The Changing Fortunes of Hudson, New York

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I first drove through the town of Hudson, New York, forty years ago. Back then it was in the midst of a huge local depression. The deindustrialization of the northern half of the United States had hit the area hard, and its main drag, Warren Street was filled with empty storefronts. It industrial buildings had been abandoned. There was no reason to stop in Hudson in 1986.

 




Over the decades things started to change. A few new businesses opened. Some artists were discovering the northern Hudson River Valley, where they could get large homes and studios at small prices, but Hudson was still a town in distress in the early 2000’s. Then the pandemic happened. People in New York City and Albany started looking for places to escape to, especially if they could work from home, and Hudson had a lot to offer. As a real estate agent might say, “It has good bones.’ 

 





Many of the buildings in town were constructed out of brick, and while they needed work, they were still in decent shape. Out of the the center of town, houses with acres of land were available at prices that were relatively inexpensive. So telecommuters from New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley began to move in. For others, the 45 minute commute to Albany began to seem reasonable. New residents, especially ones who had money to spend, attracted new businesses. Today Warren Street is lined with restaurants, clothing stores, and home furnishing shops.

 












Another attraction of Hudson is that it sits on a major Amtrak line. Twenty-four trains a day, twelve in each direction, stop at its station. This helps to make Hudson a vacation destination, either for short term, or for those who are looking to own a second home.

 



 



In addition to its downtown, Hudson’s riverfront has also been revived. There is a beautiful park and a public dock. Former industrial buildings have been transformed into modern event spaces. Basilica Hudson occupies a refurbished factory that was built as a foundry for train wheels, and then served as a glue factory.

 

Basilica Hudson





One historic building still waiting for some TLC is the Dunn Warehouse. It served for years as a “gasholders house,” storing coal gas to be used as fuel by residents and industries in Hudson. There have been several plans for the building put forward. But other than roof repairs, little has been done so far.

 







 

 

In forty years, Hudson has changed from a depressed town to one that has begun to thrive again. Today it is worth a visit if you are exploring in the Hudson River Valley.

 




 









Location: Hudson, NY 12534, USA

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