So I recently visited three places that had me thinking about Putnam County. I visited Greenville SC, Hilton Head SC and Gettysburg PA. Each of these towns made me think about how to make Brewster (and Southeast) and Putnam County better.
Greenville has an amazing downtown area with restaurants, stores, high-end condos and a park with cascading waterfalls. I couldn’t help but think of Brewster village’s upcoming revitalization as I walked the town. This quote sums it up quite nicely:
“Greenville’s downtown has gone from abandoned warehouses and empty storefronts to having a thriving central business district, with up-scale restaurants, high-end residential condos and lofts, numerous events, and major new mixed-use developments, consisting of office, residential, hotel, and retail uses, scattered throughout downtown. The sustained momentum is, stunning for a small southern city of just under 60,000 residents.
Greenville’s Economic Development Department has played an integral role in the downtown development activity. Focusing on key anchor developments, unique natural assets, a multitude of cultural amenities and attractions, and steady residential growth, the city has utilized its economic and physical strengths, and those of the region, as critical components of the revitalization process.”
-from “How Greenville, South Carolina, Brought Downtown Back: A Case Study in 30 Years of Successful Public/Private Collaboration” by Nancy P. Whitworth and Mary Douglas Neal.
To put it simply, I loved the small amount of time I spent in downtown Greenville. As I visited the stores and ate lunch, I thought about how downtown Brewster could be like that. And the river and cascade cutting through town made me think of Brewster’s East Branch Croton River and the Diverting Reservoir.
Falls Park in downtown Greenville, SC
Hilton Head is more of a planned community with its plantations. The signage and “style” of the area are planned. To be honest, it’s a bit too “corporate” feeling for my tastes (at least in the area I stayed) but had some distinct design elements that make for a user-friendly experience – such as numerous bike trails, plenty of parking wherever we went, family-friendly activities, and of course, beaches.
Coligny Beach Park in Hilton Head, SC
Gettysburg local economy revolves around Gettysburg National Military Park. They do it, for the most part, in a way that is respectful of those who gave their lives in 1863. And other than the government-run national park and a few other large chains, its seems much of their economy consists of small businesses. And in my opinion, small businesses offer a path to financial independence to a greater number of people than what Walmart or McDonald’s and the like can offer, save a few that make it to upper management. Gettysburg is the place that I wish I’d been to years ago. For the past two weeks, I fall asleep listening to Youtube videos of Gettysburg tours and historians discussing those three long days, so long ago.
Little Round Top in Gettysburg, PA
What they all have in common is that they apply the four principles that I think are key for effective, responsible, and life-enriching development. To be successful, I believe a locale should cultivate those things that are indigenous, unique, un-repeatable and experiential. I’ve also spent a good deal of time on the island of Martha’s Vineyard over the years, and I think they too have done a great job of applying these principles.
Putnam, and Brewster in particular, would do well to follow the lead of Gettysburg, Greenville, Hilton Head, and Martha’s Vineyard. So we should ask ourselves, what is indigenous, unique, un-repeatable and experiential in our area? It’s not strip malls or outlet shopping. Either the Amazon-phenomenon or the newer, shinier outlets some other county or town builds after us will limit the lifespan of that endeavor. It’s not transitory, one-night hotels for people just driving through.
Putnam should be showcasing it’s Revolutionary and Civil War history, its mining history, the Hudson River, the Great Swamp, the reservoirs, it’s hikes and it’s natural beauty only 60 miles from Times Square. There are dozens, if not hundreds of trails to hike and bike. Brewster has a downtown that could be fantastic. Cold Spring’s downtown is fantastic. We have a 14,000 acre state park in the middle. We have old mines in Putnam County, including in the village of Brewster, mines that could be opened for guided tours. (The Lackawanna Coal Mine in PA was one of my favorite adventures. Ironically, the Lackawanna Coal Mine Co once owned Tilly Foster Mine.) Putnam could be the outdoor sports playground of NYC with fishing, kayaking, hiking, biking, and more. And what’s great about tourism money is that tourists come here, spend their money, and then go home – we don’t have to then pay for their kids to attend school or for their healthcare as they age.
I hope we get it right, so that Putnam ends up to more like Martha’s Vineyard…or Gettysburg…or Greenville….or even (with reservations) Hilton Head. Otherwise, look to crowded lower Westchester or western Long Island for Putnam’s future.
Now, compare the above photos to the ones below from Putnam…
The Diverting Reservoir Trail near downtown Brewster.
Little Stony Point State Park in Cold Spring, NY
Candlewood Hill in Putnam Valley, NY
For those of you that don’t think Putnam has anything that meets those four criteria I listed, you need to get out and explore your home. We have it. We just don’t know it.
Sources:
“How Greenville, South Carolina, Brought Downtown Back: A Case Study in 30 Years of Successful Public/Private Collaboration” by Nancy P. Whitworth and Mary Douglas Neal.
At http://www.saveourgateways.com/HowGreenville.php Accessed various dates.
“Hilton Head Island History & Heritage” accessed via https://www.hiltonheadisland.org/see-and-do/history-and-heritage/. Various dates.
www.mvcommission/org. Accessed various dates.