Page 42 - The Business Council of Westchester - 2018 Relocation Guide

LOWER HUDSON VALLEY
PUTNAM
W ith the countless amenities and resources it has to offer, Putnam County continues to be the direct beneficiary of the ongoing urban sprawl. And well it should. In addi- tion to its intrinsic verdant beauty, many natural won- ders and clean air, it offers top-rated schools, with 90 percent of its students going on to attend college; safe neighborhoods, town centers and public places; superi- or healthcare facilities and services; individual, couples’ and family activities; and an continuing investment in the region’s infrastructure, with new roads, bridges and dams supporting surprisingly affordable real estate —
all just 60 miles from Manhattan.
In the village Brewster, there is an exciting revital-
ization going on, with demonstrable results in housing and infrastructure. Ensconced in the town of South- east, Brewster sits at the crossroads of Routes 684 and 84 and benefits from a nearby Metro-North train station. It also boasts a large sports center and ice-skat- ing arena.
Speaking of winter activities, just 11 miles away is Patterson, the site of Thunder Ridge Ski Resort. With the motto “Heck no, we make it snow,” Thunder Ridge welcomes skiers from all over, as long as it’s cold. Win- ter revelers will also appreciate the 14,000-acre Clar- ence Fahnestock Memorial State Park, which includes up to 18 kilometers of machine groomed, tracked and mapped trails for beginning and experienced skiers and snowshoers.
When things heat up, Fahnestock State Park (which extends into neighboring Dutchess County) also of- fers beautiful Canopus Lake, which offers beaches and swimming in the summer and robust boating, fishing and camping throughout the year.
One of Putnam County’s biggest draws, especially for day-tripping New Yorkers and the like, is definitely Cold Spring. A true jewel of the Hudson, Cold Spring features stirring architecture, antiques, specialty shops and trendy cafés, with a hip, farm-to-table vibe. While you’re there, set aside some time to bask in the bucolic 12 acres of Stonecrop Gardens.
In neighboring Garrison is the magnificent Federal- style Boscobel House and Gardens, which draws visitors from all over the country each year. Boscobel is also the home of the renowned Hudson Valley Shakespeare Fes- tival, now in its 31st spectacular season. Putnam also boasts a vibrant community-theater scene, with the Philpstown Depot Theatre, the Brewster Theatre Com- pany and the highly anticipated renovation of the Old Town Hall Theater.
There’s plenty of good eating on Putnam, too, includ- ing Dish Bistro & Wine Bar in Mahopac, Hudson Hil’s Café & Market and Riverview Restaurant in Cold Spring, and Brewster’s Jaipore Royal Indian, to name just three.
KEY FACTS
Hudson Hil’s Café (top left) and Dish Bistro & Wine Bar in Mahopac (above) are two of Putnam County’s most popular eateries. Top right: Each year, thousands bask in the bucolic splendor of Stonecrop Gardens.
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LIVING IN WESTCHESTER AND THE HUDSON VALLEY | RELOCATION & MOVING GUIDE
POPULATION DENSITY: 432.94 people per square mile MEDIAN HOME VALUE: $335,000
MEDIAN ANNUAL PROPERTY-TAX PAYMENT: $8,276 MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME: $96,148
JENNIFER MAY ELLEN BOGEN MEDIA