Amanda Purcell is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Hudson Development Corporation June 25, selected Kristen Keck to replace John Gilstrap on its board. Gilstrap stepped down after serving for one term. Keck is an owner of Wm. Farmer and Sons Restaurant in Hudson, and a member of the city’s Tourism Board. She will serve a three-year-term on the HDC board. Keck said she was pleased to represent Front Street, which is among the areas eyed for redevelopment under the state’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant. In other business, the board went behind closed doors to discuss HDC's proposed acquisition of a small parcel of land from the CSX Corporation. That parcel would allow primary access to the former Kaz warehouse property on Montgomery Street, which is already owned by HDC. Board President Robert Rasner said that although a contract between CSX and HDC exists for the purchase of the property, the sale has yet to be completed. A survey and environmental review of the parcel must be completed before the transaction can be finalized. The closing date is expected to be set sometime after July 15. The $175,000 purchase of the property will be financed by a $200,000 loan from the Columbia Economic Development Corporation. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.