Conifer Realty LLC, which is headquartered in Rochester, has been selected by New York state to transform a former state prison into a mixed-use development that would include up to 1,300 housing units when all phases of construction have been completed. The former prison is the Downstate Correctional Facility that was closed in 2022. It is in Fishkill and has been served by the City of Beacon’s sewer and water facilities.
The site of the former correctional facility at 121 Red Schoolhouse Road in Fishkill covers 100.96 acres. There are 70 buildings and structures that include a maintenance building, a powerhouse building, a visitor center, watch towers, and various storage sheds. The actual prison buildings were capable of housing more than 1,200 inmates. The site includes a parking lot located on the east side, a former shooting range and a helicopter pad on the west side.
Empire State Development (ESD) selected Conifer for the project. The state plans to turn over the prison property to Conifer for its use.
“Conifer Realty excels in managing complex, large-scale, transformational redevelopments such as this,” said Conifer President Sam Leone. “Our expertise in creating high-quality, affordable housing uniquely positions us to tackle this ambitious project. We are committed to meeting the needs of the Fishkill community and we look forward to working closely with local governments and the community to bring this vision to life and make a lasting impact on the region for years to come.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul said, “With this proposal, we are bringing the recommendations of our Prison Redevelopment Commission to life and turning this former prison into affordable new homes and vibrant community space that will serve generations of New Yorkers in Dutchess County and beyond.”
The first phase of construction is expected to start in January 2026 and would include 375 units of housing, including a minimum of 20% designated as permanently affordable to households earning less than 80% of the Area Median Income. Housing options would include two-story duplexes and triplexes. At least 25% of the units would include three bedrooms.
It initially was unclear whether, because this would be an Empire State Development project, the Conifer plan would be subject to zoning and site plan approval from the Town of Fishkill or another local entity or whether ESD could override local regulations. Fishkill Town Supervisor Ozzy Albra has expressed a desire for industrial redevelopment of the prison site in order to produce jobs and other economic activity. He expressed concern about possible traffic congestion from a dense residential development. Conifer has estimated that 200 construction jobs would be created by the development.
