Above: Helen Budrock, Community Planner for Sullivan Renaissance, addresses the community members gathered in Livingston Manor's Presbyterian Church hall for last week's Visioning Workshop. Nearly 80 people attended. Photo by Jason Dole.
Last Thursday evening, nearly 80 Livingston Manor residents braved frigid temperatures to plan the future of their community, rocked by recent flooding, fire and the loss of many beloved local businesses. They packed the Livingston Manor Presbyterian Church for the first in a series of Community Visioning Workshops organized by members of Sullivan Renaissance, the Livingston Manor Chamber of Commerce, and the Sullivan County Division of Planning.
The workshops were planned last autumn, when Marge Feuerstein and her fellow Sullivan Renaissance volunteers in Livingston Manor began looking for help. They had wrapped up another successful season landscaping, planting, weeding, and dead-heading flowers, but they knew their hamlet needed more. Others kept offering advice on what the town needed next.
“Some of these things were way beyond the scope of what our Renaissance group could do financially or physically,” explained Feuerstein.
Helen Budrock, Community Planner for Sullivan Renaissance, suggested bringing in the whole community to find out what people wanted, what would be practical, and how to proceed. It sounded good to Feuerstein, who encapsulated the community's position by saying, “we need to go beyond the pretty to the nitty-gritty.”
Residents who met last Thursday were ready to get down to business. Budrock started the evening with an “ice-breaker.” She asked everyone in the room to state briefly (1) why they like Livingston Manor and (2) what they would change about the community if they had a “magic wand.” The exercise encouraged people to re-connect, dream big, and stay positive even while pushing pet projects or voicing pet peeves.
“I've been here 40 years in business, ” said George Fulton during the ice-breaker. “I've seen the town come up and down, up and down. This [meeting] is fantastic. I've never seen so much excitement.”
Fulton named the biggest problem he sees: Repeated flooding in the hamlet. “I'd bring back the million dollars spent studying these rivers since 1969...so we can develop a plan with a good engineering firm and apply for grants to solve the flooding problem.”
At the outset, Helen Budrock cautioned that the Visioning Workshop wouldn't be addressing flooding specifically, and encouraged folks not to let flood concerns limit their thinking. For some, however, flooding was not a side issue.
“People won't invest until the flooding is solved,” said Phil Vallone.
Reflecting on the meeting afterward, Vallone said, “The energy in that room was impressive. If we can harness that energy and put it behind pressuring elected officials and the people who get the grants, then we're getting somewhere.”
Also at the forefront of peoples' minds was the recent fire that destroyed the Hoos Building and four businesses at the heart of the town. Caroline Walton-Brown ran the popular Willow & Brown with her husband, David Brown. When it was her turn to break the ice, Walton-Brown said she loves the Catskill Art Society and the recently-launched Manor Ink youth newspaper. Then it was time for her wish.
“I lost my business in the fire,” said Walton-Brown. “I would like to see my business back.” The whole room—friends, neighbors, and strangers alike—erupted in applause.
One by one, each person said what they loved and what they would change. Many cited Livingston Manor's small-town feel, its people, the natural surroundings and the town Library, Catskill Art Society, and school. The most desired changes were filling empty stores and lots (which one community member described as the town's “broken teeth”) with businesses and restaurants, providing activities for youth, and creating a river walk. A couple people suggested turning the Main Street businesses around so they faced the river.
“It was like a shopping spree of ideas for me to take on,” said Mia Koerner. She recently became President of the Livingston Manor Chamber, and is glad for both the input and the energy.
Koerner said that Livingston Manor has lost nine businesses since December of 2011, when King's Catering House closed. After that, Manor lost Calliope on Main, Dick Lambert Gunsmith, ADC Studio, the four businesses lost in November's fire, and Flour Power Bakery. Before that, the town lost its pharmacy, book store, and dentist.
“It's just one thing after another,” said Koerner. “We've done a lot of losing. People needed to know there were others who want to see postitive things happen. We've had so much negative and we need a little pick-me-up.”
So, to pick itself up, the community is focusing on what it needs for the future. Koerner, for one, articulated those needs as “what's essential for life year-round,” not just what attracts tourists. Feuerstein agreed.
“Having a procession of businesses going in and out benefits no one,” said Feuerstein. “You have to provide things that people want and need.”
For now, the simple process of naming its challenges, facing them, and devising an actionable response seems to be exactly what Livingston Manor needs.
“We're looking forward to the future of Livingston Manor,” said Diane Foster, a member of Livingston Manor Renaissance who owned the Hoos Building that was lost in the fire. “We're like a phoenix, rising out of the ashes.”
WHAT COMES NEXT:
Livingston Manor residents will continue to shape the future of their hamlet at a special workshop on Thursday, January 31 at 7:00 p.m. in the Livingston Manor Presbyterian Church. The public is encouraged to attend whether they were at the first workshop or not.
The results of the four breakout focus groups at the first workshop will be read. This includes assets, problems, and needs identified under Community Appearance & Aesthetics, Businesses Development & Tourism, Infrastructure & Community Facilities, and Recreation & Social Issues. Then, folks will think of specific projects that build on that information. At the end of the second workshop, participants will vote on projects they would most like to see implemented.
On February 11, Sullivan Renaissance will meet with the steering committee and local officials to select a handful of projects to start immediately, and help identify potential funding sources.
For more information on this project, contact Marge Feuerstein of Livingston Manor Renaissance at 845-439-5519 or Helen Budrock of Sullivan Renaissance at 845-295-2462.
Full disclosure: Reporter Jason Dole is also a paid freelance photographer and writer for Sullivan Renaissance.
