It”™s the largest town in Orange County, and it”™s got its share of problems: traffic, empty storefronts, lots of new construction that sits on hold. At times, it is a community divided by religious and lifestyle tensions between the townsfolk and the all-Hasidic village of Kiryas Joel, one of three villages within the town proper.
Now, don”™t get Vines wrong. Monroe”™s got a lot going for it, including planners who are trying their hardest to get some affordable housing built in the community. The town of Monroe allows accessory apartments, something some NIMBYs are trying to get knocked off the books. This, despite the fact that the county”™s own planning department encourages the notion and favors a mix of housing that allows two-family and work/live space to be included in its municipalities”™ planning and zoning laws. (Go figure!)
Charles Finnerty, who has been chairman of the town”™s planning board for years, recently attended a seminar held at the Harness Racing Museum about building affordable, walkable communities. It”™s something Finnerty and other planners would like to see happen in Monroe during their lifetime.
Monroe lost many of its entertainment venues ”“ a burned down bowling alley and a torn down movie theatre ”“ which doesn”™t leave much to do in the winter, save for events held at the local park, Smith Clove.
Village and town planners hope that will change when Monroe”™s new movie theatre, four years in the planning, finally makes its debut. Walls are up, windows in and everyone”™s hoping the show will go on before the year is out. So are restaurant owners, who say it will bring in much-needed business.
Some residents who have survived the blitz of mega-stores that shuttered many neighborhood”™s anchors are hoping that Main Street”™s new stores will help boost foot traffic.
The village”™s Cheese Festival attracted more than 15,000 people last year, and the town is in the planning stages of forming its own arts council. It may by moving along slowly, but it”™s moving.
Real estate everywhere has taken a nosedive, and Monroe is no exception: homes that were once priced in the upper $600”™s have come down considerably. Realtors hope prices level off so that “regular people can afford to live here,” said one Lake Street business owner. “I”™d like my kids to be able to stay in town.”
The town does have some notables. Besides being the home of Museum Village, the oldest Masons”™ building in New York State and Velveeta cheese, whose creation is celebrated every September at Monroe”™s growing Cheese Festival, it boasts what is reputed to be the last remaining shoe repair shop in Orange County. It only seems ridiculous until you find you need a new pair of heels, or there”™s a hole in the bottom of your $300 Gucci shoes.
In today”™s throwaway society, Jim Bacchiocchi”™s business is still thriving. “I”™ve been here 33 years,” said Bacchiocchi, owner of Monroe Shoe Repair on Stage Road. “As far as I know, I”™m the last one left in the county.” With recession looming and prices of food and services booming, it”™s a lot cheaper to fix that $100 pair of boots by replacing the heels than throwing out and starting over. For Bacchiocchi, business is busy. For others, they are “holding their own,” some by their fingertips, but keeping doors open.
The town has just completed its long-awaited master plan, with an emphasis on affordable housing. While it may not sit well with some, who feel taxes are too high ”“ school taxes are not controlled by the town ”“ town Supervisor Sandy Leonard says affordable housing is a “moral obligation.”
The update of the town”™s original 1975 master plan, brought up to 2008 needs and standards, can be viewed at www.monroeny.org. The town will hold a meeting Feb. 25 to discuss questions raised by residents about the new master plan. Fireworks? The town is hoping residents, both those against development and those who want to see affordable housing brought to the community, will find a balance. In a perfect world, there”™s room for all. In the real world, it often doesn”™t work out that way.
New businesses join our Hudson Valley family:
”¢ Cleaver Studios ”“ Where you can leave it to Beaver.
”¢ Remarkable Treasures ”“ Will prices be remarkable too?
”¢ Kitchen Doctor of the Hudson Valley ”“ Does not do dishes, but can help you find the perfect dishwasher.
”¢ Constant as the Sun ”“ We know it”™s up there, but we haven”™t seen it lately.
Ӣ Love in the Air Productions: Just around the corner.
