More LEGISLATURE STUFF

Along the River and Into the Woods

CATSKILL - Things aren’t moving swiftly but time is measured differently on the Hudson River where the Greene County Legislature has taken the necessary next step in shoring up the Shoreline at The Point.

Lawmakers, at a meeting earlier this week, passed a resolution authorizing the advertisement of bids for stabilization of the historic site in Catskill which serves as a significant tourism draw.

Catskill Point, at the southernmost tip of the confluence of the river and the Catskill Creek, is also home to the iconic Freight Masters building and Maritime Museum.

And a large warehouse that opens to the aged waters has a double-duty as a spot for veterans memorial functions, weddings, banquets, etc.

The land is a popular walking spot for people and pets, located adjacent to a small park and boat launch, offering stirring views of the Rip Van Winkle Bridge and Olana, the preserved home of Hudson River School artist Frederic Edwin Church.

Amtrak trains regularly run along tracks on the opposite shore of the river and large vessels frequently pass by, inspiring reminiscences of Henry Hudson and his exploratory wooden sailing ships.

Consistent erosion is evident behind the warehouse, next to the Museum, threatening to severely undermine the structures and a landing dock.

Lawmakers, in the summer of 2022, established a Capital Project for the project, hiring Barton & Loguidice Engineering to prepare the requisite specifications, drawings and other bidding and contract papers.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Department of State and US Army Corps of Engineers are all involved in the effort from a permitting standpoint.

DEC, in August, 2023, issued an Article 15 Excavation & Fill Permit and Blanket Water Quality Certification for the project and the Department of State issued a General Concurrence letter in October, 2023.

Lawmakers, approving the bid resolution, confirmed that the stabilization project meets the criteria for classification as a Type II action under the SEQRA regulations

“The project will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment and no additional review is required for the project,” the measure states.

Engineers note the work will include necessary stabilization of the shoreline including installation of a sheet pile bulkhead, geo-grid tie backs, riprap and stone fill.

The work further entails renovation and repair of the existing shoreline structures, refinishing the wooden deck, repair/replacement of bulkhead and timber pylons, repair/replacement of decorative railing and gates, as well as asphalt repair.

Minor repairs have been made over the years but destabilization is steadily worsening, persistently devouring more river bank.

“The damage goes deep down into the river. We’ve sent divers down and we have determined this absolutely has to be done,” legislature chairman Patrick Linger says.

County leaders have been keeping a watchful eye on The Point for a long while, setting aside $1.25 million for the massive undertaking, wishing for good bids and starting as soon as winter’s chill leaves.

The county, back in 2021, tried to secure a $1.1 million grant from FEMA but came up empty in that effort and others.

In other matters:

—Lawmakers authorized county highway superintendent Scott Templeton to appoint CDM Smith as consultants for engineering design services for the rehabilitation of the Platte Clove Bridge.

The historic and visual striking bridge spans Plattekill Creek in the rugged outer regions of the town of Hunter, a hikers paradise.

Federal and local dollars will finance the project. The county was assisted by the New York State County Highway Superintendents Association and State Department of Transportation in preparing a list of potential consultants for highway structure and related facility design.

Plans call for preserving the beauty of the stone bridge which, viewed from beneath, forms a graceful arch, picturesquely and perfectly blending with the surrounding woods and deep gorges. 

Five “Requests for Proposal” were received off the designated list of qualified consultants with CDM Smith achieving a high rating of 91 out of 100, officials say.

CDM Smith, headquartered in Latham, was chosen, “based on the following evaluation criteria,” the legislative resolution states.

That criteria included, “the qualifications of the project manager and proposed staff described in their submittal,” the resolution states.

Templeton was further convinced by the firm’s “experience with Federal-aid projects of similar scope, familiarity with the project area and experience with Greene County” and the State Office of Historic Preservation.

Other considerations included “the geographic location of the firm in relation to the project site; a demonstrated understanding of the project, reasonableness of the proposed approach and schedule and the conciseness and completeness of the proposal,” the resolution states.