Mayors accentuate the positive

Say what you like about city living: as far as the three Orange County mayors are concerned, everything”™s coming up roses and some focus on the positives, like economic growth and revitalizing abandoned properties, should be a hotter topic than the crime rate.

The trio, representing Middletown, Newburgh and Port Jervis, met with the business community at a mid-August breakfast at Middletown”™s Southwinds Retirement Home. The event was sponsored by the Orange County Chamber of Commerce.

Marlinda Duncanson, mayor of Middletown, said she”™s tired of the media”™s focus on crime within her city: “There are a lot of positives going on, and crime is actually down.” She pointed to economic growth in downtown, particularly the long-abandoned Avon Building on James Street, which is being transformed into an apartment-retail mixed-use complex.Â “We are not the drug-infested, crime ridden” place depicted in the media, said the mayor. “There”™s not enough said about all the good that”™s happening in our city. That part is underreported and downplayed.” Â Â Duncanson downplayed the recent burglary at her home. “It”™s the summer, and there are a lot of bored youth around ”¦ it can happen anywhere.”

Middletown is currently creating a new zoning comprehensive plan, deciding the future of Middletown Psychiatric Center and what will happen to Orange Regional Medical Center”™s Horton Hospital campus. It is scheduled to close when the new hospital opens in the town of Wallkill in 2011. The city is also preparing to link up with the county”™s Heritage Trail in Goshen to provide more recreation for citizens, said Duncanson.

Mayor Nick Valentine said Newburgh”™s growing success on the city”™s waterfront is having a positive effect on the rest of the city, noting that Leyland Alliance will be renovating six abandoned properties on DuBois Street. “Empty houses attract crime,” said Valentine. “Streets with homes filled with people that care are a deterrent.”

Leyland, who was chosen to develop 30 acres of the city”™s waterfront, will also work with Habitat for Humanity on rehabilitating more than 20 homes on the city”™s east end. “Streets with abandoned houses invite criminals,” said Valentine. “Streets with homes and homeowners deter it.”

Port Jervis”™ Mayor Gary Lopriore agreed. The city”™s former police chief said having more police patrolling the streets doesn”™t hurt, either. Port Jervis, said Lopriore, is in the middle of its own renaissance, with the Main Street rejuvenated by new stores and renewed interest in business in the downtown area. A waterfront park and mixed-use development is also in the works in what Lopriore hopes the public will remember is “the pretty little city on the banks of the Delaware.”

Valentine said Newburgh has been down for the count several times. This time, he said,Â the $600 million in new construction being infused into the city”™s east end, as well as the new SUNY Orange campus being built at the foot of Broadway, will see Newburgh, like Rocky Balboa, coming up a winner.

Cities across the mid-Hudson region, particularly those with a water view, are definitely seeing renewed interest, “especially after Sept. 11,” said Lopriore.Â “A little positive press would go a long way,” added Duncanson.

Though briefly mentioned by Valentine, all three cities are keeping close tabs on development at Stewart International Airport. The clock is ticking on its transfer to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, scheduled for October.Â While community groups are merging to voice concerns over noise, traffic and congestion, a fourth major airport ”“ after Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark ”“ in the middle of the county will have a significant economic impact. Port Jervis”™ Web site boasts, “One hour away from Stewart International Airport.”

The Port Authority has been playing its cards close to the vest since announcing it was buying out National Express Group”™s remaining 93-year lease earlier this year. Business and community leaders are eagerly anticipating executive director Anthony Shorris”™ visit Sept. 12 at Anthony”™s Pier 9 to learn more about what the Port Authority plans for the airport and ultimately, for the region.