Hutton Brickyards development effort secures approvals
A proposal to develop further the waterfront Hutton Brickyards property as a concert and special events venue has received approval from the city’s Planning Board and Heritage Area Commission.
The Planning Board and Heritage Area Commission held a joint meeting Monday evening to finalize review of the proposal from North Street Brick Works LLC.
During the meeting, the Heritage Area Commission voted 7-0 to adopt a resolution declaring the proposal was consistent with the city’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program, and the Planning Board voted unanimously to declare the project would have no significant harmful effects on the environment. The board also, following a public hearing at which one resident spoke, voted unanimously to approve a fiveyear special permit and the site plan for the project.
North Street Brick Works still must obtain approval from the Kingston Common Council for the proposal to use the parking lot near the BMX track at Kingston Point Park for a shuttle bus turnaround. It also needs council approval for a pedestrian pathway leading from the city-owned beach area at Kingston Point to the Hutton Brickyards site at 200 North St. along the Hudson River.
Following Monday’s meeting, Kevin McManus, a representative for North Street Brick Works, said the developer had not yet begun to schedule special events for the site, with the exception of Scenic Hudson’s annual gala to take place there June 23. He said that event was contingent on North Street Brick Works receiving the approvals it needed from the city.
Stuart Mesinger, of the Chazen Cos., said the idea for the development was to turn the Hutton Brickyards, which is owned by MWest Holdings of California, into an events venue. He said the booking season for such venues begins in January of each year, so there was a rush to get things ready for the season. Mesinger thanked the Heritage Area Commission and Planning Board for their willingness to meet, and he noted the developer has been working on this proposal for about a year. There have been at least a dozen meetings with city officials and staff, he said.
Part of the proposal would be to continue a regular Saturday event like the Smorgasburg Upstate food and flea market that was held at the site the past two summers, Mesinger said. Smorgasburg is not returning this year, but Mesinger said a similar operation, if found, could replace it.
“The idea here is that, over the course of the summer, we might have eight to 10 concert events here, mostly on Saturday night,” Mesinger said. “But it could also be a few days, or on a Sunday night perhaps, for a smaller event. And the site would also be used for things like weddings, parties, reunions, any of the kinds of things where somebody might like a unique site to have some activity.”
The Hutton Brickyards hosted two concerts by folkrock music icon Bob Dylan in June 2017, as well as the Smorgasburg Upstate market on summer weekends in 2016 and 2017.
Individual events at the site would require their own permits from the city, including a noise permit.
Mesinger said proposed improvements at the site include doubling the parking and refurbishing some of the existing buildings. He said the improvements would include a 3,000-seat “shed space” for the largest events, as well as space for smaller festivals or events. There also would be two hospitality areas, a 16-key
inn, a ticketing kiosk and a seasonal 36-site “glamp-ground” for luxury camping.
The developer also plans to widen a section of North Street to improve access, Mesinger said. He also said a caretaker’s home would be created at the site.