April 28th, 2012
For Sale: Hudson River State Hospital
They finally went and did it. The organization behind the proposed mixed-use redevelopment of the former Hudson River State Hospital campus has put the property, along with its magnificently sprawling Kirkbride building, on the real estate market. All CPC Resources‘ plans for Hudson Heritage Park are dead. For details, check out the Poughkeepsie Journal’s Psych Center Site Development Plan Stalls.
This doesn’t come as a big surprise given the devastating fire in 2007, the backing out of project partners in 2008, and the long-term lack of news about the redevelopment plans. In my opinion, the chances for preservation of the Kirkbride are greatly reduced by this sale. I doubt whoever purchases the property in this economic climate will have preservation of an historic property high on their agenda.
time to start a petition folks b4 we lose another very important building to the planners and diggers
Hey Frank, I’m thinking about doing that very thing. The site cost a lot of money… You wouldn’t happen to know anyone who could help with the down payment by an chance?
Yeah there asking $14,000,000 for the property, I dont think the Kirkbride is much Danger from developers, if anything its Deterioration that threatens it. In today’s economy noone’s gonna pay that much money since the buildings are falling apart. The Kirkbride which I have been inside recently Being in the Fire Dept is falling apart, there’s holes in the floors the size of Cadillacs, the first floor of the old female wing is in the basement, Recently due to safety reasons all the doors to access that wing were welded shut. All the lead paint is falling off the walls and ceilings which is a health hazard. Administration part of the building is the only part still savable but not by much. The Building is under preotection by the state as a Historical building so Developers cant tear it down without going through the red tape which could take years. So if you want to start a petition, you have plenty of time.
If someone were to buy it they could do what the man who bought weston state hospital did. He charged a fee but opened the property there to the public for ghost hunting. Yes alot of people don’t believe in it but due to the fact it was a Psychiatric center, people will pay to do it. A one night 8 hour ghost hunting fee is $100 a person there and a minimum of 10 people per group and people pay it, He completely restored the kirkbride there on the funds doing that. This kirkbride would have to remain shut until restored to a safe condition but there’s alot of other buildings. But to do that in todays Financial state is also a gamble.
That is what I would like to do with the Hudson River state hospital. Do something similar to what they did to pennhurst. If anyone is interested let me know. Looking for partners to make my dream come to life.
Growing up in the area, I have just now heard the property is for sale once more [while I was back visiting family]. Does anyone have any updates?
I wonder if forming a coalition/organization to start a fundraiser to get the down payment would be a good idea. With the advent of sites like Indiegogo, it’s certainly a possibility. The folks who wanted to turn Tesla’s old lab into a museum were able to do it: http://www.indiegogo.com/teslamuseum
If anyone wants to do it, do let me know — I’d love to put any of my web/graphic design skills to use and be involved.
Eri
doveerikams@gmail.com
Thinking about taking a trip up there in the summer with the family and hopefully looking inside of this place aileen.brouillard@yahoo.com
lets get a fundraiser going to put a down payment on this place and save it. I’m in :D
my email is aileen.brouillard@yahoo.com
is this place haunted?? that would be sweet
Hey guys,
I’m in for helping this place be restored. I mean, I love history, buildings, acting, music, and bowling, and this place, has all that :) I say we save this place! Keep me posted!
Greg H
Hi there, I was curious if this property was finally bought? I would be interested in being able to use it for filming purposes and would love o be in contact with the owner. If someone could email me with any information, that would be most excellent!
my uncle spent many years here because they thought he was mentally ill. It turned out he was not mentally ill but had an hereditary brain disorder. I lost 4 cousins (his children ) from the same disorder and none of them were committed because today they know what it is. I often wanted to see where he was kept and what kind of treatment can they give someone without knowing what they have. They found his real illness when he died and allerted the family so they knew what they were dealing with.