Beacon New York has been overrun by outsized, out of character, outsider residential developments like the 45 Beekman/High Street project. These large, sterile, ship-like buildings are extracting the historical, cultural, and unique identity of Beacon and have serious impacts on resources and affordability.

By allowing developers to extract value from our corner of the Hudson Valley we risk losing what makes Beacon a distinctively livable place to live, work, and raise a family. Adding more and more large, uninspired, condos and apartments will only further Beacon’s decline towards a weekender-based monoculture.  

The Beekman/High Street development proposal is currently under review and needs to be substantively redesigned and restructured because: 

1.      It degrades the unique historic Victorian neighborhood that is protected by its designation as a Beacon Historic District Landmark Overlay Zone (HDLO).

2.      The 45 Beekman proposal is in violation of the requirements set by the Comprehensive Plan and the Linkage District Plan because it fails to meet stated rules and guidelines.  

3.      It proposes buildings sized and placed to maximize footprint and avoid variances, not designed to mitigate the development's impact on a historic residential neighborhood or enhance the entrance to our city.

4.      The developer has responded to deep concerns expressed by the board and community by tinkering with details or blatantly defying stated requirements rather than coming up with better solutions that reconsiders the design, massing, and placement of the development. 

Demand the City of Beacon City Council and Planning Board enforce the precepts of Beacon's comprehensive plan and strongly impose its HDLO zoning requirements by demanding the developer substantively redesign and restructure their proposal.

Footprint of development (below)

Historic homes of High Street (below)

Proposed development (below)