Giving away Port Jervis bluestone?

ANYA TIKKA
Posted 8/21/12

PORT JERVIS, NY — At a recent Common Council meeting, many residents spoke about the fate of the city’s old bluestone sidewalks, mostly protesting against a proposed change. Mayor Kelly Decker …

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Giving away Port Jervis bluestone?

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PORT JERVIS, NY — At a recent Common Council meeting, many residents spoke about the fate of the city’s old bluestone sidewalks, mostly protesting against a proposed change. Mayor Kelly Decker had reported on Facebook before the meeting he’d been approached by Peter Hill of New England Architectural Center, whose company has been replacing bluestone sidewalks with concrete in other towns in exchange for the bluestone. Hill had offered to replace sidewalks in Port Jervis next to three city parks free of charge, if allowed to take the bluestone. Those who spoke, raised questions about Hill’s motivation, and wanted to know what the bluestone would bring on the open market.

Decker said, “I want people to know about it. My job is to seek opportunities and growth for our city. When I’m presented with an offer, I present it to the council, the council votes on it.”

Residents at the meeting and those commenting on Facebook were skeptical.

Decker said Hill would take the bluestone steps of the school that are still there, and sell them to a buyer who does preservation projects, in exchange for fixing, with concrete, the sidewalks “of the upper Church Street park from the north end of the property to the fire hydrant near Hill Street.” The company would also replace bluestone sidewalks at Mother’s Park with concrete sidewalks and green space and “reset the entire Skinners Park with bluestone and handicapped accessible corners.”

Decker also reported Hill said he’ll sell the bluestone for $18,000, and that the value of the work in exchange was reportedly $49,500. Hill also acknowledged it was not high-density concrete, but “4000 psi, with steel mesh reinforcement, at four inches thick as recommended by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration.”

Hill’s Facebook comment in response to Decker’s question was, “Kowal Brothers, Hufcut Concrete and New England Architectural Center are obviously trying to benefit the citizens of the City of Port Jervis with the needed materials and labor to provide repairs to these City parks. We would sincerely appreciate any assistance the city may be able to provide with its willingness to access bluestone that may be in city storage to help control our costs in this effort.”

But residents questioned why Hill, who’s from out of town, was so interested in implementing New York State initiatives for safe school streets, and suggested he was trying to get the bluestone and sell it for large profit.

Sharon Siegel said that bluestone is a rare commodity, and a builder can’t buy the sizes of the bluestone that exist in Port Jervis. Sharon, whose husband Stan is on city council, was opposed to the deal. She said that where bluestone had been replaced with cement in places like Brooklyn, it was already cracking.

Stan Siegel said, “We can’t just keep giving away our history. It’s a big deal. It’s the heart of our history, to give it away for some sidewalks… it’s a wrong thing to do.”

Resident Sarah Hendry said she’d called private companies, and was told by the owner of one it was probably an inappropriate deal, and that there’s a shortage of bluestone right now, and it could be sold for top dollar.

The council voted to postpone any decisions about the exchange until further information has been evaluated.

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