A Neighborhood Just a Little Off Center
Since 2010, Hudson River Housing has been implementing programs to improve the quality of living and community involvement on Main St. in Poughkeepsie. This initiative titled, Middle Main, works to engage members of the community through a series of programs and dynamic strategies.
“A neighborhood just a little off center,” the slogan those at Hudson River Housing have dedicated themselves to, for fulfilling the #Poughtential of Poughkeepsie. Nora Culhane of Hudson River Housing states that there have been blue, street pole banners placed along Main Street so that the area is recognizable and can be easily associated with the efforts to increase awareness and involvement in the area. Through their primary strategies of community empowerment, neighborhood marketing, and neighborhood investment, Middle Main brings the surrounding area together.
In order for the initiatives of Middle Main to flourish, a strong presence in the community is needed. Through their strategy of Community Empowerment, Hudson River Housing works to organize monthly community meet-ups, a selection of arts and cultural events, a leadership program as well as a walking club. Community meet-ups are held on the third Thursday of every month at the Mid-Hudson Heritage Center and members are free to discuss topics of concern and future ideas for the development of Middle Main.
One of the ongoing artistic programs that emerged from Middle Main is the “Pok Pop Up Shop,” which sells Poughkeepsie branded items. Their merchandise can be found at the Mid-Hudson Heritage Center as well as the Arlington Farmer’s market. Culhane speaks of the positive feedback received from the Pok Pop Up Shop merchandise. “The Pop Up Shop sells the designs and work from local artists such as ceramics, hand knit items, t-shirts, etc. We also sell ‘Poughtential’ stickers that have recently sold out!”
Along with community engagement, Hudson River Housing works to incorporate neighborhood marketing and investments to further strengthen the impact of Middle Main. Companies such as Art Centro, Dovetail Associates, Arts Mid-Hudson, and Poughkeepsie Plenty (along with many others) have partnered with Hudson River Housing to offer collaboration in this project.
Coming in January of 2017, Hudson River Housing is renovating and refurbishing the Underwear Factory on Main Street. As described on the Middle Main website, the development of the Underwear Factory is an “anchor project in the Hudson River Housing work to revitalize the Middle Main Street corridor.” There are big plans for the Underwear Factory including the installment of an open kitchen, POK (Poughkeepsie Open Kitchen), that can be rented for use, art studios, and a North River Roasters café. There will also be fifteen loft apartments for rent inside of the Underwear Factory.
Feza Oktay, founder of North River Roasters is excited about the start of this café in the Underwear Factory. He has volunteered with Hudson River Housing for the past eight years and found the prospect of the Underwear Factory to be very appealing. North River Roasters currently sells coffee beans to various vendors including Adams’ Fairacre Farms, the Poughkeepsie Grind, Poughkidsie, and the Bridge Café at Vassar College.
Oktay described the coming of his café as a “home looking for a business, rather than a business looking for a home.” His goal is to create a “community gathering place where people can come together, have a business meeting or just hangout.” Oktay has a multi-faceted goal for this upcoming café and hopes that it not only creates a community gathering place, but provides an experience for those who visit. “Eventually,” Otkay states, “I am hoping to convert North River Roasters café into a worker-owned cooperative, to employ the traditionally unemployed and increase job opportunities in the area.”
In just six years, Hudson River Housing is off to a great start to revitalize Main Street in Poughkeepsie. Culhane notes that this short length of time makes it difficult to determine drastic results and changes in the area; but she is confident that the years to come will expand upon the solid foundation created through the Middle Main initiatives.
