A tour of Newburgh reveals a tale of two waterfront cities: a college town with Mount St. Mary and SUNY Orange, to be sure, and a city of churches and leafy streets, but its underside can be riddled with systemic poverty.
Attacking the poverty quotient is job No. 1 for city leaders and one big piece of Newburgh”™s slide downward may now become a large part in helping to save the city”™s younger residents.
The city”™s 70,000-square-foot National Guard Armory was once a hub of activity, its 12 acres filled with Guardsmen, government and civilian workers. Its closing proved a blow for Newburgh, once dubbed by Colliers”™ magazine as an “All-American City.”
When the city was offered the property for $1, “The City Council sat down and then jumped up and did it … and we”™ve got the deed right here,” said Mayor Nick Valentine, meeting with stakeholders Aug. 10.
The Kaplan Family Foundation provided $100,000 of seed money, “which only comes when education is included in the use of the money,” said its founder, William Kaplan.
With the funding, Habitat for Greater Humanity of Newburgh, SUNY Orange and Mount St. Mary College will work with federal, state and city officials to bring the armory back, transforming its once-gleaming basketball court into a brand new one. It will also create programs for Newburgh Free Academy students studying construction with Local 17 and give Mount St. Mary school of business seniors a chance to compete and earn a credit as well by creating a successful business plan to make the armory self-sustaining within three years.
Deidre Glenn, executive director of Habitat for 20 years, will be retiring in October, “but with joy.”
“We”™ll match Bill”™s donation with $100,000 of in kind services. I”™m ready for retirement and this is going to provide a wonderful opportunity for my successor to jump in feet first. I know I”™m leaving Habitat in good shape and that its work will be continued.”
With another $300,000 from Orange County, Newburgh may well be on its way to regaining its former stature.
Acting Police Chief Michael Ferrara welcomes the idea of creating a diversion program for troubled youth at the center. “Who wouldn”™t rather see their children playing a sport or doing something positive; that”™s what”™s missing here in Newburgh.”
The first order of business is to get the full-size basketball court fully refurbished and ready for public use by the end of the year. “After that,” said Kaplan, “we”™ll expect to see our elected officials going to bat to help us get the city on its feet and moving in the right direction.”
