Haverstraw New York Waterfront
Reprinted From : http://www.nydailynews.com/real_estate/2009/01/08/2009-01-08_haverstraw_ny__on_the_brink_of_what.html
Haverstraw, N.Y. - On the brink of what?
About an hour from Manhattan, the village of Haverstraw is set in a valley between the Hi Tor Mountains and the widest section of the Hudson River. It has rich history, Victorian homes for less than $300,000, commuter ferry service to New York City and a visionary riverfront developer who invested $60 million in new condominiums and infrastructure.
On paper, this town should be a major draw. Some believe it’s poised to become a thriving riverfront village. Others say the economic crisis stifled growth, and that just before the town was about to blossom, it had its feet cut from under it.
Just 2 square miles with a population of 12,000, Haverstraw has one of the strongest Hispanic communities in the tristate area. It also has a ½-mile sculpture trail and a bay that Henry Hudson found attractive enough to park his boat in when he discovered the river in 1609. As the Hudson River turns 400-years old this year, Haverstraw may have its moment of real estate truth — can it appeal to people looking for affordable real estate with river views, and will it ever thrive again?
History: Blessed with an abundance of clay underneath its riverbanks, Haverstraw was the brickmaking capital of the world from the 1750s to the 1930s. According to the Haverstraw Brick Museum, in the 1880s there were 42 brickmaking facilities, exporting over 300 million single bricks per year to New York City.
“Haverstraw made the bricks that built New York City,” says Jared Rodriguez, a Haverstraw native who started www.Haverstrawlife.com. “It was one of the wealthiest towns on the Hudson River, with a glorious history.”
The artist Edward Hopper painted parts of Haverstraw. The American composer George M. Cohan practiced and performed in the town. Babe Ruth and Bing Crosby filmed movies there.
After the brickyards closed in the 1940s, the town sought industrial tenants such as power plants. A large Dominican and Puerto Rican population, many of who came from New York City, settled downtown.
The visionary: Martin Ginsburg, who founded Westchester-based Ginsburg Development Companies (GDC) over 45 years ago, thinks the Hudson River is the most neglected piece of land in the United States. Ginsburg dreams of a Hudson River trafficked by ferries, tourists, cruise boats and residents mesmerized by the Hudson. He’s already spent $7 million of his own money on Haverstraw public improvement projects.
“In Europe, a river like this has development all along its banks,” says Ginsburg, who develops thousands of residential units on the Hudson River. “Haverstraw should be one of a string of pearls from New York City to Albany. The state is missing an incredible opportunity by not pouring infrastructure into the river. Combine the natural beauty of the river with smart design, and you have a new way of living for New York.”
GDC’s Harbors at Haverstraw is an 800-unit riverfront development bordering the town. Sales were brisk in better times, drawing buyers of all ages from the surrounding area. With 1,917-square-foot, three-floor homes with two-car garages in the low $400,000s, the Harbors proved that affordability and luxury living are not mutually exclusive.
“There is something so soothing about living on the river,” says Harbors buyerMaddie Zivian, who commutes the hour and 15 minutes to midtown Manhattan each day. “With ducks, birds and boats, there is constant life.” (For Harbors information, see www.gdc-homes.com.)
Downtown: David Zeller lived in Haverstraw for three years before moving toNyack. He rarely went downtown. Hamish McIntosh owned a downtown antiques store before deciding to build a home in Orange Country. He moved his business there, too. A local brewpub recently closed.
But residential rents are low, hovering around $1,300 for 1,500-square-foot artist lofts with 20-foot ceilings. Two-bedrooms go for $1,200. Small houses built in the early 20th century are on the market for $239,000.
“The village is in the midst of a renaissance,” says Chuck Smith, an ex-Madison Avenue advertising exec who runs Smith Properties. “With the economy down, it looks like nothing is happening, but it is. There’s a streetscape improvement plan and possible hotel and conference center from GDC. Drawing new businesses is key.”
Mayor Mike Kohut points to ongoing projects funded by federal and state grants totaling $2.2 million; they’ll help continue building Haverstraw’s waterfront parks and constructing alternate entrances into the town to improve traffic flow. Wiping away negative perceptions of downtown remains a main goal.
“The beauty should be enough, but people need a purpose to come here,” says Kohut. “If the Obama plan can work and the economy gets a push, the future of this town will be bright.”
The real Haverstraw: Haverstraw has supported a strong immigrant population since the brick factories of the 1800s. Currently, the town is home to Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans and Ecuadorans. People hang on stoops, porches, in doorways and on street corners. One of the most popular days in town is the Puerto Rican Day parade.
Ken Karlewicz has photographed Haverstraw’s Latino population of around 7,000 since 1999. For his series “The Faces of Haverstraw,” he walked the streets day and night.
“I set out to chronicle the impact of revitalization on the people who would be most affected by it,” says Karlewicz, an award-winning photographer who moved to Haverstraw from Sheepshead Bay when he was 5.
“Development might have displaced the Hispanic population, but it didn’t go that way. In many ways, this town is like a New York City neighborhood.”
Karlewicz’s photos celebrate the town’s diversity.
“If you like truth and honesty and appreciate the absence of pretense, this village just sings,” says Karlewicz of the cast of colorful Latino characters living downtown. “This is a place for people who appreciate the subtle beauty of hardworking families, respect for other cultures and great architecture.”
Getting there: Take Metro North to Ossining, then a ferry to Haverstraw. Monthly train/ferry tickets cost $251. The entire trip takes 1 hour 10 minutes. There is also a ferry that goes directly to Wall Street taking 1 hour and 47 minutes. Both ferries run weekdays only during commuter hours. To drive, take the Henry Hudson Parkway to the Tappan Zee Bridge to exit 12 off the NY State Thruway, then take Route 303 North to 9W North until you hit New Main St.
My verdict: Haverstraw is blessed by natural beauty. Someone said the Latino community was drawn to the town under the mountains near the water. I can see that. Martin Ginsburg is a respected developer — by politicians and citizens. He sees Haverstraw’s growth dependent on a plan that joins a revived Main St. with tourist-based river activity stretching up and down the Hudson. It’s a giant vision, but he’s big enough to execute it. If you like water, this is worth a look. Prices are right.
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