Developer of Winston Farm in Saugerties to tell town project would have $62M annual impact

The developer of the proposed Winston Farm project was planning to submit its completed Draft Generic Environmental Impact Statement to the Town of Saugerties tonight that shows the project would produce $62 million in economic impact each year.

The 840-acre Winston Farm property is located just off Exit 20 of the New York State Thruway. Long-time Saugerties residents and business owners Anthony Montano, John Mullen and Randy Richers purchased Winston Farm in 2020 from the Schaller family, which had owned it since 1961. The development of the site would include housing units, commercial space, a hotel, conference center, performance venue, lab or light industrial space and a campground. A portion of the property would be preserved as open space. A mansion on the property would be preserved and likely repurposed as part of the development.

“Winston Farm is an opportunity to help shape the area’s future in a dynamic way, and the developers are committed to collaborating with the Saugerties community and municipal leaders,” said project spokesman Josh Sommers. “The development will be a robust economic engine for Saugerties and the Hudson Valley, and tourism attractions will draw new dollars and visitors. That will exponentially grow the economy, support local merchants and suppliers, and position Saugerties as a destination for the entire Northeast.”

Details of the proposal include single-family homes on various lot sizes, townhouses and condominium/apartment units. The developer says that the housing will help address the persistent housing shortage in Ulster County and the Hudson Valley, and include workforce and inclusionary housing. There would be 250,000 square feet of commercial space, a 150-room boutique hotel, a conference center with 250 hotel rooms, an enclosed performance venue, 250,000 square feet of lab or light-industrial space and a campground with 100 cabins.

The developer points out that the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. identified the Winston Farm site as a premier development opportunity because of its location across from the Thruway’s Saugerties entrance as well as the property’s scale, topography and scenic views. In addition, the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce endorsed Winston Farm as a visionary proposal that would powerfully energize the Hudson Valley as a deep source of culture, employment opportunities, tax revenue and housing for generations to come.

A preliminary estimate indicated that the construction cost for the project could be around $475 million.