Visioning the Upper Delaware River Valley

Highland: A great place to live

By ALLAN SCHADT

I have been asked many times whether the Town of Highland is ready for the economic development that will come with casinos, Alan Gerry’s performing arts center project in Bethel, the Mountain Laurel Performing Arts Center in Pike County, Route 97 as the new Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, and the proposed change of Route 17 to Interstate 86.

My answer to everyone is the town will not see “big industry” within our borders. We do not have the infrastructure that big business needs. We leave that to Monticello, Liberty and the other large towns.

But what we have is what we have always had—a great place to live and raise children.

That said, this is what I feel will happen within the next four to five years.

When people come to work at the casino or at any big business that I-86 brings to the county, they will first live as close to the place that they work as they can. After a while, they will look for a home that they can buy. That is when we will see the move outward.

People who come to work and perform at the performing art centers will have to find a place to stay while they are here. Again, they will first stay in the large towns because that is what they are used to. But they will be looking for places to eat and things to do when they are not performing. The same holds true for the people who come to listen to the shows. That’s when they will find us. We have some of the best eating establishments in the county, as well as some of the most interesting places to visit. We have some of the best things to do for fun.

Anyone driving from Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Hancock will find that we are not only the scenic byway of Sullivan County but to the performing art centers, as well as the casino. What better way to get people to see our town.

Even though I eagerly await all of these things, I have noticed that the last couple of years have brought a big change to the Town of Highland.

No longer do we see the number of “For Sale” signs along the road that we have seen over the years. What we see are more homes being built than we have ever seen before.

Is this the beginning of a Renaissance for the town?

Are people already getting a head start for all the new things to come or are we seeing an outward swing of people from Orange, Ulster and Rockland County?

Are these people trying to get away from city life and are they looking for peace and quiet?

Whatever the reason, the Town of Highland will continue to advance into the future. We will continue to meet all the new challenges that casinos, performing art centers and the scenic byway will bring.

[Allan Schadt is the Town of Highland Supervisor.]