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the 1800s into now, and people can see that and enjoy it,” says Mary Linge, director of real estate development at Hudson River Housing.
Middle Main promotes existing small businesses through its Made in Middle Main membership alliance. It also hosts events like Poughkeepsie First Friday, food tastings, and ribbon tyings meant to unite professionals in the Middle Main area.
Other action in the Middle Main area includes Art Centro, a project of the Mid-Hudson Heritage Center. Art Centro is a community art space that hosts workshops, performances, and meetings. And recently, Family Services, Inc. and MASS Design Group collaborated on a project of conceptual designs for the Family Partnership Center, which houses social services, health-care nonpro ts, and youth programs in the city. MASS Design Group, which has built numerous
hospitals and schools across Africa, was co-founded by Michael Murphy, a Dutchess County native.
New restaurant openings in the city are now a common occurrence. Charles Fells, a city-born restaurateur, has helped reinvigorate Main Street with his four businesses. With wife Megan Kulpa Fells, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, they serve gourmet French fare at Brasserie 292, locally sourced American cuisine at the Artist’s Palate, Asian-style noodle bowls at CHU Noodles & Dumplings, and hearty old-style sandwiches at Morty’s Delicatessen.
There’s a youthful vibrancy throughout Poughkeepsie, from the attractive waterfront to the busy Middle Main area. It’s drawing people to the Queen City who realize the potential that exists in this regional destination
“This is a place to come to. This is a city on the move,” says Rolison.
“People in Dutchess County are willing to go above and beyond to help you
so that you can help the county. They want you to do business locally, so they’re willing to assist you. There’s something to be said for that.”
— Jenna Riess Owner, NYCOMCO
Poughkeepsie
Beacon and Poughkeepsie, with their Metro-North Railroad accessibility, are creating transit-oriented development opportunities. By clustering development close to train stations, the cities will create hubs that will draw even more professionals.
Beacon is exploring the potential development of a 22-acre site by the Metro-North train station into a technology hub with housing. Poughkeepsie’s transit-oriented development plan calls for pedestrian-friendly recreation and access to both the railroad station and Walkway Over the Hudson. The plan includes the completion of One Dutchess Avenue, a development of 384 townhomes and condominiums on the former Dutton lumberyard site. The $100 million project will also include more than 13,000 square feet of commercial space and a public waterfront park.
“You want to grow your city in the area that will accommodate the growth, and for us that’s in and around the train station,” says Poughkeepsie Mayor Robert Rolison.
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