consistent with the period of construction and concedes that the church building is one intact example of this type of construction. The lack of noteworthy or remarkable features was cited in the 1979 Building Structure and Inventory Form for the Property (enclosed): “The church has a long history in Beacon, but architecturally, it is outclassed by other church buildings of its scale and period.” (emphasis added).

As to the second criterion relied upon, the Inventory Form makes a conclusory statement that the Property possesses “special historic and aesthetic value as part of the cultural history of the City.” Again, the Inventory Form lacks any discussion to support this conclusion. The inclusion of the Church in the HDLO based on the present documentation is unwarranted.

Additionally, there is no need to include the Church’s property in the HDLO at the present time. The Church plans to continue its mission work in the City of Beacon for the foreseeable future. If matters materially change at some point in the future, and the building were to ever cease to operate as a Church, the City always retains authority to reconsider a designation at that, more appropriate, time.

In conclusion, the Salvation Army objects to the nomination. The buildings at the Property are not appropriate for landmark designation. We note that a super-majority vote of five (5) Council members is now required to designate 372 Main Street a historic property because of this objection (Section 134-4G). We thank the Council for its consideration of these comments.

Very truly yours,

Rebecca A. Valk Enclosure
cc. Graeme Hepburn

William Null, Esq.


LETTER FROM OWNERS OF PROPERTY NOMINATED FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION 378 – 382 MAIN STREET

We are Ed Benavente and Betsy Swanson, the owners of 378-382 Main St. also known as the Carriage Works Building. Those that have witnessed the evolution of this building over the years may be familiar with the various uses and changes since it’s construction in the mid 1800’s as a carriage and sleigh manufacturer to the present day office building with a cafe and market. In the process of renovating this property we took extra care and expense to recognize the history represented by the structure. This was a challenging project given the generations of alterations already in place. This was done without guidelines or compliance regulations other than standard building and safety codes. We specifically chose a property without historical designation status to avoid that extra layer of bureaucracy that can hamper the efforts of micro-developers and individuals without deep pockets like ourselves. While we appreciate the city’s efforts to preserve the character and regulating growth and uncontrolled development, it should be noted that adding more layers to the process serves to discourage thoughtful, grass- roots development and leaves the door open for larger development companies that have legal teams to run roughshod over any regulations in place.

Since moving to Beacon in 2006, we have supported many causes and organizations in town, including the Beacon Historical Society. We believe that history is an integral part of any community’s identity. We also believe that history needs to support the present and pave the way for the future. After many discussions with City Council members and the Building Department - we have yet to hear of any definitive benefit to this designation beyond a possible, ‘maybe’, when it comes to tax relief or preservation grants. In our experience, such designations can have an adverse effect on resale or catastrophic replacement. No doubt, today’s council has the best of intentions but we are more concerned with the unintended consequences of piling on more laws, regulations and exceptions to those same laws and regulations that might be manipulated in the future and have the reverse effect if the original intention.

We respectfully decline to participate in the historical designation at this time and hope that the City Council will expedite the conclusion of this subject so that more time and attention can be applied to ongoing taxation and infrastructure needs.

Thank you,
Ed Benavente Betsy Swanson


Beacon Targets 18 Buildings To Be Designated Historic - Which Adds Zoning Controls - 9 Properties Object - Vote Is Tonight

historic building proposed.png

Beacon’s City Council meets tonight (Tuesday, June 7, 2021) to vote on 15 of 18 buildings targeted by Mayor Lee Kyriacou back when he was a City Council member in then-Mayor Randy Casale’s administration. During public City Council meetings, they would talk about how they walked around the city, pointing at homes and buildings they thought should be designated historic. Some building owners seek out historic buildings for the tax benefits and access to grants they bring. Others avoid them for the visual restrictions and additional bureaucratic steps needed in seeking approvals for many changes. In Beacon, buildings with historic designations have additional business allowances regarding what kind of business can operate at that location.

That was during the height of the “anti-development” movement in Beacon, spurred in part by the completed 344 Main Street and other large development projects around Beacon. At that time, a regular caller into City Council meetings, Stosh Yankowski, would chant “No More Four” in reference to no more four-story buildings.

While Mayor Kyriacou is an advocate of preserving history, the protections and restrictions that a historic building receive can also impact neighboring buildings that are not historic, as explained here in the Highlands Current. Mayor Kyriacou feels so strongly about the historic designation, in fact, that during one public City Council meeting, he offered to make it easier for buildings with historic designation to build a fourth floor.

To show an example of when a non-historic building is impacted by its historic neighbor, take a look back to when the large and very old building at 475 Main Street wanted to build apartments onto the back of it. The Howland Cultural Center objected with support of the community, as they said that the new apartment build-out would block the light that the Howland’s architecture relies on for illuminating the inside of their building, which their building is famous for. The Howland Cultural Center is a historic building on the National Register.

“About 280 homes and structures are already in the district, which prevents them and neighboring buildings from being altered in a way that the city believes will harm their historic value,” according to the Highlands Current.

However, when building owners purchased these buildings, some did so with the intent that they were not of historic designation. As stated in an objection letter, building owner Vincent Satriano of 25 East Main Street expressed: “These owners rightfully enjoyed the freedom from restriction to develop their properties as we hoped and expected someday to have same, and feel otherwise would be greatly unjust.”

While Mayor Lee Kyriacou has stated during public meetings that conforming to historic restrictions isnot difficult, often citing his own restorations of his Victorian home on Wolcott and of the building at 554 Main Street, the building that currently houses Melzingah Tap House, he has offered to make it easier to follow the requirements by removing certain “triggers” that would require a change, as he stated during the 2/18/2020 Public Hearing. Mayor Kyriacou’s goal was to limit it to a major alteration of the exterior that is viewable by the public, for instance.

The interior of proposed historic buildings was also debated. One main objection from the attorney representing the Beacon Hebrew Alliance at 331 Verplanck Avenue was that the interior not be required to meet standards, despite being accessible by the public. Mayor Kyriacou said he would consider that. The Hebrew Alliance’s building at 331 Verplanck Avenue is not on this first round of voting.

What follows below are pictures of the proposed buildings, and descriptions of what the City says qualifies them as being historic, as prepared by Beacon’s City Planner, John Clark.

City Council meetings where these historic designations have been debated include: 11/25/19, 2/3/2020, 2/18/20, 4/12/2021, 4/26/2021, 6/7/2021, 6/14/2021, 6/21/2021 and 7/7/2021. Read the letters from 8 of the 9 objections here.

Photo Credit: City of Beacon’s City Planner, John Clark’s, presentation.

Photo Credit: City of Beacon’s City Planner, John Clark’s, presentation.

Historic District And Landmark Overlay Zone

  • 18 buildings nominated;

  • Includes properties in the Central Main Street District;

  • Proposed nominations are subject to the criteria in the Historic Preservation Chapter, Section 134-4 B Designation of landmarks or historic districts:

    • Distinguishing architectural characteristics of period or style;

    • Special value as part of the cultural or social history of the community;

    • Eligible for State or National Register of Historic Places

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

403 Main Street

  • 2 1/2-story brick building

  • Mansard roof with dormers

  • Arched facade lintels

  • Cornices with dentils

  • Some replacement windows

  • Recent addition west side

  • First shown on 1886 birds-eye view of Matteawan and 1889 Sanborn Map, listed as a saloon.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

378-382 Main Street
BUILDING OWNER OBJECTS - CITY WANTS TO OVERRIDE BY SUPERMAJORITY - READ OWNER’S OBJECTION HERE

  • 3-story brick building

  • Broad bracketed cornice

  • Arched brick lintels

  • Newer but compatible storefronts

  • 1884 Sanborn Map first shows this building, listed as W.H. Jackson Carriage and Sleigh Manufactory. By 1927, it was the H.D. Jackson Carriage and Auto Works.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

372 Main Street
BUILDING OWNER OBJECTS - CITY WANTS TO OVERRIDE BY SUPERMAJORITY - READ OWNER’S OBJECTION HERE

  • Brick church with tower

  • 1st Baptist Church of Matteawan

  • Replacement windows

  • Rear section added 1961

  • Constructed in 1954 with wood front belfry. Rebuilt 1911 with brick bell tower and 1-story contributing rear selection.

City Planner John Clark stated that the Springfield Baptist Church on Mattie Cooper was on the National Historic Registry, and questioned why this church was not. He alluded to it being Baptist. According to Wikipedia, the Springfield Baptist Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010, and was originally an Associate Presbyterian church. The church was built in 1849 and was expanded and improved upon over the decades.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

374 Main Street

  • 3-story brick building

  • Broad bracketed cornice

  • Original storefront cornice

  • Stone lintels and sills

  • Storefront modified, but compatible

  • Replacement windows

  • East side modern mural and fire escape

  • 1889 construction date on facade

  • 1896 Sanborn Map labels building as a saloon and “The Plaza”

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

315 Main Steet

  • 3- to 4-story painted brick building

  • Elaborated cornice

  • Arched lintels

  • Side bay windows

  • Storefront modified, but compatible

  • Replacement windows sashes

  • Three west side fire escapes

  • Front section on 1884 Sanborn Map, listed as a gunsmith

  • Rear section on 1912 map with 4-story middle section added by 1919

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

288 Main Street

  • Former Roosevelt Theater

  • 1 1/2-story brick building

  • Shaped parapet roof line

  • 1930s Art Deco elements

  • Non-historic front windows

  • Building on 1919 Sanborn Map, listed as a garage

  • Converted to movie house in 1934 with taller rear addition

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

284 Main Street

  • 3-story painted brick building

  • Broad cornice with dentils

  • Stone lintels and sills on front side

  • Recessed window well on east side

  • Non-historic storefront level

  • Replacement window sashes

  • Front and rear fire escapes

  • Building first shown on 1919 Sanborn Map, listed as dwellings

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

274 Main Street
BUILDING OWNER OBJECTS - CITY WANTS TO OVERRIDE BY SUPERMAJORITY - READ OWNER’S OBJECTION HERE

  • 3-story brick building

  • Bracketed and arching cornice

  • Stone lintels and sills

  • Non-historic storefront and overhang

  • Replacement window sashes

  • Original side bay windows resurfaced with modern materials

  • East side fire escape

  • Modern 1-story, block addition

  • First shown on 1896 Sanborn Map, listed as liquor store

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

291 Main Street
BUILDING OWNER OBJECTS - CITY WANTS TO OVERRIDE BY SUPERMAJORITY - READ OWNER’S OBJECTION HERE

  • Hudson River Telephone Co. Building

  • 2-story brick building with stone base

  • Broad cornice with modillions and dentils

  • Facade pilasters with capitals on front side

  • Brick lintels with large stone central keys

  • Unusual multi-color brick pattern

  • One matching window added on east side

  • Telephone Building opened October 1907

Pro-Tip: This building was voluntarily restored to historic detail by the former building owner, Deborah Bigelow, who is a restoration artist.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

269 Main Street

  • 1-story brick building

  • 5 bays divided by brick pilasters with metal medallions above

  • Original windows with industrial-type windows on rear section

  • Newer front metal door

  • Added window awnings

  • Building opened on January 21, 1929 for The Beacon News with printing presses located in the rear section

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

257 Main Street
BUILDING OWNER OBJECTS - CITY WANTS TO OVERRIDE BY SUPERMAJORITY - READ OWNER’S OBJECTION HERE

  • 2-story painted brick building with 3 sections divided by pilasters

  • Projecting corbeled brick cornice

  • Arching brick lintels with stone sills

  • Central storefront modernized, but others retain original character

  • Modern garage in far side of rear parking lot

  • Building first shown on 1896 Sanborn Map with multiple businesses, including a barber, grocery, and candy store

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

250 Main Street
BUILDING OWNER OBJECTS - CITY WANTS TO OVERRIDE BY SUPERMAJORITY - READ OWNER’S OBJECTION HERE

  • 3-story brick building

  • Bracketed cornice with modillions

  • Arched brick lintels and stone sills

  • Storefront surrounds look original, but window and door are modern

  • Replacement window sashes

  • Bricked-up side windows and modern garage to rear

  • Building first shown on 1912 Sanborn Map with 3-level rear porch, labeled haberdasher

  • Rear 1-story addition after 1927

Photo Credit: City of Beacon’s City Planner, John Clark’s, presentation.

Photo Credit: City of Beacon’s City Planner, John Clark’s, presentation.

246 Main Street
BUILDING OWNER OBJECTS - CITY WANTS TO OVERRIDE BY SUPERMAJORITY - READ OWNER’S OBJECTION HERE

  • 3-story brick building

  • Elaborate cornice

  • Arched brick lintels and stone sills

  • Historically compatible storefronts

  • Possible replacement window sashes

  • Modern rounded awnings and rear fire escape

  • Building first shown on 1889 Sanborn Map with candy manufacturer on west side and saloon on east side; 1919 listed as Bennett Hotel

  • 1-story rear section added by 1919

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

232 Main Street

  • 3-story brick building

  • Wide cornice with regular brackets

  • Stone lintels and sills

  • Patterned brickwork around windows

  • 2 over 2 window sashes

  • Historic-quality storefront

  • Building first appears on the 1896 Sanborn Map, listed as grocery store

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

172 Main Street (facing Cross Street) aka 4 Cross Street
BUILDING OWNER OBJECTS - CITY WANTS TO OVERRIDE BY SUPERMAJORITY - READ OWNER’S OBJECTION HERE

  • 2 1/2-story brick building

  • Arched brick lintels and stone sills

  • Stone course along lower front and stone steps

  • Recessed front doorway with wood panels

  • Two bricked-in windows on side

  • Replacement windows

  • Modern hand railing at front steps

  • Current building shows up between 1912 and 1919 Sanborn Maps

Photo Credit: City of Beacon’s City Planner, John Clark’s, presentation.

Photo Credit: City of Beacon’s City Planner, John Clark’s, presentation.

152 Main Street (middle of block)

  • 2-story painted brick buildings

  • L-shaped, utilitarian former factory

  • Some bricked-up openings

  • Newer windows, trim, and doors

  • Modern 1-story garage on east side

  • Eastern wing dates back to 1884, listed on Sanborn Map as a flour and feed warehouse

  • Western wing build by 1912 as a livery and by 1927 was a warehouse

  • In 1947 building a leather coat factory

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

1154 North Avenue
BUILDING OWNER OBJECTS - CITY WANTS TO OVERRIDE BY SUPERMAJORITY - READ OWNER’S OBJECTION HERE

  • 2-story brick commercial garage

  • Wide cornice with brackets

  • Arched brick lintels and stone sills

  • Faded painted signs on side walls

  • New garage door

  • Closed southwest storefront

  • Replacement windows

  • Listed on 1884 Sanborn Map as part of corner hotel building

  • North Avenue Garage by 1912 and later Hoffman Motors

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

Photo Credit: From the presentation by John Clark, City of Beacon’s City Planner.

1158 North Avenue

  • 2-story brick commercial building

  • Parapet wall with central pediment

  • 4 first-level brick pilasters

  • Brick window lintels and stone sills

  • Some replacement window sashes

  • Built before 1919 as showroom for North Avenue Garage

Bannerman Island's First Tours of 2021 Starts This Sunday, June 20

167417640_4092526740787065_4842871914497425028_n.jpg

Bannerman Island's First Tours of 2021
Day:
June 20, 2021
Time: 11 am - 5 pm
Location: Pollepel Island, Fishkill, NY
Here's your chance to visit Bannerman Island on the Hudson River! Cruises for the Island will be departing from the waterfronts in Beacon and Newburgh, New York, on the Estuary Steward. Tours will likely sell out in advance and follow all COVID protocols
Tour Highlights:

  • A scenic cruise on the Hudson River to and from the Island.

  • A guided walking tour of Bannerman Island where you'll learn about the Island, the work being done on it, and it's storied past; including areas previously not accessible to the public.

  • Enjoy walking among the many gardens that are maintained around the Island.

  • Entry into the recently-opened Bannerman family residence.

  • Multiple photo opportunities in one of the most picturesque settings in the Hudson Valley.
    Information >

The Beacon MTA Man Arrested By FBI For Entering U.S. Capitol Emerges From Court; FIT Student Arrested; The Hopewell Man Behind Trump's Twitter

local-people-and-insurrection-capitol-MAIN.png

A Little Beacon Blog does not follow police blotters, as local print publications like the Beacon Free Press and the Highlands Current usually do. The City of Beacon has begun publishing the results of its own police blotter (it’s a slimmed down version, so no competition to the more detailed notes the papers publish), as a result of police reform moves that started after the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis which erupted a movement in favor of better treatment of Black people and the BIOPIC community across the nation.

When the Beacon resident, William Pepe, was charged by the FBI, and placed on a “Seeking Information” page by the FBI, several people wrote in to A Little Beacon Blog, looking for an article here. While the article was covered by both local (Highlands Current) and national newspapers (New York Times) as well as international (The Daily Mail), readers were looking for a version here as well, perhaps for historical purposes. But, as we reached out to locals who are regular readers of A Little Beacon Blog, they still hadn’t heard of these local arrests or affiliations. To our surprise. So, we will include a version here as well. Our version will take a look at a sampling of local people who have been written about in the media who contributed to the beliefs of why people stormed the U.S. Capitol.

William Pepe

According to reporting from the Daily Mail, the New York Times and the Highlands Current, William Pepe attended the storming of the U.S. Capitol, now known as an insurrection, and posted a selfie of himself to his social media. The FBI arrested him on Tuesday, (1-12-2020) and he was federally charged with remaining in a restricted government building, and also faces charges of disrupting orderly conduct of government, according to the Daily Mail.

William has worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) for 7 years, and was working at the Brewster yard in White Plains when he was arrested in a bank parking lot, according to the Highlands Current, and has been suspended from his $73K/year job without pay. As an employee for the MTA, he is a federal employee and is under the protection of its union, Local 30 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, the president of which said they were “disappointed” in his behavior, according to the article. According to an MTA spokesperson quoted in the article, the MTA is considering firing William, and any action “will be disciplined in accordance with their collective bargaining agreement pending an investigation,” said the spokesperson. That spokesperson went on to say: “'This alleged conduct is abhorrent and goes against the values of Metro-North, New York and the nation.”

According to the MTA, William had called in sick on January 6, 2021, which the MTA said is a “false use of sick leave,” according to the Daily Mail. The spokesperson went on to say: 'Those who attacked that symbol of American democracy disqualified themselves from working for the people of New York,' in the article.

William appeared in court last Wednesday (1-13-2021), where he was released on $10,000 bond, and must hand over his shotgun and hunting knife, according to the article. He must wear a GPS monitoring device, and abide by a nighttime curfew.

If William is convicted, he faces one year in jail for this federal offense. “If it is found that he used or carried a deadly weapon or firearm at the time, he could face 10 years,” according to the Daily Mail.

FIT Student From Staten Island Arrested For Attack On Capitol Building

A student, Nicolas Moncada, who attended FIT was arrested in his home in Staten Island after posting social media selfies of himself “storming the Capitol” as he stated in his social media, according to Gothamist. He stated he was "Outside Pelosi's office," according to the federal complaint reported by Gothamist. According to the article, fellow students and staff identified him.

According to a photo posted by Nicolas, he attended “a protest at Mac's Public House, the Staten Island bar that defied COVID restrictions, where he held up a T-shirt reading "Stop the Steal," a reference to the baseless claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged,” according to Gothamist. The owner of that bar was arrested for allegedly ramming into a Deputy Sheriff with his car who was trying to stop him from operating his bar illegally. Allegedly, that bar owner drove with the Deputy Sherrif hanging onto the hood of his car for 100 yards. The officer was hospitalized for his injuries, and the video of the officer being driven on top of the car of Mac’s Public House was posted on the New York Post.

Hopewell Man, Dan Scavino, Runs Trump’s Twitter Account

Dan Scavino, who hails from Hopewell Junction, was hired to run Donald’s Trump Twitter account, before it was banned in 2021. Dan started as golf caddie for Trump since at least 2010, worked for the golf course renamed Trump National Golf Course Hudson Valley (unknown why “national” and the local name is there), when Trump purchased the course previously named Branton Woods Golf Course.

Dan has been loyal to Trump’s voice via Twitter, and Dan’s own personal Twitter account, since working for him while in the White House. You can read more about Dan at the Times Herold-Record Online, and through other Google searches.

Some of Dan’s Tweets read like this: