Someone should shake the hands of the Greene County Industrial Development Agency, Greene County Legislature and Columbia Memorial Health executives for hatching a plan for a desolate property next to Exit 21 of the New York State Thruway.
Plans are in the works to expand available health care services at a new business park. The Exit 21 West Business Park is being developed for businesses geared to the medical and hospitality industries along with a new Community Health Center. Plans are also being finalized with Columbia Memorial Health to develop a health care facility dubbed CMH Medical Plaza West.
In 2019, the IDA proposed a 60-acre business park in 2019 on Route 23B, adjacent to Exit 21. Since that time, the IDA invested more than $3 million to make the site shovel-ready, including acquisition of eight parcels of land and demolition of several residential structures. The IDA also completed an environmental impact statement to allow for the mitigation of archaeologically sensitive areas at the site.
The development will make the surrounding area more attractive to future businesses looking to come to Catskill. Medical services are a key component for the economic growth of Greene County as the 30th anniversary of the closing and sale of the former Greene County Memorial Hospital approaches. It’s a strong reminder that corporate site selectors are strongly interested in investing in communities where their employees will have access to quality housing, recreation and medical care.
The plan to build a medical care facility and a hospitality-related enterprise in Catskill, in a high-traffic area, is promising news. Next comes the fortitude and commitment — not to mention the funds — to make it happen.