^{Serving Rhinebeck and Neighboring Towns}

Issue 169 | June 14, 2024

NYS Short-Term Rental Law Muddles Local Regulations //

On the very last day of the legislative session a bill sponsored by Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Pat Fahy that creates a short-term rental registry passed with bipartisan support and is now awaiting Governor Hochul’s signature.

The Town of Rhinebeck passed a short-term rental registry law on May 13. During the board meeting, Town Supervisor Elizabeth Spinzia made clear that the goal was to restrict residential properties from turning into commercial ones—that renting an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) or a room in your house would still be permitted, but that “We don’t feel we should have to sacrifice our quality of life because Airbnb or VRBO exist. We firmly believe that residential properties should remain residential. We don’t think they should be turned into hotels.” 

The state bill complicates those local regulations. In a statement, Hinchey’s office said that in part “the rise of STRs is strangling local housing stock, displacing families because they can no longer afford to live here.” In the letter of the law and in her statement Hinchey points out that during the pandemic real estate in the Mid-Hudson region became impossibly expensive for middle class families to afford and that “Hudson and Kingston [became] the top two moved-to places in the country.” 

The two main goals of the state registry law are to provide municipalities a clearer understanding of who’s renting what properties—so that they can get a handle on the percentage of their housing stock in the mix—and also to generate revenue. Hinchey’s office estimates that beyond New York City, local towns and villages have missed out on $110 million in annual revenue in the form of occupancy and sales taxes. 

In May Spinzia said that the Town couldn’t wait on whether Hinchey’s bill would pass the State Senate. On Wednesday Spinzia said she was not pleased with the lack of communication from Hinchey’s office about the pending state legislation but she is still happy with the law that the Town passed, “and we probably would have taken the same route.” However, the Town law didn’t focus on taxation, and how the state’s bed and sales tax will be assessed isn’t clear. The language states that the law will “...allow for the collection of sales tax and applicable occupancy tax generated from such rentals to the state and localities,” but the rate and collection mechanism seems vague, as does the ratio—how much goes to Albany vs. town and village coffers? Mayor Gary Bassett said the Village of Rhinebeck is still in “wait-and-see mode.” Just like the rest of us. 

As the Town’s STR law goes into effect, on Monday the Town passed an amendment to the law that went into effect in May including agricultural tourism and farm stays, as well as properties where the owner is in residence directly adjacent to the STR rental property. Details on these new provisions are still in the works, and a new draft of the STR amendment will be discussed at a public hearing in July.

The West on East Market //

When Megabrain Comics vacated their location on 15 East Market in the Village of Rhinebeck this past spring, it left a literal and figurative vacancy on an active block of retail that had a little of something for everyone. Many wondered what would arrive in its stead. Would it be something utilitarian or bourgeois (a tchotchke shop or a real estate office)? Pick one. 

Tomorrow we have our answer in the form of a soft opening of Westerlind, a high end, fashion forward outdoor apparel brand with an online e-commerce presence. Westerlind, which has had stores in various stylish locales around the country, including in Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Marin County, California; Soho, NYC; Great Barrington, MA; and closer to home in Kingston and Millerton, to name a few (the latter two of which opened within the last two years). 

Westerlind could be described as a three-way love child of REI, Supreme and Comme des Garçons, with brass watering cans ($150) and embroidered sweatshirts ($198) on offer. The company is a product of Andrea Westerlind, part of a third generation of a Swedish design family who grew up in the fashion business in Sweden. The actual offerings at the Rhinebeck store remain to be seen, as each retail location has a different focus and appeal, with Millerton featuring a mini-grocery/cafe with food items for sale. How Westerlind integrates into the Rhinebeck shopping scene will likely be determined by the ever-booming summer tourist season, which now stretches well into “Sheep & Wool” month, but considering the tourism factor as well as the growing stylish profile of the area, they might easily find their clientele.

Do you love walking at Blithewood Garden at Bard College? You can support the restoration of this historic garden by buying tickets to a July 7 concert at Bard’s Spiegeltent: Choro Das 3, a sister-trio from Sao Paolo, creates innovative interpretations of choro, bossa nova, and other styles of Brazilian music. The concert begins at 3PM. Tickets are $29.50-$69.50. Proceeds benefit the Blithewood Garden Rehabilitation Project. At the Spiegeltent, Bard.

Tickets are now on sale for the June 15 and 22 Hudson Valley Chamber Music Circle Concert Series, with music by Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven, Vaughan Williams, Karim Al-Zand, Joan Tower, and others. Tickets $5 for students; $44.50 each, or $110 for all three. At Olin Hall, Bard College.

Saturday, June 15

Opening of “Ubuhle Women: Beadwork and the Art of Independence,” showcasing a new form of bead art developed by a community of women in South Africa. Complemented, beginning June 22, by a small display of four beaded costumes. At The Loeb gallery, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave., Poughkeepsie.

Saturday, June 15

Rhinebeck Arts Walk, featuring galleries, shops and bars showcasing exhibits. Downtown Rhinebeck.

Saturday, June 15th, 11:00AM - Noon

Bee and Pollinator Ecology on the Hudson,” talk by Chris Layman, Cornell Master Beekeeper. Bring a blanket or chair and a picnic. Sponsored by the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association. At the garden at the FDR National Historic Site, Hyde Park.

Saturday, June 15th, 3:00PM - 6:00PM

Opening reception for “The Gift,” exhibit of photographs by Han Feng. The show will run through July 28. At the Mad Rose Gallery, 5916 North Elm Ave., Millerton.

Saturday, June 15, 4:00 - 6:00PM

Opening reception for “Just Drawing,” new works on paper by Catherine Haggarty. At Geary Contemporary Gallery, 34 Main St., Millerton.

Saturday, June 15, 6:00PM

Upstate Films 2024 Jubilee fundraiser, with cocktails, performances, live auction and dinner. Tickets $250-$1,000. At the Spiegeltent, Bard College.

Wednesday, June 19th

Juneteenth National Independence Day, commemorating the ending of slavery in the US.

Saturday, June 20th, 6:30PM

“Until the End of the World,” a journalistic investigation into the fish farming industry. Film screening followed by conversation. At Morton Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff.

Friday, June 21st, 5:30PM - 8:00PM

Tennis Gay Night, featuring tennis round-robin, BYOB social hour, live entertainment, and special guests. Dutchess County’s first such night, to coincide with Pride celebrations. Different events continuing through the summer. $75 per person. For tickets, schedule and future Friday themes, visit rhinebecktennis.com. At the club, 2 Salisbury Ct., Rhinebeck.

Saturday, June 22nd, 9:00AM

Birding Expedition and Walking Tour with Alan Peterson of the Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club. Wear hiking boots and bring binoculars. Tickets $12. At Wilderstein Historic Site, 330 Morton Rd., Rhinebeck.

Saturday, June 22nd, 4:30PM

Hudson Organ Trio plays jazz. FREE. The second of four concerts in the Roger Phillips Concert Series. Sponsored by Arts Mid-Hudson. Bring a chair or blanket, but the concert will be indoors if the weather doesn’t cooperate. At Starr Library, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.

Tuesday, June 25th, 6:30PM

Local Book Launch: Francine Prose talks about “1974: A Personal History,” with Jo Ann Beard. FREE. Registration required. Co-sponsored by Oblong Books and Morton Library. At the Library, 82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff.

Sunday, June 23rd, 1:00 - 2:00PM

Little Free Pride Library Opening and Tie-Dye Party, sponsored by Beckhook Pride. All welcome. At Starr Library, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.

Friday, June 28th, 3:00 - 6:00PM

Community Photo Shoot, with photographer Mike Lawrie. FREE. Get a portrait taken with your family, your partner, your dog, or even by yourself. Plus Mighty Donuts, music and games. Registration requested. At Starr Library, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.

Saturday, July 13th, 3:00 - 4:00PM (pick) and 4:00 - 5:30PM (sip)

Wineberry Pick and Sip. Pull some overgrown wineberry thickets and sip cocktails/mocktails with Dirty Gaia. Registration required. Sponsored by Winnakee Land Trust. At Vlei Marsh, 186 Vlei Rd., Rhinebeck.

Now through August 31st

"An Artist’s Alphabet,” an exhibit of the late artist Tom Blackwell, a painter in the photorealist genre. At Starr Library, 68 West Market St., Rhinebeck.