Massive fire at historic hospital site puts languishing redevelopment plans in even more doubt
An architect who helped shape the project said Enviro Finance Group should recommit itself to the project or "get out of the way and let someone who deeply cares and understands the significance of this site" take on the project.
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Yvonne Laube, of the Town of Poughkeepsie Historic Preservation Commission, says she is not sure what will come of a plan to build 750 homes at the site of the former Hudson River State Psychiatric Center following Wednesday's fire, while also preserving six 150-year-old buildings.
"This has been a passion project of mine," she said when she visited the still hazy site off Route 9 Thursday morning. "I was trying with the preservation commission to see how much we could save and reuse as possible."
While she is disappointed that the project, first planned in 2015, has not yet yielded one home, she is not blaming anyone for the fire, as the cause is still under investigation.
Fascinated locals and visitors frequented the site while security continued to be lacking, project supporters said.
Dr. Robert Kirkbride, of historical design group Preservation Works, advocated for the project being developed by Enviro Finance Group.
He said in a Zoom interview Thursday many other similar projects he has advocated for have had better security and better protected their historic properties.
In addition, those other projects are actually being built.
Kirkbride was "tragically sad" about the fire, not entirely surprised. He said Enviro Finance Group should recommit itself to the project or "get out of the way and let someone who deeply cares and understands the significance of this site" take on the project.
"There should also be due diligence to understand if there's a better way to respect the site," he added.
News 12 has sent multiple inquiries to Enviro Finance Group and other companies associated with the project with questions about security and the future of the project.
As of Thursday afternoon, no inquiries have been answered.
A July 2016 press release celebrating the beginning of the now-stalled project touted the project as "a new beginning for the Hudson Valley and "the cornerstone of the community."
