ELLENVILLE IS RISING: THE FUTURE IS NOW

Ulster Strong Article written by

Bond Brungard

ELLENVILLE – Nearly a century ago a dungaree factory opened in the center of the village, and it contributed to the economy of this scenic community located on the Rondout Valley floor between Shawangunks and the Catskills.

Since that time Ellenville’s fortunes in manufacturing and as a Borscht Belt getaway destination reached some glorious highs and wrenching lows. Factories closed, and traveling and leisure tastes changed with inexpensive airfares to elsewhere outside of the New York City metro area.

But now those remnants of the past have found some new interest, and their repurposing has many hoping for a fruitful, glorious return to the community.

Kevin O’Connor has plenty of experience of finding and creating living spaces as the CEO of RUPCO. Away from those duties at RUPCO, O’Connor has privately teamed up with Scott Dutton, a Kingston architect and owner of Kingston’s restored Fuller Shirt Factory Building. The Fuller Shirt Factory Building in Kingston has been transformed into maker spaces for craftspeople and other fledging entrepreneurs. Now O’Connor and his partner want to create the same situation for the 25,000 sq. ft. dungaree factory with its first–floor space dedicated to makers and other businesses, topped by 13 apartments on the second floor.

 “I think there could be a wide use here,” said O’Connor. “It’s a pretty flexible space that we think is in demand right now.” Located at the corner of Market and Warren streets, the project earned approval from Ellenville’s planning board, and O’Connor expects construction to begin in 2023 and occupancy in 2024. A few blocks away are a variety of restaurants and the famed Shadowland Theater.

Ellenville Mayor Jeff Kaplan is hoping a renewed interest in the village and surrounding Town of Wawarsing will bring about the same community rejuvenation that has made Kingston so desirable for many years. There is also interest in the village to turn a former theater into an event space, and to transform a former bank into a Borscht Belt museum to honor Ellenville and Catskill’s past as a leisure destination.

“This is a real place that could be a mini Kingston,” said Kaplan. Bolstering Kaplan’s belief in future prosperity is a development project by Cresco Labs to transform a vacant industrial site, north of the village center, into a marijuana production facility that could generate between 300 and upward to about 1,500 jobs. The village planning board has approved the project, a location that formerly housed the manufacturing facilities for cutlery and TV antennas. Adjacent properties have been purchased for cultivation activities, pending approvals by the state.

Kaplan welcomes the project for bringing jobs back to the Ellenville in a much greener manner than its previous uses with metal manufacturing. “Very happy,” said Kaplan. “It’s going to be a far more environmentally better business than the prior uses on that site.” Some manufacturing is finding its way back to Ellenville for leisurely consumables, and this is extending to those who want to stay here temporarily or even permanently.

A small lodging facility, located at 81 North Main Street and southward on Route 209, leaving the village on the right side, is the former Terrace Motel. It’s been bought and it will remain a motel with event space with an art deco makeover.

Farther south adjacent to Route 209 is the former Nevele complex, one of the final closures of the Borscht Belt era. There are now redevelopment plans for single-family homes, townhouses and boutique hotel there. “I’m glad to get it back in service,” said Kaplan. When it’s built to attract permanent residents and visitors, Kaplan is hopeful they will enjoy the progress being made to enhance Ellenville. “The people will take advantage of the businesses we are starting to grow,” he said.

In 10 years, Kaplan expects more prosperity for Ellenville’s downtown with additional restaurants and lodging, based on properties that have been sold and the plans currently in development. The village, with a population of 4,000 counted within the 15,000 living in the Town of Wawarsing, has also approved the licensing of retail marijuana shops.

“They have a vision of re-establishing itself in (Ulster) county,” said Kaplan, of the developers and investors coming to town,”and the Catskills.” And this is the same hope O’Connor has for his endeavor here with his partner as they work to develop for the former dungaree factory.

“I believe in Ellenville,” said O’Connor, “and the promise of its future.”