Cuddy & Feder LLP Partner Neil Alexander joined a distinguished panel at ULI Westchester/Fairfield’s Breaking Brownfields event, held at the Stony Point Community Center. The event, co-hosted with NJIT Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities, focused on strategies to overcome the redevelopment challenges facing Letchworth Village, a historic but neglected site in the lower Hudson Valley.
The event was a resounding success, drawing attention from the Rockland County Business Journal, which published an in-depth article highlighting the discussions. The panel explored potential funding opportunities for environmental cleanup and redevelopment, as well as the critical need for community engagement to move the project forward.
Neil Alexander, quoted in the Rockland County Business Journal alongside other industry leaders, offered valuable insights on how to bring the community together in support of redevelopment. He emphasized, “You will not have trouble attracting development because (Letchworth Village) has great bones, caliber. The challenge is for Stony Point to engage the majority.”
In addition to discussing financial and regulatory pathways, the panel focused on how to build public consensus for a development plan that benefits the community. Neil’s final remark, “Not doing anything, maintaining the status quo… seems like it’s not a decision but it is a decision,” captured the essence of the event’s message: inaction is costly, and it’s time to take decisive steps toward revitalizing the site.
The event and its media coverage brought attention to the opportunities ahead, with Neil and his fellow panelists offering valuable guidance on how to navigate the challenges of redeveloping such a significant property.