Senator Charles E. Schumer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 11, 2006

Schumer Urges Feds To Approve Permits For Long Dock Beacon Waterfront Construction

Last Month, Waterfront Received New Market Federal Tax Credits That Will Be Used To Clear The Way To Begin Construction Early Next Year Schumer: This Project Is Innovative And Well-Designed, And I Want To See It Move Forward Without Delay

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to approve permits for the Long Dock Beacon Waterfront project. In May, Schumer visited this former Brownfield, which is now the site of a public-private partnership that plans to build a 160-room hotel and conference center, 17-acre public waterfront park, and two restaurants. The Scenic Hudson Land Trust and Foss Group Beacon, LLC have been working with the City of Beacon, Dutchess County and New York State on this vital project that will transform an industrial site on the Hudson River into a vibrant public park that will meet requirements for the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold Standard. When completed in Spring of 2008, Long Dock Beacon will employ 300 people.

“The Long Dock Beacon Waterfront project proves you can have economic growth and protect the environment,” Schumer said. “Getting these permits will clear the way to begin construction early next year. It will mean new jobs, new energy, new dollars, and will be a catalyst to revitalize the Dutchess County economy and promote development. This is another critical step in making this vision a reality, and I will continue to fight hard to make sure this project gets the federal tools and resources it needs.”

The Long Dock Beacon project is seeking specific permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that will enable them to accomplish a number of goals including stabilizing eroding shorelines and failing bulkheads, constructing a 22,000-foot public boardwalk and civic plaza overlooking the waterfront, resculpting the shoreline to create additional waterfront areas, constructing a floating dock for visiting boats, and rehabilitating degraded wetlands and creating new wetlands. The project will enhance local wetlands and shorelines by removing invasive plant species and replacing them with native ones. It will employ innovative storm water management techniques that will meet or exceed current requirements.

The Long Dock Beacon project will transform a 25-acre former industrial site on the Hudson River waterfront into a stunning public park and hotel. The Scenic Hudson Land Trust (SHLT) owns the property and will develop a 17-acre public park and amenities associated with the project. SHLT has entered into a development agreement with Foss Group Beacon, LLC, and is leasing eight acres for the commercial development. Key aspects of the project include a waterfront park with trails, public fishing pier, boardwalk, and plazas, 160-room hotel, conference center and spa, two restaurants, kayak outfitter and harbor for nonmotorized boats, and a boat building program for local youth.

In a personal letter to Colonel Richard Polo, Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer District – New York, Schumer wrote, “The City of Beacon has worked hard over the last ten years to recover economically. It has attracted new residents, a growing community of artists and small business owners, and the Dia: Beacon Musuem, which has had as many as 140,000 visitors per year. The Long Dock Beacon project represents the culmination of a dynamic partnership among private, municipal and non-profit entities. It will transform a deteriorated, formerly industrial brownfield on a spectacular site on the Hudson River into an engine for environmentally sound economic revitalization for the City and the region. I urge you to grant Long Dock Beacon the assistance it needs to move forward as expeditiously as possible.”

In late April, Schumer called on Arthur Garcia, Director of the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund at U.S. Department of Treasury, to support the New Market Tax Credits (NMTC) application of the company that will finance the project, saying that Long Dock Beacon will be the “cornerstone of Beacon’s future prosperity”. In May, Schumer visited the area, and then last month, the Long Dock Beacon Waterfront project received highly sought after federal tax credits which are awarded for economic development related projects through a nationally competitive process. Schumer also plans to assist the SHLT and Foss Group Beacon, LLC as they seek permits from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Department of State for development of the park, hotel and related facilities.

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