TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE- The Burnett-Tucker Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Steering Committee has begun work on a plan to guide the future of the long-abandoned Dutchess Plaza and surrounding properties in the Town of Poughkeepsie.
The volunteer committee, appointed by the Town Board, held its first official meeting February 10. Its focus is a roughly 144-acre area north of the intersection of Dutchess Turnpike (Route 44) and Burnett Boulevard, including dozens of properties that sit atop the former Van de Water landfill. The area also includes the historic headwaters of Casperkill Creek.
The town recently received a $252,000 Brownfield Opportunity Area grant from the New York State Department of State through the State Environmental Protection Fund. The funding will support a community-driven planning process to create a vision for land potentially impacted by historic landfill and industrial uses.
Completion of the BOA plan could open the door to formal brownfield designation, making properties in the study area eligible for future state and federal grants, tax credits and other incentives to support environmental remediation, infrastructure and redevelopment.
“This site is one of the largest and most visible blighted areas in the Town, and it’s highly visible along Route 44,” said Town Supervisor Rebecca Edwards. “It’s exciting to have this diverse group of local volunteers, including nearby residents and business owners, working with the Town’s Planning Department to take the first steps in this plan to revitalize the area.”
Over the next year, the committee plans to host public meetings and conduct surveys to gather input from residents and stakeholders. Additional information about opportunities for public participation is expected to be shared in the coming months.
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