Pre-Pandemic Art Gallery Closure: Interview With Erica Hauser of Catalyst Gallery

Back before the time of COVID, there was unease on Beacon’s Main Street, as a turnover of retail establishments was happening, and the drumbeat against landlords was beginning at City Council, spearheaded by Councilperson Terry Nelson, who represents Ward 1. Because business is personal, reasons for businesses closing can be numerous and not always obvious (see past article about the cupcake shop Get Frosted and Underground Beacon - who was saved, but now recently closed due to COVID).

Catalyst Gallery, formerly at 137 Main Street, run by husband and wife team Erica Hauser and Jon Reichert, was a gallery based on a pop-up model. An artist could rent the space for the month or longer, and host a show. Catalyst was one of the first locations for the For Goodness Bake fundraisers, and Catalyst’s small-works sales.

When Catalyst announced their closure in February 2020, A Little Beacon Blog reached out for an interview, got it, and then the pandemic hit. Our publishing cycle got loopy, thereby delaying this piece. With the opening of 2 new businesses where Catalyst was (the smoother store Blend just opened in the storefront next door, and a pottery studio has just opened where Catalyst was), we are running this article.

Erica was often the face of the gallery, and is a voracious artist herself, when not helping stack wood for her family’s wood cutting business. In February 2020, just before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and everything shut down, Catalyst announced they were closing. At first there was sadness, which possibly turned to relief after the unexpected shutdown happened.

As a background to this location, the Catalyst Gallery was in a block of buildings that had been owned by one family in Beacon - the Piccone’s - who sold it to a new family of Joe Donovan of Hudson Todd LLC.

A Little Beacon Blog reached out to Erica to gain some insight into the “Why” behind their decision. Her interview is below.

ALBB: How was your landlord? Did you get pushed out with high rent?
“Our landlord has been good to us and I want to convey that. The owners before that were On The Square. They were good too because they kept our rent affordable, I can't speak to how they were for any other tenants. To be completely at the mercy of owners, I mean we could have been gone in two years. But it worked out and we were able to really establish something. For a while. :)

“We were lucky in that our rent increased very gradually over the 7 years, even after a change in building ownership. If it had gone up drastically, we would not have been able to sustain it. We could have managed 1 more year at the slight rent increase for 2020. It was still below ‘market value’ as far as current comparison with other spaces, because our landlord valued us as a tenant, but it would rise again in 2021. We felt that we would be unable to meet our expenses. It would be challenging to support artists and do what we had been doing for the community, for our own shows and for special events (such as local fundraisers and benefits we hosted) if we continued in the same way.

ALBB: Did you consider a business pivot in order to stay in your location?
”I considered changing the model in order to generate the funds, but this seemed to go against the spirit and mission I had started with. While missions can change, I felt that in this case the original idea - providing artists affordable opportunities for exhibitions and creative events in a great, well-maintained location - had run its course. These words were still accurate except ‘affordable’. Over the years Beacon got busier on weekends and the space felt more valuable, as artists could potentially sell more work to more people, but how much more could we pay without asking, who is supporting who?

“Beacon and its visitors did support us, and we were able to make a strong impression in the art community - that a gallery could sustain itself over time, and that artists could create their own opportunities in a more direct way. It’s still a true idea I will keep in my mind and heart for the future, but I began to feel challenged by the efforts and energy required, and distracted from the potential for new projects either here or elsewhere. So we weren’t forced by the rent or the planned renovation that would reduce our space (which they gave ample notice about and had agreed to postpone). I was able to make the difficult decision based on all factors combined.”

ALBB: Where can we imagine you next?
”As far as what I plan to do with the time I am longer spending the gallery, after resting for awhile…

I am a painter and I do some sculpture and mixed media. I lived in Beacon 2007-2013 and in Newburgh from 2014-present. I used Catalyst to show and sell my own work, to curate group shows, to meet collectors or curators in a space that wasn’t my cluttered studio, and to connect with artists and friends. I will miss having the gallery as my home base in Beacon, but I am still involved in the community and have already been offered several options to curate shows and exhibit in different spaces in the Hudson Valley. So that’s exciting to think about.

“I’ve done some local public art installations - [at the time were] on view are ‘Chromatic Substation’ at Beekman and High St in Beacon, a collaboration with Jon - and ‘Colorgarden’ on Carpenter Ave in Newburgh - and would like to do more, including murals. I have been working with a design studio that produces my prints for West Elm, and am doing an artist pop-up with Madewell; I am focusing on new ways to support my work and reach a wider audience. I will be speaking to a college class about my use of color, and perhaps teaching art to teens. Some people know that I stack firewood as a seasonal job, as that slows down by winter’s end I will be able to allocate more time to painting and finding opportunities to keep making, connecting, living a creative life.”

See pictures of what did happen in Catalyst’s life here.

Find Erica Hauser’s Art Here

“Chromatic Sustation” by Erica Hauser and Jon Reichert.
Photo Credit: Erica Hauser

'Colorgarden' for Terrain Biennial Newburgh and is at Downing Park Urban Farm.
Photo Credit: Erica Hauser

'Chromatic Substation' (at Beekman St near High St on way to train station) was originally done for Beacon 3D last June - November. The owner of the property on which it was installed - who also owns the building Catalyst's used to be in - offered to keep it up through March 2020. “They were effectively leasing it from us, so it is not really any longer part of Beacon 3D,” Erica tells ALBB.

Erica installed 'Colorgarden' for Terrain Biennial Newburgh and is at Downing Park Urban Farm, 207 Carpenter Ave in Newburgh.

At West Elm, you can buy Erica’s wall art, follow her on Instagram, and support her in various ways.

The easiest way is to visit her website for latest works!

Erica Hauser’s wall art at West Elm.

More Good Leaves Beacon Storefront Space - Bottling Business and Syrups Brand To Continue - A Look Back and Forward For This Brand

Longtime Beacon-based business, Drink More Good (DMG), is leaving Beacon. The spacious storefront next to Towne Crier Cafe and Oak Vino, is for rent. Oak Vino had been for sale prior to the pandemic, and all through the pandemic, and continues to be (but has had tasty nibbles…our sources say it may be selling soon). Announcement to come on what that space will become, or if it stays the same.

Jason started as a bartender and mixologist, and began his bottled syrups company with a big vision and a g-chat message (gmail chat…back in the olden days) with an early investor. The brand More Good earned shelf space on several retail stores including Whole Foods, Key Foods, and several boutiques across the country. Jason’s businesses endeavors continued to expand, as he partnered locally with businesses including Ella’s Bellas, Story Screen, and even the Roosevelt Bar in HV Food Hall, as well as other brands in New York and elsewhere. Generosity-wise, his business has always given a portion to Generosity.org, an organization that brings clean water to people who don’t have access to it.

The Expansions Started In Beacon

We first wrote about the syrup company, More Good, when they were moving out of their 500 square foot space on Main Street in the little space across from Homespun, that was used by Homespun for their catering, and shared with More Good (the space is now up for rent) to go further down the street to what has been More Good’s long-running location at 383 Main Street. That location opened with 2,000 square feet as a tea shop with a commissary kitchen in the back. Owner Jason Schuler’s syrup business was growing, and he was using the space to bottle the sweet stuff.

“I took the risk with that expansion because I needed more production space, and I saw a value add for the community as a resource for accessible organic herbs and spices and teas,” Jason told ALBB for this article. “We also opened our doors to other local food and beverage entrepreneurs to help with overhead, and to fulfill the need for a commissary kitchen in our area. We knew there was one because we needed it and it wasn't available.”

While keeping the Beacon tea storefront, he outgrew the space for bottling his own brand, and expanded again into the Old East Fishkill IBM building in 2017. According to a feature in The Valley Table, the new space enabled Jason to take on more bottling clients, where he was “co-packing,” where he assisted other entrepreneurial companies with ordering, manufacturing and fulfillment.

From The Valley Table’s article: “Schuler was producing his own products as well as those of 8 other emerging beverage companies in a 10,000-square-foot space in the former IBM complex in East Fishkill. Early in 2019, the company, in the midst of its first major capital drive, began planning to expand to 27,000 square feet and increasing its production capacity to more than 10,000 gallons per day, up from its current production of 5,000 gallons per week.”

Local insurance agency, Antalek and Moore, produced a client-feature video about More Good, where you can see parts of the build-out of the IBM location.

The expansion was a success, and outgrew itself in a way where one of the co-packers bought the facility. Says Jason to ALBB for this article: “We opened that space in October of 2018 and immediately saw massive growth in our manufacturing business, so much so that our resources were focused on growing that side of the business instead of the syrup or retail side of the business. It was an exciting opportunity and relentlessly difficult. At one point we had over 30 employees and were producing for 10+ companies across several product categories. In 2019 one of our clients realized massive growth, and we wound up selling our manufacturing side of the business to them and vertically integrating our Hopewell facility with their business.”

Jason went on to work full time for that company, and his wife, Morganne Frazier, a pilates instructor and gym owner of Warwick Pilates Gymnasium, took over operations at More Good.

The Pandemic And The Beacon Storefront

“COVID decimated the DMG business, and forced us to rethink and restrategize our entire business plan,” Jason told ALBB. “Evolve or die, they say. Morganne has been rebuilding the vision for DMG ever since. Unfortunately, with the way the economy has panned out, the retail store and commissary is no longer a financially viable option for DMG to sustain. It served its purpose for the company, and I hope for the community too. I built that place with my bare hands and next to no money, literally. There were many days where I didn't know how we would survive to the next, but we did, and we built something beautiful out of it.”

New directions for the syrup company seem like they are revisiting their roots, and tapping into the creative side again, rummaging around in smaller spaces and dirt of the earth, as Jason and Morganne have move out to Warwick, and the syrup shop will once again share a space with another retail business.
”DMG will live on as a brand as Morganne continues to restructure the organization to be focused on online sales and the DTC business, our wholesale business for distribution, as well as reopening a small 300 sq ft shop in a shared space with her Pilates studio in Warwick,” Jason tells ALBB.

“Earlier this year, we also invested in a 1948 Chevy Pickup truck that we converted into a farmstand and Cocktail truck for special events and weddings. COVID has put our big plans to rest on that for a while, but we will be utilizing it as we see opportunity to do so.” Each year, Jason has hosted or co-hosted a fundraiser, and this pandemic year is no exception. A Trunk or Treat 2020 is planned at their new farm, Goodmaker Acres in Warwick, NY, with all proceeds going to Generosity.org.

Meanwhile…

Jason and Morganne are working on a homestead project on their 7 acre farm in Warwick, called Goodmaker Acres. “It will be our next passion project over the next 3-5 years as we build it up to be a sustainably farmed practice that supports the DMG business by growing our own seasonal produce. We will be opening that property up to the public for Upick orchards and berry patches as well. More to come on that as we are in just the beginning planning phases.”

Anybody who watched Jason’s early Instagram photos after he moved into the 383 Main Street space could see how much he enjoyed working with and crushing the ingredients that went into the syrups. The brand leaving Beacon is a loss of a vibe locally, but the beat goes on elsewhere in the world, and Beacon will continue to feel it.

Wishing Jason and Morganne the very best as they expand their family and businesses!

Sexy Nails Leaves Beacon - Replaced By Beans Cat Café - Coming Soon

Left: The writer Izdihar Dabashi holding her newly adopted cat. Right: The storefront of Beans Cat Cafe, formerly Sexy Nails. Photo Credits: Izdihar Dabashi (left), Katie Hellmuth Martin (right).

Editor’s Note: This storefront, 325 Main Street, is in the Ritter Building, owned by Beacontie and photographer Frank Ritter. This location used to be Sexy Nails, the nail salon that many Beaconites went to regularly. In the middle of the shutdown, Sexy Nails left. A couple months later, rumors of the cat cafe started, and A Little Beacon Blog’s writer Izdihar Dabashi pursued the story, which you can read below.

Cats and Coffee… Hey All You Cool Cats and Kittens

Quarantine has been a whirlpool of Netflix binges, seemingly spontaneous pet adoptions, and baking addictions. A majority of us have fulfilled our destinies of becoming Betty Crockers or Crazy Cat Ladies. Personally, I have become a plant hoarder and while most of my plants are thriving, a few have crossed over to the great unknown. Maybe more than a few. At this point, I no longer need to eat or drink or sleep, I simply photosynthesize.

Izdihar’s newly adopted cat, Aladdin, striking the pose for the recent “adoption photo” post. Photo Credit: Izdihar Dabashi.

I will admit, I fell victim to the cute adoption posts posted all over my socials. I am now a proud aunt to a 6-month-old kitten. I love the little troublemaker so much, that I would love more little clumsy kittens teetering around my living room like the Rugrat toddlers. Sadly, there are far too many cons outweighing the pros on my list.

If you have also been thinking about adopting a cat or simply want an adorable cat to cuddle with, then you will be excited to hear about Beacon’s first-ever cat cafe, Beans Cat Cafe, a concept seemingly straight out of a dream (or nightmare for all you Tiger King fanatics). Beans Cat Cafe hopes to create an experience for people unable to welcome cats in their own homes perhaps due to living space restrictions, allergies, whatever the reason may be. New to the idea of cat cafes? They have been trending for a while now, and in 2018, there were 40 across the country, according to The Sauce.

Coming Soon-ish

Beans Cat Café plans to open on Main Street this October, and set a GoFundMe fundraiser to help make it happen. The actual opening date may be later in the year, because it takes a lot to open a business. Owners Jessica Cruz-Strika and Justin Strika were inspired by their own love for cats, and were introduced to the idea of a cat café through various articles. Both owners graduated from Highland and have maintained connections to the Beacon community. While Justin grew up in a cat household, Jessica became obsessed with cats after adopting her first cat, Luca, a few years ago and started regularly visiting Dutchess County SPCA (DCSPCA).

Luca, aka Bean, is credited with the origins of the name of their cat café. The day-to-day operations of the cat café will mainly be run by Jessica, who has experience in the food/beverage service industry, while Justin will continue to work as a Direct Support Person working for the Anderson Center for Autism.

How This Cat Café Will Work

When visitors enter Beans Cat Café, they will be greeted with the café side that includes baked goods from Frida’s Bakery and Café in Milton, NY, as well as a wide variety of beverages that will only be served in the café area. Guests who wish to include the cat lounge in the experience will be offered entrance through the partition walls for a small fee and are welcome to bring their food with them.

The cat lounge will have seating, board games, and up to 8 cats at a time that are all adoptable through Hudson Valley Animal Rescue and Sanctuary (HVARS) in Poughkeepsie. All portions of the adoption including the fee are exclusive to HVARS.

Beans Cat Café is currently completing construction in anticipation of their opening later this year. Currently, there is not a set date to open, but guests who have contributed to the business through GoFundMe and Bonfire will receive invitations for a soft opening. There are even Cat Café face masks for sale as part of the fundraiser. More information will hopefully become available as we approach the end of October.

RiverWinds Gallery Is Closing, Citing Pandemic. Was Beacon's Longest-Running Gallery Featuring 40 Artists

In what is a most depressing article to write, RiverWinds Gallery, Beacon’s longest-running art gallery that featured 40 artists in several mediums, including painting, jewelry design, pottery, and more, will be over on August 31, 2020. RiverWinds is a fixture in Beacon, with their storefront window brightly lit with white lights every holiday season. The mural on the side of their building, which is a richly colored painting of a Native American looking over the Hudson River and the earth around it, is also a fixture.

Prior to the gallery taking the space, it had been a farm supply store, the office of Dentist Sam Kahn, Julia’s Beauty Parlor and other entities. The original artists who opened RiverWinds Gallery were Mary Ann Glass, a photographer; Kelly Newkirk, a fiber artist; Linda Hubbard, a photographer; Virginia Donovan, a painter; and Paola Bari, a porcelain painter. The 5 artists formed a partnership and opened the gallery. At the time, a woman named Mary Madden owned the 172 Main Street building and had hired Ron Sauer to renovate it. Ron Sauer and his wife Ronnie Sauer are credited with Beacon's original revival after Urban Renewal, a time period during which many properties were bulldozed and the Black community colonized in the Bank Square area were paid sometimes $27,000 to relocate elsewhere in Beacon (source: Katie’s neighbor).

In their founding words published on their website, RiverWinds believes this about artists: “The Winds represent constant change, the force that propels us, uplifts us, commands us to create art. They feed the artists souls with the need to connect, comfort and sometimes challenge. These winds blow warm and cool, hot and cold, from all directions, and sometimes not at all. Through these changes, the artists’ work evolves, and grows. The River and the Winds give the courage, inspiration and vision to open RiverWinds Gallery and to celebrate all the artisans have been called to create.

RiverWinds Gallery announced their closure on their Facebook page, encouraging everyone to shop one last time to help their artists:

After 17 years, RiverWinds Gallery at 172 Main Street, Beacon, NY is closing as of August 31, 2020. “It’s been a painful decision to close” says Karl LaLonde, one of the co-owners. “We will miss our artists, our customers both local people and folks from out of town. And we will miss being part of Beacon’s vibrant artistic community.”

There will be a Going Out of Business Sale from August 1 – 31, 2020 with discounts from 25%-50% on most pieces of artwork: paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, glasswork and fiber art.

“The pandemic has done us in!” says Mary Ann Glass. “We are the longest-running gallery in Beacon. We opened in July 2003, shortly after Dia:Beacon opened its doors. At that time, the west end of Main Street was a bit grim! But we just had a feeling that it was on the edge of change. And we were right. RiverWinds has been an integral part of Beacon’s renaissance. For 17 years we have promoted and sold work by some of the finest Hudson Valley artists.”

“It’s been a long, wonderful ride” says Glass who is one of the original co-owners. “ Our goal when we opened was to provide a place for Hudson Valley artists to sell work to customers who would appreciate such unique and beautiful items. We feel we’ve done that.”

Voted twice Best Gallery in the Hudson Valley, RiverWinds Gallery is a multi-faceted art space featuring over 40 of the finest Hudson Valley artists; fine art including paintings, sculpture and photography, and contemporary crafts, including jewelry, glasswork, cards, and pottery. RiverWinds Gallery, LLC, is a member of the Beacon Arts Community Association (BeaconArts) www.beaconarts.org.

Most merchandise is 25%-50% discounted. The gallery is open every day. They are also selling their display cases - everything must go by the end of the month! So stop on in and see what's available. And help support their local artists one last time.

Open every day 12-4 until August 31, 2020

Location: RiverWinds Gallery, 172 Main Street, Beacon, NY 12508, 845-838-2880.

35 Homes and Buildings Considered For Historic Designation In Beacon

As the City of Beacon Works to define and clarify its zoning to standards that work for today’s community, one zoning tool includes working with and around historic buildings. The project of identifying properties that would be warrent historic designation was an active project in the administration prior to this, under Mayor Randy Casale when he and now Mayor Lee Kyriacou, would walk Beacon’s streets together to identify properties. Since then, 35 homes and commercial buildings were identified as having met a certain set of criteria that would qualify a local historic designation.

[UPDATE: The properties were presented in a Public Hearing, and several property owners came out to protest their homes and buildings having the historic designation.]

Implications For Neighboring, Non-Historic Buildings

ALBB asked Beacon’s City Planner, John Clark, about the implications for homes or buildings located next door to or nearby a home or building that has been designated historic by the City of Beacon. He answered: “Positive implications for neighboring properties include that the character of adjacent historic structures will be protected and that any alteration or new construction in the Historic District and Landmark Overlay (HDLO) must be compatible with surrounding historic properties and the neighborhood, consistent with the standards in Section 134-7.”

“The only direct implications for neighboring properties is in the Central Main Street district, where any Special Permit request for a 4th story on a parcel abutting a property in the HDLO zone must be approved by the City Council, not the Planning Board. The Council may reduce a permitted building height to be no more than six feet higher than an existing building on an adjoining HDLO parcel for a distance of 30 feet along the frontage from the historic structure (see 223-41.18 E(7)).”

“The Council is also currently considering changes to the CMS district to extend the above Special Permit requirements for both 4th stories and corner towers to properties directly across the street from an HDLO parcel.”

What Are The Criteria?

According to the Historic District and Landmark Overlay Zone (HDLO) proposal, the properties must meet a certain set of criteria. Proposed nominations are subject to the criteria in the Historic Preservation Chapter, Section 134-4 B Designation of landmarks or historic districts:

1. Distinguishing architectural characteristics of period or style;

2. Special value as part of the cultural or social history of the community;

3. Eligible for State or National Register of Historic Places

Looking for an example, ALBB asked John Clark about the recognizable yellow house with the tower on Mattie Cooper by the Springfield Baptist Church that is not in a historic district. ALBB asked John to explain how that house, if designated historic, would conform to new zoning, if it was “spot-zoning,” and it the property would get additional usage rights, like being able to operate as bed and breakfast.

John’s answer: “If a parcel, like the house with the tower, was to be designated as a historic building, it would have to comply with the standards of two zones - the underlying district and the Historic District and Landmark Overlay (HDLO) zone. The HDLO overlay zone is not spot zoning. It just adds an extra layer of protections and requirements for multiple parcels across the City for a legally enabled public purpose.”

“Under Zoning Section 223-24.7, an HDLO parcel is allowed additional uses if granted a Special Permit by the City Council. Uses, with certain size limitations, include an artist studio, antique shop, restaurant, bed and breakfast, professional office, multifamily residential, and artist live/work space.”

Why The Desire To Designate These Buildings Now?

During the building boom, Beaconites grew uncomfortable with buildings that were growing taller - to 4 floors. The lightening rod of a building was 344 Main Street, which for a variety of reasons that were noted mistakes for the City, zoning changes became a priority of Mayor Kyriacou (then City Council Member). Mayor Kyriacou is also a property owner of residential and commercial property in Beacon, some of which is already in a Historic zone, and his wife is a realtor.

4 Cross St.
- 2-story brick building
- Arched brick lintels
- Stone sills
- Two bricked-in windows
- Newer windows
- Green

11 Digger Phelps Ct.
- Wood frame building
- Original Porch
- Scalloped details
- Newer windows
- Green

9 Mattie Cooper Sq.
- Wood Frame building
- Original porch
- Bay windows
- Replacement vinyl siding
- Newer windows
- Green

11 North Elm St.
- Wood frame building
- Intact Arts & Crafts house
- Chain link fencing
- Green

4 North Elm St.
- Brick and stucco building
- Intact Second Empire
- Green

27 Church St.
- Wood frame building
- Wraparound porch
- Replacement asbestos siding
- Newer windows
- Green

232 Main St.
- 3-story brick building
- Bracketed cornice
- Historic-quality storefront
- Red

250 Main St.
- 3-story brick building
- Bracketed cornice
- Arched brick lintels
- Historic-quality storefront
- Bricked-up side windows
- Red

257 Main St.
- 2-story brick building
- Brick projecting cornice
- Stone sills
- Historic-quality storefronts
- Green

274 Main St.
- 3-story brick building
- Bracketed cornice
- Stone sills and lintels
- Side bay window
- Non-historic storefront
- Green

159 Fishkill Ave.
- Wood frame building
- Complex roof, arched dormers
- Corner bay, bracketed cornice
- Elaborately ornamented porch
- Red

189 Fishkill Ave.
- Wood frame building
- Front bay window
- Birthplace of James Forrestal, Sec. of Navy and Defense
- Loss of all original details
- Replacement vinyl siding
- Green

194 Fishkill Ave.
- Wood frame building
- Multiple porches
- Replacement vinyl siding
- Newer windows
- Green

19 Commerce St.
- Wood frame building
- Decorated verge board
- Detailed front porch
- Side bay window
- Asphalt and vinyl siding
- Green

11 Commerce St.
- 2-story brick building
- Wide frieze cornice
- Stone lintels and sills
- Side bay window
- Porch looks newer
- Green

26 South Ave.
- Wood frame building
- Elaborate verge board
- Front bay window
- Detailed wraparound porch
- Replacement vinyl siding
- Frontage chain link fence
- Green

30 South Ave.
- 2-story building
- Bracketed cornices
- South bay window
- Newer side addition
- Frontage chain link fence
- Green

They Are Open! The Condos of 226 Main Street Are Gorgeous - Look Inside (Sponsored)

The condos at 226 Main Street are open.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth Martin

The Holland House/Hotel in Beacon around 1925.
Photo Credit: Cardcow.com

The seven new condo apartments and three retail condos (meaning, you could buy the storefront space) on Main Street in the newly built 226 Main Street, designed using an inspiration from the Holland House that had been located just a few blocks up the street, are open. They arguably offer some of the most comfortable features available in today’s new construction apartment market in Beacon.

Architected by Aryeh Siegel, who is based in Beacon and has designed several well-known and defining projects including The Roundhouse (renovation of a 19th-century mill building), Niche Modern glass shop, Starn Studio & Gallery, Towne Crier Cafe, Beacon Lofts, Beacon Hotel, Beacon Theater, Ama Pizza, and BJ’s Soul Food Restaurant. (Did you notice their fancy facelift? Congrats to restaurant and building owner Barbara!) This building is a new addition to Main Street on what was formerly an auto mechanic’s yard (if you’re looking for a garage, you can still find Ed’s Auto Repair a few blocks away on South Chestnut). Important to the developers, Gary Joseph and Tim Owen, according to Aryeh, was the type of brick and real mortar used on the exterior, to add to the quality of the building from the outset.

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Photo Credit: Maksim with Digital Homes

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The ceiling fan in the penthouse.
Photo Credit: Teslie Andrade

Included In All Condos

• Polished concrete floors with radiant heat throughout

• Instant hot water dispenser

• Central heating

• Elevator access

• Brand-new construction

• Floating, ventless fireplace

• Gourmet kitchen with Wolf stove

• Appliances including central vacuum, kitchen sink trash compactor, Sub-Zero refrigerator

• Vintage hand-hewed wood beam accents

• Walk to shops, cafes and restaurants

The condos in the tower allow for an open, circular living room, with the crown jewel of the building - the fourth floor penthouse - benefiting from the added accent of an oversized ceiling fan.

Prices range for these condos, starting at $299,900* for the 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom. There are two penthouse lofts, one of which offers a walk-out deck over Main Street. Both penthouses have access to a private roof deck. The penthouse with the soon-to-be-famous fan loft is asking $949,000* for a 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathrooms. A condo just below it, for slightly more square footage with the circular living room, is asking $749,500* for 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. And you can find a condo for $549,900*.
*These are the prices listed as of this publishing.

Looking in person is worth it, but here is a look-see to explore the details before you go inside during one of the many Open Houses for the building, or by appointment.

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Staging for this condo was done by local designer Denise Gianna Designs. Find her store on the far end of Main Street.
Photo Credit: Maksim with Digital Homes

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The penthouse balcony view.
Photo Credit: Teslie Andrade

The Industrial Feel In A Brand-New Building

The project had design input from local realtor Charlotte Guernsey of Gate House Realty, who has designed several of her own spaces, including Lambs Hill Bridal Boutique and Venue. She is known for a rustic yet modern style. “We wanted it to feel like an industrial reclaimed building, but be warm and inviting with all the conveniences and efficiency of new construction,” she told A Little Beacon Blog.

Her guidance led to lights from Niche Modern, pipe knobs in the kitchen, discerning cabinet choices, and Wolf stoves.

Photo Credit: Maksim with Digital Homes

The Soundproofing

No matter how many luxury details a space might have, noise remains an important consideration when living in an apartment with neighbors above, below and beside you. That level of detail was considered for these condos. Says Aryeh of the soundproofing: “We hired an acoustic engineer to specify soundproofing details between floors and between apartments, so the unit owners will have acoustic privacy. The mechanical systems are top-of-the-line as well. This extra attention to the details below the surface add to the value of these condos.”

Photo Credit of this and all bedrooms: Maksim with Digital Homes

The Exposed Brick

When the Little Beacon Blog team first walked through the apartments, the exposed brick in the bedrooms was striking. The first thought we shared was, “I’m so glad they dug in and exposed the original brick!” But then we remembered - this is the original brick and it was never covered because this building is brand new. Sounds silly, but that is how good the application of the brick is, using real mortar, as opposed to other buildings that go with more of an imitation brick.

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A succulent nestled into a reclaimed wood beam.
Photo Credit: Teslie Andrade

The Reclaimed Wood

The most surprising element was the reclaimed wood beams throughout the apartments. You’ll also see this detail in the renovated factory building condos of 1 East Main on the other end of town.

Aryeh confirmed this tactic: “The accents of old wood timbers and interior brick do give an extra sense of detail not generally found in other interiors.” Using the wood brings that warm element to the apartments that otherwise have cold elements throughout, like the concrete floors. But surprise! The concrete floors in these condos all have radiant heat. So coziness is guaranteed around the highly modern floating ventless fireplaces that are also in each condo.

Before we move on to the next aspect of these spaces, we are going to give a moment to the windowsill. While the building hallways are adorned with traditionally thick and glossy crown molding, the windowsills inside the condos each have the vintage wood. A detail not seen often in homes.

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The pipe knobs used in the kitchens.
Photo Credit: Teslie Andrade

All The Kitchens

The pipe knobs used in the kitchens are just one of the many details that make these kitchens stand out. In the seven units, the kitchen layouts are different, ranging between an open layout, to a cozy corner wraparound for an in-the-kitchen feel.

The exposed wood windowsills continue into the kitchen, making for a spectacular match with the quartzite counters that look like marble. “Marble looks great, but it stains and the upkeep is unrealistic. That’s why I go with a highly polished quartzite,” says Charlotte.

The Wolf stove with hood and spacious refrigerators will make it super easy to cook with many of the farm-fresh and gourmet ingredients sourced from Main Street.

Photo Credit for all kitchen shots: Maksim with Digital Homes.

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All The Bathrooms

Readers who have been following the blog closely will recognize what is becoming one of Charlotte’s signature styles: the herringbone. She’s taken her impulse for the pattern and applied it to two of the bathrooms, while the other bathrooms use different materials.

Photo Credit for all bathroom shots: Maksim with Digital Homes.

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Call Gate House Realty For Showings

Call Gate House Realty at (845) 831-9550 for showings of any of these seven condos. Or walk in one weekend when the Open House sign is out on the sidewalk, just steps away from Homespun, Isamu, Ziatun and Max’s On Main, where you’ll find delicious snacks.

Video Credit: Vivo Creative.

Sponsored Post

This article was produced in partnership with Gate House Realty, who is a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog. We thank them for their support of local media, and thank you for supporting businesses who support us.

A Little Beacon Blog Goes Underground: Moves ALBB Space and Tin Shingle Out Of The Telephone Building

With a heavy heart, the day has come to report on the closing of my event space, known as A Little Beacon Space. After three years of hosting community events, pop-up shops, and business retreats in Beacon's historic Telephone Building at 291 Main Street, I have closed that space, along with Tin Shingle’s new CoWork space, which was located in the basement of the building. Both spaces may begin again elsewhere, but for now, they are nestled into my attic, basement, and other living spaces. Happily, A Little Beacon Blog is continuing to publish all the news that you need to know about happening in and around Beacon.

To address some FAQs:

“Did the building sell?”

The Telephone Building sold to The Telephone Building Beacon, LLC, represented by Shady Twal in December of 2019. After negotiating the lease package that was presented to me, it became clear that leaving the building was the best decision for my business.

The weeks leading up to the negotiation, and then the final week of it, were emotionally thick. Making the decision to leave was one of the most difficult I have ever made, and I am so, so grateful for the warm embrace of support I have felt from the Beacon community - friends and family - even if they did not know the details of what was happening. I will take that sensitivity with me as ALBB covers other businesses that must move or close up shop for whatever reasons any other small business owner might face.

“Can I buy your furniture?”

I’m so glad people are asking this question. I miss having the space to offer to people, and I’m really glad you love my new interior design skills. :) However, no, you may not buy all of that new gorgeous furniture because that vision may rise again. Right now, that bar with the love story behind it and those dope purple chairs are in my newly converted home office-living room, and I’m back to work-from-home life. (I did it for 11 years before taking the storefront on Main Street.) I can become quite like a hermit, so ask me out for coffee! :)

“Where are you going next?”

I’m property shopping! I love looking at new properties. What I created in the Telephone Building was unique to that space. My experience in the Telephone Building enabled a test kitchen environment, and I want to keep that level of comfort and offer it to others. I plan to take all of those feels with me to the next spot, wherever it might be, which will allow for meetings, community gatherings, and pop-up experiences.

I’ll be looking at the luxury buildings. The run-down buildings. The buildings in the fringe areas (I love the fringe!). Business friends of mine are encouraging me to come up to Wappingers Falls and over to Newburgh. One never knows which way the wind will blow.

It’s Back To Blogging As Usual

I have a new little P.O. Box, so I’ll be popping into my new post pffoce community of fellow P.O. Box checkers. In fact, I’ll probably see more of you because the A Little Beacon Blogging Team will be blogging from coffee shops and park benches and cars and my cozy living room. So stay tuned…the pop-up side of me may rise again!

News Flash! New Price On The New Hamburg House. Let's Talk About New Hamburg

Housing inventory is coming and going in Beacon. Finding the right match between house and price is proving delicate. Some Beaconites who are moving from their homes, or are currently renting and want to buy their first-time home, have been spreading out to neighboring towns like Wappingers Falls and New Hamburg, if they aren’t finding just the perfect fit in Beacon.

New Hamburg is a “hamlet” that is a river-town near Beacon, just south of Bowdoin Park, a popular summer playground for Beaconites. New Hamburg is near Beacon (a 10-15 minute drive), with its own New Hamburg Metro-North train station, making it ideal for commuters. Being in a hamlet can be nice because it offers additional peace and quiet nestled between two communities: Wappingers and Beacon. You get the best of several worlds.

This house, featured in A Little Beacon Blog’s Real Estate Guide by Jon Car Realty, is one of our first from New Hamburg. And it just had a shift in price. The listing as of November 1, 2019 is $359,900. The house is near the New Hamburg train station, which according to the realtor, is a two-minute walk from this home. Beacon is the next stop if you’re headed to NYC.

Schooling for this house is in Wappingers Falls. Wappingers has two high schools, and a growing community of new purchases of charming older homes as people want to stretch out from Beacon.

New Hamburg also has marina life: If you are a boater, you may enjoy the New Hamburg Yacht Club and White’s Hudson River Marina.

Look at more pictures and details of this listing while it’s on the blog.

Price Changes On A Couple Curious Homes For Sale In Beacon

We recently sent our highlights for A Little Beacon Blog’s Real Estate Guide to our newsletter subscribers, where, from time to time, we spotlight a tiny corner of the market. We wanted you to get our latest recap, too. (Just in case you’re not a subscriber - what are you waiting for? Subscribe!) If you're curious about the market, selling or buying your home, or just want to see what kind of houses or commercial spaces are going for what, A Little Beacon Blog's Real Estate Guide is a good guide to watch.

A few notable properties not in this Real Estate Guide have had price changes. They’re notable simply for having an unusual story behind them, not necessarily because they’re benchmarks for the entire market.

If you were keeping an eye on a few homes just to see what happened, you’ll be interested that 51 Orchard Place, the house that catapulted last year's Airbnb legislation debate (the house was apparently purchased to solely be an Airbnb, and neighbors took the issue to City Hall) as well as the tree-cutting permit legislation, recently sold for $430K, according to Zillow. The original asking price was $699K for a five-bedroom, although the bedrooms were small, some were connected, and one seemed like an office (according to our walk-through during an open house). The price had been inching down since it was listed in May of last year.

The most charming little blue house across the street from it sold like hot cakes for $430K in July 2019, according to Zillow. According to its agent, the little blue house had 10 offers and a slight bidding war. Asking price was $415K and it sold for $430K.

36 North Cedar Street, a former City Highway Garage, has been fully renovated into a spacious residential home. It was listed for just over $1.48M in February of this year, and has been inching down. As of August, the price is listed at $995K.

The Highlands Current newspaper has been running a monthly comparative look-back at real estate stats (source: hgar.com) in the newspaper for Beacon and Phillipstown, the results of which have been interesting to watch.

There do seem to be sweet spots for home sales. One realtor recently told A Little Beacon Blog: "The homes in Beacon sell themselves." For the right matched price, they seem to be, especially for renovated older homes, and the cool architecture in the new buildings.

Sunday Real Estate Feature: Cape Cod Cottage Near Main Street

29 Cross Street, Beacon, NY
PRICE: $329,500 BEDS & BATHS: 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom

From Daniel Aubry Realty: “This delightful Cape Cod cottage sits on an unusually deep lot. Near the West End of Beacon's bustling Main Street, and a short walk to Beacon's Metro-North Station, which has hourly service to Grand Central. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet. The guest bedroom faces the garden. The living area is an open plan with an adorning eat-in kitchen, which merges into the the cozy living room. The 2nd floor is a loft with overhead lighting, and could function as a music studio or fabulous family room. The former garage has been converted into a studio and is fully insulated and fitted out with track lighting. This home is perfect for an artist, musician, craftsperson or health practitioner." Details and more pictures in A Little Beacon Blog's Real Estate Listings Guide.

CONTACT INFO

Contact the Daniel Aubry Realty office, and one of their dedicated agents will assist you.
E-mail: daniel1aubry@gmail.com
Phone: (917) 647-6823

Real Estate Feature: An Artist Or Designer Live/Work Life In The Telephone Building

Have you ever dreamed of owning your own building? Modifying as you wish? Designing your own rooftop garden to enjoy the view of Mount Beacon? Showing your work in the gallery downstairs while living upstairs?

Perhaps painting or designing down in the refinished basement studio? Then one of Beacon’s most historic - and most pristinely maintained, after its recent renovation - buildings is for you as a Live/Work building. See details and pictures in A Little Beacon Blog’s Real Estate Listing Guide, or at the Telephone Building’s own website: www.telephonebuildingbeacon.com

Thank you, Telephone Building, for being a supporting sponsor of our publication by way of the Real Estate Guide! The Telephone Building is represented by building owner Deborah Bigelow.

Cute Cottages Going Fast In A Little Beacon Blog’s Real Estate Guide

This cute house was listed in A Little Beacon Blog’s Real Estate Guide for a hot second before it got an offer. We update that Guide with new listings from our sponsoring real estate agencies every Monday. Head over there now to see what listings are featured, including houses, apartments, buildings, and commercial spaces.

If you’re interested in listing your property(ies), contact us and our ad manager will be in touch.

Sunday Real Estate Feature: Charmer at 39 Willow Street

This charmer just came on the market. Perched up on a slight hill, this would be a cozy home. From Gate House Realty: “One of a kind! Charming light-filled traditional Cape-style home, steps to Main Street's restaurants and shops and Metro-North. Welcoming front porch with views of Mount Beacon. Tranquil private yard surrounded by flowering trees, perennial garden and lovely brick patio. Entryway with handsome staircase opens to a spacious living room with mahogany floors, wood-burning fireplace and gorgeous oversized windows. Kitchen showcases plenty of cabinets and work space, granite countertops, window seat and large mudroom. Sweet master bedroom with sitting area.”

39 Willow Street, Beacon, NY 12508
PRICE: $415,000    BEDS & BATHS: 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms

PRO TIP: We update this Guide every Monday. We check in with our advertisers to see what changed, if something sold or got rented, and then update their featured pictures. They decide what is live in this Guide.

This is a featured listing from A Little Beacon Blog’s Real Estate Guide. If you want to list your property - whether you’re selling it yourself, or if you are an agent - please see our Media Kit in the Advertising section.

This listing is from Gate House Realty, a sponsor of A Little Beacon Blog. Thank you for supporting businesses who support us!

Sunday Real Estate Feature: Cute Storefront Space on Main Street - Formerly A Kids Consignment Shop

Here's a little secret - this little yellow storefront is what hooked my hubby and myself into Beacon. Back when we were only thinking of making the move up from the city, we had dreams of filling it with a boutique, and doing something spectacular with the raw warehouse space behind it (also available for rent right now). What will you do with it?
From Gate House Realty: “Beautifully maintained storefront in Central Main Street zoned business district of Beacon. High visibility with double window displays, open floor plan with incredible natural light, hardwood floors and half bath. Available immediately. Call listing agent to schedule a viewing.”
RENT: $2,000/month
Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty, (845) 831-9550
Details + Pictures >

Sunday Real Estate Guide Feature: This Beacon Bungalow

This is a small house (tiny house people - is this a Tiny House?), on a pretty piece of land that may have room for expansion. Anyone who has lived in or stayed in a beach house will recognize this laid-back cottage feel and immediately feel at home. The yard itself looks ruggedly beachy, with the tall grasses and rock landscaping, surrounded by tall trees near Mount Beacon.

At first blush you may say “too small,” but think big and go visit. It’s adorable.
From Gate House Realty: “This adorable bungalow with beautiful mountain views has 2 bedrooms, and 1 bath, surrounded by great light and outdoor space in a quiet part of Beacon. Lots of updates including new roof, kitchen, bath and patio. With room to expand, this cozy cottage also has a garage with a new roof and ample storage space. Close to East End of Main Street and all that Beacon has to offer.”
380 Washington Avenue, Beacon, NY 12508
BEDROOMS: 2 BATHS: 1
PRICE: $239,000
Real Estate Agent: Gate House Realty, (845) 831-9550
Details + Pictures >

This listing is brought to you by Gate House Realty, @gatehouserealty_hvny, and we thank you for supporting businesses who support us! If you would like to list your property(s), whether you’re a private seller or an agent, please see our Media Kit in the Advertising section of the website and see the Real Estate Listing Packages. Our readers like dreaming of new digs and investments.