Amenia aligns with Hochul’s Pro-Housing Commitment

Amenia aligns with Hochul’s Pro-Housing Commitment

Amenia Town Hall

John Coston

AMENIA — By unanimous vote, the board adopted a Pro-Housing Commitment to promote opportunities for affordable housing at their regular meeting on Thursday, Feb. 15.

The commitment aligns the town with a 2023 executive order issued by Gov. Kathy Hochul, by which the state will prioritize distribution of discretionary funding to be directed toward towns that promote construction of affordable housing.

Town Supervisor Leo Blackman explained that to be eligible for state funding, the town needs to adopt the pro-housing policy.

The pro-housing program was discussed at a joint budget hearing at the New York State Legislature Wednesday, Feb. 14, when RuthAnne Visnauskas, commissioner of New York State Homes and Community Renewal, spoke of the newly instituted initiative.

Although the budget hearing focused mainly on downstate urban housing challenges, discussion among panelists and legislators turned briefly to the issues of infrastructure costs such as water, sewer and transportation associated with smaller towns seeking to create affordable housing opportunities.

“Local governments don’t want sticks; they want carrots,” one legislator said.

“We are willing to work with all communities to help them get certified,” Viskauskas said of the pro-housing certification program.

At the Town Board meeting on Thursday, Amenia Councilwoman Rosanna Hamm said, “We recognize that we need affordable housing and that we support the idea of affordable housing.”

She added that no particular location for potential projects is implied by participating in the pro-housing program.

“It’s a commitment to affordable housing opportunities,” Councilman Brad Rebillard agreed.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, residents repeated their concerns about an affordable housing project being proposed by Hudson River Housing (HRH) of Poughkeepsie, the owner of property on Spruce Hill. A request for a change in zoning to permit multifamily apartment buildings as part of the planning for the project has alarmed neighboring residents.

Building upon comments offered at earlier Town Board meetings, resident Salvatore LaRosa detailed continued concern about the HRH request for a zone change that would extend the existing Hamlet Residential (HR) zone to include the HRH project. He voiced concern about safety hazards represented by the cliff and steep drop-off to the former ore bed adjacent to the property, where there has been a death.

“We have heard the residents’ concerns,” said Mary Linge, vice president for real estate development, representing HRH at the meeting. “All concerns will be addressed through the Planning Board process,” she added.

“We will listen and address all concerns to the best of our abilities. We want to work together,” Linge said. She added that the site plan being developed for the Planning Board application process is only a starting point that can be revised to accommodate residents’ concerns.

Latest News

Gilbert Kenneth Schoonmaker

WINSTED — Gilbert Kenneth Schoonmaker, of Monroe, Connecticut, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2025, at the age of 77. Born on Jan. 18, 1948, in Winsted, Connecticut to Gilbert and Alta (Bierce) Schoonmaker, Gil spent four decades enjoying life on Highland Lake before settling in Monroe.

He is lovingly survived by his wife of 56 years, Sally (Gustafson) Schoonmaker, and his two daughters, Lynn Sindland and her husband Lee of Lead Hill, Arkansas, and Deb Pikiell and her husband Tim of Bristol, Connecticut. Gil was a proud grandfather to Ozzie, Tommy, Betsy, Katie, George, Lucy, Maddie, Joey, and Julia, and he cherished his time with his eight great-grandchildren. Gilbert leaves behind his siblings Ann, Gary, Gail, Jan, and Tim.

Keep ReadingShow less
Village meeting to explore ICE cooperation limits set for Tuesday, July 29

The Millerton Village Offices on Route 22 north of the intersection with Route 44.

Photo by Aly Morrissey

MILLERTON — The anticipated follow-up to the May 21 special meeting regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement will take place Tuesday, July 29, at 6 p.m. Legal counsel for the village is expected to attend.

At the May meeting, nearly 20 residents and community members urged the village board to adopt a local law limiting cooperation between Millerton’s police and ICE, aiming to protect immigrants, including undocumented individuals. While no resolution was reached, Mayor Jenn Najdek committed to holding a follow-up meeting where village legal counsel would be present to help clarify questions and explore the proposal in more depth.

Keep ReadingShow less
Books and bites beckon at the upcoming Sharon Summer Book Signing

Author and cartoonist Peter Steiner signed books at Sharon Summer Book Signing last summer.

Photo by Stephanie Stanton

The 27th annual Sharon Summer Book Signing at the Hotchkiss Library of Sharon will be held Friday, Aug. 1, from 4:45 to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 3, at noon.

Friday’s festivities will honor libraries and the power of the written word. In attendance will be 29 locally and nationally recognized authors whose books will be for sale. With a wide array of genres including historical fiction, satire, thrillers, young adult and non-fiction, there will be something for every reader.

Keep ReadingShow less
Voices from Ukraine to America come to Stissing Center July 27

Ukraine Emergency Fundraiser at The Stissing Center in 2022 raised over $120,000 for Sunflower of Peace.

Photo by Michael Churton

The spirit of Ukraine will be on display at the Stissing Center in Pine Plains on Sunday, July 27. Beginning at 5 p.m., the “Words to America from Ukraine” fundraiser is set to showcase the simultaneous beauty of Ukrainian culture and the war-time turmoil it faces, all the while fundraising in support of Ukrainian freedom.

“Words to America from Ukraine” aims to remind and spread awareness for the suffering that often gets forgotten by those who live in comfortable worlds, explained Leevi Ernits, an organizer for the event. “We are trying to make an attempt to remind people that we are human, and we are connected with human values,” she said. “With very few words, poetry can express very deep values.”

Keep ReadingShow less