Residents press Hudson City Council to review Mil Street contract after missed closing date

A group of residents urged the Hudson City Council on Monday to review the 2023 agreement that sold Mil Street property to a private developer, saying the buyer missed a May 3, 2026 closing deadline and has not advanced related projects required by the sale.

Jack, a Mil Street resident who introduced himself at the meeting, said the developer had made no progress on the State Street property, which the contract said would add 21 housing units, a daycare and a business incubator. "The closing date was May 3rd of 2026. You'll notice that today is past that date," Jack said. He asked the council to review the contract and consider whether steps should be taken independent of ongoing litigation.

The council heard several residents raise related concerns about flood-zone risk on Mil Street and whether state funds awarded to the project had been invested in the work that was promised. One resident suggested the housing director be asked in writing why an alternative site was not identified and whether the city could reallocate funding to a site not in a floodplain.

Council members acknowledged the public comments and said the issues should be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. A council member said an attorney-client briefing would likely be scheduled so members can receive confidential legal updates about ongoing litigation and the status of the city’s contractual rights. The chair said, "We will put it on the agenda," and asked staff to include the executed 2023 agreement among the materials for the next meeting.

The public speaker who identified himself as Jack also noted that Article 78 litigation remains pending in connection with related planning board matters; council members stressed the distinction between matters that are in court and items that the legislative body can review administratively. The council did not take any formal action on the sale at Monday’s meeting beyond agreeing to add the contract review to next month’s agenda and to seek legal advice.

Next steps: the council will add the Mil Street contract and related documents to next month’s agenda and consider holding an attorney-client session before public deliberation.