On July 7, 2025, Bard College announced a major philanthropic act by the Galvan Foundation positioning the College as the new steward of its significant real estate holdings in Hudson and Columbia County, New York. The portfolio includes mixed-income housing units, single-family homes, and commercial and public-use properties. Acknowledging the responsibility that comes with accepting this honor, Bard College President Leon Botstein said, “We look forward to pursuing our mission on behalf of the public good in ways that benefit the citizens of Hudson and the surrounding communities.” Read the announcement here. We will share further updates as they become available on this page.
Below please find some FAQs about this donation.
Below please find some FAQs about this donation.
How did the Galvan Foundation choose Bard College as the steward of these properties?
Over the years, the Galvan Foundation has been a generous supporter of the College’s academic and arts programming. The Galvan Foundation was the initial and key donor of Bard’s Early College in Hudson, which, since opening in 2016, provides young people in Hudson and its surrounding school districts direct access to a high quality liberal arts education and offers high school students up to 26 tuition-free college credits from Bard College. Stemming from the Galvan Foundation’s longstanding philanthropic relationship with Bard College, this transformative act will help the College to reach its endowment challenge campaign.
What principles will guide decisions about long-term use of these properties?
Since its founding in 1860, Bard has remained committed, as a nonsectarian place of learning, to the liberal arts and sciences, to excellence and innovation in teaching, to the promotion of the arts, and to the link between education and democracy. Part of Bard’s mission is to realize the principle that higher-education institutions can and should operate in the public interest and work toward the common good. We will apply these same principles to our investments in Hudson—prioritizing community engagement, civic responsibility, and holistic growth—to guide our decision making pertaining to the long-term use of these properties.
What has been Bard’s prior impact in the Hudson Valley?
Bard College is the third largest employer in Dutchess County and largest employer in Northern Dutchess/Southern Columbia Counties. As a private institution that acts in the public interest, Bard is dedicated to forging local partnerships that mutually benefit Hudson Valley communities and the College for years to come. Bard College has a long history of positive impact in the Hudson Valley, including:
- Bard Early College Hudson Valley (BECHV) is an innovative program that provides access to a high-quality liberal arts education for young people in the region. Students take challenging and engaging courses with experienced college faculty, and can earn up to 26 college credits tuition-free while still in high school. Classes are offered in Hudson, NY, and at Dutchess County BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) in Salt Point, NY.
- Brothers@ is a dual-beneficiary high-school retention and college persistence organization with the mission of improving the academic and social emotional outcomes of young men of color in both secondary and post-secondary education.
- Bard Athletics Summer Camps offer access to NCAA Division III coaches across a variety of sports and for a wide-range of ages.
- Bard College Clemente Course in the Humanities is a college-level introduction to the humanities that provides low-income Ulster County residents the opportunity to earn transferable Bard credits at no cost.
- Bard Farm cultivates more than 20,000 pounds of sustainably grown produce every year with a seasonal, weekly farm stand open to the public.
- Bard Math Circle (BMC) promotes mathematics education for elementary, middle, and high school students in the Hudson Valley.
- Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) enrolls over 300 students per academic year across seven NYS prisons and facilitates reentry so alumni/ae can successfully pursue robust civic and professional lives in their communities after release.
- Bard Center for Civic Engagement (CCE) supports students to develop creative and practical approaches to social, cultural, and scientific issues while partnering with community and civic organizations to promote active citizenship.
- Bard’s free, monthly Spanish-language magazine, La Voz, is distributed throughout Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, and Columbia counties, and is a critical source of information for the region’s more than 120,000 Hispanic/Latino residents on topics such as immigration law, health services, and legal rights and resources.
- Bard MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching Program) identifies master teachers in local school districts to mentor Bard teaching candidates, whose residencies then take place in more than 20 middle and high schools across Hudson Valley.
- Bard offers enriching arts and cultural programs at the world-renowned Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, including SummerScape, Bard Music Festival, and concerts with The Orchestra Now (TŌN) and the Bard Conservatory of Music, all of which are open to the public.
How will Bard include Hudson residents, elected officials, community leaders, and business owners to help guide redevelopment and programmatic decisions related to these properties?
Beginning in July 2025, Bard College has engaged in a listening tour to learn about the needs and perspectives of the diverse people and communities of Hudson. As we move forward, we are continuing to engage with the public, elected officials, community leaders, business owners, residents, and local organizations to hear their recommendations and concerns.
Given Bard’s deep strengths in education and the performing arts, would the College consider establishing educational and/or cultural programming in Hudson as part of its long-term vision for a Bard/Hudson partnership?
Bard is open to exploring potential new partnerships and to deepening existing partnerships that support the cultural and educational needs of Hudson aligned to the College’s mission. Bard is not looking to expand its own campus footprint with any of these properties but rather to uphold Hudson’s community development.
What properties are included in the Galvan shift of stewardship to Bard College?
The portfolio includes 80+ properties in Hudson and Columbia County, New York. Among those properties in the City of Hudson, some of particular interest to the public include:
- The Armory (51 North 5th St.)
- The Foundry (724-726 Columbia St.)
- Hudson Depot Lofts (76 N 7th St.)
- The Old Library (400 State St.)
- The Tennis Courts (614-620 Columbia St.)
- The Salvation Army (40 South Third St.)
How will Bard manage these properties?
In cooperation with the existing Galvan team, Bard College will stand up its own management and maintenance staff to take care of properties and tenants.
Will current leases be honored and are renewals an option?
Bard has committed to honoring all existing lease and rent schedules. Lease renewals will be offered on a case-by-case basis.
Does Bard plan to use any of the properties as dormitories?
No, Bard has no plans to develop student housing in Hudson.
Is Bard considering giving or selling the Hudson Armory, which houses the Hudson Area Library, Hudson Senior Center, and other civic ventures integral to many Hudsonians’ lives, to the City of Hudson?
Adhering to its fiduciary duties, the College is unable to give away properties. We are in discussions with the Hudson Area Library and city officials to ensure that there is a long-term and sustainable path forward for this building to remain as a center for civic life in Hudson and to continue housing the library and other important public services.
How will Bard’s stewardship impact the property tax base of Hudson?
By activating dormant commercial and residential properties, Bard expects to expand the current property tax base in the City of Hudson. The College would like to dispel the common misconception that any property owned or co-owned by not-profit organizations automatically results in tax exemption. Property tax exemptions are determined by usage for qualified organizations, not strictly ownership.
Does Bard plan to sell any properties?
Yes, Bard plans to sell some of the properties. The College will prioritize beneficial impacts on the community of Hudson’s economic, social, and cultural development when considering the sale of any property.
Whom should I contact if I’m interested in buying a property?
We are open to inquiries and interested in speaking with serious buyers, including (and especially) current tenants. To inquire about buying a property, please email [email protected].