“So 2016 has been pretty good for us,” Saugerties town supervisor Greg Helsmoortel said, “particularly with improvements that will help us with economic development.”
The town finalized a deal with the Thruway Authority to bring town water to the Malden rest stop. Money from that arrangement will help reduce charges for other users of the Malden water system, Helsmoortel said.
After 15 years of work, the town working with the Palisades Interstate Park Commission to make Bristol Beach and state park has been a success that will benefit Saugerties residents and be another tool for Saugerties economic development.
Helsmoortel points to the natural gas line that was recently extended up Kings Highway, which will enable more commercial buildings to hook into the system.
A potential problem in a large industrial building was averted. “We helped the former owner of the Vertis building keep the heat on,” said the supervisor, “and worked to help find a tenant.”
Approval of the Holiday Inn Express on Route 32 will be “a big boost to the local economy,” Helsmoortel says. With the Comfort Inn and Howard Johnson often filled, particularly when HITS is in town, those unable to get rooms at those two motels have had to go to Kingston, Helsmoortel said. With the new Holiday Inn, those people will be able to stay in Saugerties, patronizing town and village shops and restaurants.
With both Red Hook and Rhinebeck across the river discouraging hotel and motel development over there, Helsmoortel thinks many people going to events at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds will stay in Saugerties to stay.
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