An informational session on the proposed closure of a portion of Huguenot Street to motor vehicles elicited an overwhelmingly positive response from those in attendance at last week’s New Paltz Village Board meeting. Some residents were concerned about exactly what portion of the road would be closed, and appeared relieved upon learning that no residences would be affected. The plan is to stop traffic from the monument at North Front Street up to Broadhead Avenue only, to prevent additional damage to the foundations of the stone houses along that stretch. There are some historic properties south of that section which might be similarly protected in the future, but at this time such a closure would make it impossible to access private homes nearby. Maintenance of the stretch would fall under the purview of Historic Huguenot Street, and the asphalt may eventually be replaced with a surface both more historic and more able to absorb runoff, which also imperils the stone houses.
Former mayor Tom Nyquist said that these same concerns were raised during his administration, which is when through traffic past the monument was blocked off in an effort to address them, as well as drivers who sped through the area while using Huguenot Street as a bypass. “It hasn’t worked that well,” he acknowledged; drivers regularly make illegal turns around the monument to stay on Huguenot Street, and one car last year struck and damaged the monument itself. Facebook users have openly acknowledged breaking that law, even going so far as to complain about the inconvenience.
Historic Huguenot Street (HHS) executive director Mary Etta Schneider said that this change — which will require a written agreement between representatives of HHS and the village — will make this iconic historic district into a “gathering place” and park for residents. There will also no longer be any need to file paperwork for the frequent road closures needed for programming, such as the Halloween trick-or-treating event.
While preserving the buildings is important, Mayor Tim Rogers said that this will have many other benefits. “It’s different down there,” he said, calling the historic district a “sanctuary” that New Paltz residents could better enjoy without having to look out for cars; it would be “enhancing a public space.”
Residents of “New Paltz [don’t] agree on anything,” observed village trustee Don Kerr, but “I haven’t heard anything against.”
Kerr also pointed out to the trustees that village employees regularly drive municipal trucks down North Front Street onto Huguenot Street on their way to the water treatment plant, despite no trucks being allowed on that portion of Huguenot Street either. LeFevre House, which is presently the structure with the most foundation damage, is on that part of the street. Rogers said he would speak with Superintendent of Public Works Bleu Terwilliger about that.
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