A city struggling to regain its former glory
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7/29/2009
Newburgh, NY was once a glorious small city sitting on the western bank of the Hudson River in the mid-Hudson Valley, just 60 miles north of New York City. It had a diverse industries ranging from clothing manufacturing to a major chemical plant, and US Air Force Base to boost its economy. There were two major downtown shopping districts, located on Water Street and also on Broadway.
However, in the 1960s a urban renewal project sent the city careening on a slippery slope. First came the big tear down which resulted in the loss of the Water Street shopping district and changed neighborhoods that were once dominated by homeowners into rental properties, causing a decline in property values. By the time the city finally started to rebuild on the empty project land, many of the middle class residents had escaped to neighboring towns.
During this period, the city and its surrounding township, citing their already diverse economy, turned down an opportunity to add another major employer, IBM, to the community. Not long after, the air base was closed and suddenly the city was bleeding jobs as manufacturers moved to areas with fewer taxes and cheaper work forces.
Crime began to rise; riots occurred in the city's high school. The remaining downtown shopping district lost ground as consumers turned to suburban stores rather than chance their safety in the declining city.
Today the city is struggling to regain it former glory. It began with the development of a riverside restaurant row, city wharf, and park. A major developer took interest in the city and began renovating historic buildings and storefronts. The community college is building a new campus. Artists began moving from NYC to take advantage of the lower housing costs. Crime rates are declining.
Newburgh still has a long way to go to regain its former glory, but it is making progress, step by step.
Peggy Jo | Middletown, NY