On August 20, Hudson Area Library Director Emily Chameides, library Board President Gary Sheffer and Board Vice President Dani French met with Bard College officials to discuss the future of the Armory, the building that houses the library. In July, Bard College announced that the building owner, the Galvan Foundation, was donating a real estate portfolio, including the Armory, to Bard. Attending the meeting for Bard were its CFO, development director, head of libraries, and a project manager for the Galvan donation.
Bard said during the meeting it was conducting due diligence on the Armory, the results of which will influence its decision whether to accept the building. Should it become the owner of the Armory, Bard officials said:
- They will honor existing lease agreements for any building they accept from Galvan.
- Bard does not intend to become involved in the operation of the library.
- Bard would be interested in exploring potential partnerships with the library on programs, exhibits, and other activities.
The library has three leases with Galvan for space at the Armory. They include a $1 a month lease (plus utility payments) for the main library space, previously called the Armory’s “drill shed.” Two other leases, covering the community room and office space on the first floor and in the basement, total about $35,000 a year. The leases have different renewal timeframes, but, in essence, run through 2046. The Armory’s other tenants are Perfect Ten, the City of Hudson Senior Center, and The CoARC Starting Place.
The Hudson Area Library is an independent nonprofit association library, chartered by the state Board of Regents of the New York State Education Department. We are funded through a combination of private donations and public funds, including by taxpayers in the City of Hudson and the towns of Greenport and Stockport.
As more information becomes available, the library’s board of trustees and staff will keep the community informed about our leased space at the armory.