At Poughkeepsie's Shadows on the Hudson, the restaurant's developer, Joe Bonura Jr., shared his plans Thursday to bring similar development to a prime area just south of the Mid-Hudson Bridge.
The ambitious proposed project would include luxury apartments, a pool, a fountain, an amphitheater, at least one more restaurant, space for an outdoor market, public restrooms and 400 spaces worth of free parking.
Bonura said to the roomful of reporters and city officials that the city would chip in $500,000 toward extending the promenade. He said his company would chip in more than $25 million.
"That riverfront promenade will continue to remain owned and operated by the city," Bonura said. "Everything else is our responsibility."
Speaking in definite terms, Bonura said once he gets approval to begin building from the Poughkeepsie Common Council, a team of 150 construction workers could finish the project in less than nine months.
"I think it will work," said local shuttle driver Lance Mitchell.
Mitchell said he used to live at nearby apartments that were also once built by the Bonura Hospitality Group, and that people who already live along the river are likely to cooperate as long as traffic issues are addressed and their views of the river are not blocked.
"[If representatives from Bonura's company] go in there, and speak to these people in these townhouses, I think it will work out," Mitchell said. "I really believe it will. That's what honesty gets you."
Bonura said a recent decision to build more apartments and less office space should create less congestion.
According to the virtual tour, residents of those luxury apartments Mitchell mentioned would not lose their river views, since their buildings are positioned on hills and would overlook the new attractions.
Bonura said the city would stand to gain more than $1 million each year in property and sales taxes.
Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison said he was confident the project would meet the city's requirements, but could not give a specific timetable for approval.
