I must admit, I was not too impressed with Poughkeepsie when I first moved to the Hudson Valley from a large Metropolitan city in the Midwest. That was 10 years ago. How things have changed. Could it be that this town sort of grew on me, or is it the transformation that has taken place over time which makes me like this place more? Okay, maybe it's a little bit of both.
Perhaps I was a bit shallow back then too. As I remember, I was first disappointed because there wasn't a Starbucks and yet Dunkin Donuts was everywhere. Eventually, Starbucks found Poughkeepsie and the neighboring towns of Fishkill and Wappingers Falls too. But, as it took time getting here, I found myself beginning to like Dunkin Donuts coffee even more. No longer a coffee snob, there's no going back to Starbucks unless my sleepy little head is crying out for a latte with a double shot of espresso just because I need a Ritalin equivalent. So, Dunkin Donuts is now my fave - could it be that I just adapted to simpler things?
Well, if I was a coffee snob back then, I was certainly NOT a high end shopper in search of Prada. I also remember being a bit annoyed because Target had not found Poughkeepsie on the map either. Today Target has become a big hit amongst local discount shoppers on a budget. But, before the arrival of Target bargain shoppers had to settle for the grungiest Kmart in the nation - I have been to many cities and this K-Mart was (and still is) the most worn out, ugliest and filthiest. I am surprised to this day that K-Mart has remained open with a competitor like Target.
Then came other brands too. Panera has been here for about two to three years now. But, don't go there at lunch time if you have limited time to spare. Sometimes customers are lined up to the door.
Coldstone Creamery is another huge hit with the locals. Both Coldstone and Panera are located in Chestnut Plaza - good luck finding a good parking space there.
Restaurant chains seemed to have been long overdue back when I moved to Dutchess County. It was my biggest gripe when I first moved here. I was told that folks in the Hudson Valley prefer the Mom & Pop places and were resistant to national chains. Well, if this were true then why have chains like Red Robin and Chili's become so well received? And, soon we will have our own T.G.I. Fridays - whoo hoo! At grand opening, I will have to wait until some of the novelty wears off before attempting to go anywhere close to that section of Route 9.
As for recreation and fitness, our local gyms seemed to resemble the good ole boys club when I first moved here. Even the Gold's Gym seemed to be filled with intimidating muscle-men who only lifted weights and drove pick-ups. Yes, it felt like a good ole boys club. Then Gold's relocated and expanded into a real fitness center where people work out without feeling intimidated, attend spinning classes, and the gym is utilized for indoor youth soccer. It's become a family place and the new parking lot is filled with BMWs SUVs and Volvo station wagons.
I loved to take long bicycle rides when I moved here, but the closest bike path at the time was all the way up in Amenia. Today, the Dutchess Rail Trail is being completed in stages and paths have already opened up between Hopewell Junction and Wappingers Falls. I am so pleased that progress has been made in the form of family recreation.
I think the very worst impression I had of this place when I moved here was in the City of Poughkeepsie. It looked so unkept and almost forgotten at the time. The old historic city buildings had so much potential, yet retailers and businesses had left these locations long ago and the vacancy rate was so apparent. And, the riverfront seemed to be such a desolate place.
And then it happened. Restoration of the Luckey Platt Building transformed this great architectural structure into apartments and retail space. Located at the corner of Main Street and Academy Street, this building sits at the heart of downtown Poughkeepsie. A neo-classical building, it was once a regional department store servicing the surrounding counties, and is considered the key to continued progress along the Main Street Corridor. The revitalization momentum up and down Main Street began to fast forward after Luckey Platt development began. Various rehabilitation projects surrounding Luckey Platt have been designed to reflect the late 19th century streetscape typical of Poughkeepsie's Main Street of yesteryear. The Main Street building facades have all been restored to the true original architecture of their time.
Down the street, Metro North Railroad has invested millions into renovations of the Poughkeepsie train station where regularly scheduled commuter trains and Amtrak serve the community. More and more, local residents are using the train station to connect to Grand Central, Penn Station, and even to points north. Hence, an influx of newcomers moving to Dutchess County.
Adjacent to the Poughkeepsie Train Station, a once abandoned warehouse is now the renovated Dooley Square which has been converted to retail, office and restaurants. Located right on Main Street, a block from the Hudson River, the Poughkeepsie station and Dooley Square will soon be linked to a waterfront commercial venue and parks. Currently waterfront improvement and construction projects are underway to utilize the park system and link an entire waterfront commercial complex to a public walkway.
As Dutchess County and the City of Poughkeepsie continue to improve and develop, the transformation has become more noticeable. As a Realtor, it's reassuring to know that I invested into an up and coming community. Soon the City's Riverfront and the historic Main Street will offer unparalleled value and opportunity in housing and in business. Dutchess County has transformed beautifully in the last ten years that I have lived here and it now has a great amount of appeal which attracts newcomers - mostly from the pricier places south of here (Manhattan, The Bronx and Westchester County).
Moving to Dutchess ....try these helpful links to gather more information:
http://www.pkny.info/moving.php
http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/
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Carol Culkin
Associate Broker
ABR, SRES
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Telephone: 845.227.4400 Ext. 358
Direct Line: 845.430.6543
Mobile: 845.430.6543
Email: cculkin@houlihanlawrence.com
Website: www.carolculkin.houlihanlawrence.com
FOR TOP PRIORITY, YOU NEED A TOP AGENT! |
RELOCATING? CALL CAROL 227-4400 ext. 358
Carol Culkin, ABR, SRES, Associate Broker for Houlihan Lawrence, is your source for real estate in Dutchess County. Carol is an award winning residential specialist and has been a Dutchess County top Realtor since 2002. If you are looking for a real estate agent who will be your advocate while providing you top priority service, call Carol today at 845-227-4400 x358 or on her cell phone at 845-430-6543. http://www.dutchesshomefinder.com/
The Poughkeepsie Journal reported this week that the real estate market in the Mid-Hudson Valley is beginning to pick up pace. In March, accepted purchase offers rose 27.2%. Homes sold faster in March 2009 compared to a year ago with the average days on the market decreasing by 7.7 percent to 120 days.
