Since the reports about Canopy Development’s interest in acquiring the Williams Lake property a few weeks ago, there has been considerable speculation – and to be fair, some concern – within the community about the future of the site. That is understandable. Williams Lake is a spectacular property and its special relationship with local residents goes back generations. There is a history there, and the prospect for change can be unsettling, particularly in the absence of concrete information.
As president and chief executive officer at Canopy, I’d like to begin filling in the blanks, to the extent possible.
First, who is Canopy? We like to think of ourselves as a new kind of development company – a company that creates resorts and destination villages in exceptional natural environments that are worth protecting. We employ forward-thinking conservation strategies, drive community development and economic activity, and leave lasting legacies of both natural and architectural beauty. Canopy works collaboratively with innovators in green architecture, alternative energy, sustainable agriculture, land preservation and many others, to achieve our mission of creating places designed to balance impacts with conservation.
We invite you to get to know us, and once you do, I think you will find that we share the community’s reverence for this property and will develop it in a way that respects its heritage and adds value to its environs. We work closely with the local community to create positive solutions to land development issues, increase the tax base and improve the quality of life for the surrounding communities. While we have not yet determined the precise scope and character of our development at Williams Lake, our expectation is that the outcome will be in keeping with this approach.
Importantly, while we have reached a tentative agreement to purchase Williams Lake, we do not own it. As with all real estate transactions of this sort, we are undertaking a process of due diligence and permitting, a process during which the local community will have the opportunity to engage. As this project evolves, we look forward to that input and expect that the involvement of local residents over the months to come will contribute to how the property ultimately takes shape. That point is worth emphasizing: we welcome the opportunity for the community at large to contribute to the vision for the development and we will be holding a series of meetings over the months to come to seek out that input.
Over the past few weeks, there have been two issues in particular about which local residents have expressed concerns. The first has to do with the exclusive nature of the development. While there can be no denying that this project is likely to serve a predominantly affluent clientele, we will work to strike a balance between meeting the needs of privacy for our guests and the needs of the local community. Just how will an upscale development contribute to the quality of life within Rosendale and Ulster County? It’s a legitimate question to be sure, but what we expect is that the project will help to enhance the stature of the area, broaden the tax base, add jobs and generally stimulate more local economic activity. The impact, we believe, will be overwhelmingly positive.
The second concern relates to public access to the site. Although Williams Lake has been a private resort for many years, many in the community have accessed the property for their recreational use. This will change, but please know that we have begun talking with state, county and local officials on a solution for public open space, a place where local residents might enjoy the beautiful natural environment in or near Rosendale.
We have been heartened by the largely positive reception we have received thus far in the community, including both public officials and local residents who recognize the tremendously positive impact that the development will have on the community at large. In addition to the sizeable tax revenues that would be generated for the Town of Rosendale by such a project, we expect to provide a considerable number of jobs, both during the construction phase and long term, at the facility itself. We are committed to maintaining the special quality of the property and to undertaking a wildlife and natural resource management plan to help sustain and protect the property’s important ecosystems.
In her letter to the community, Anita Williams Peck, the property’s current owner, called the pending sale of Williams Lake “the end of an era.” That is certainly true, but we are hopeful that the era now before us holds the promise of many new memories, that new generations of local families and visitors alike will have the opportunity to experience this truly magnificent property. We look forward to being your new neighbors and to working together to make this new development a place of which we all can be proud.
Sincerely,
Tom Horton
President & Chief Executive Officer
Canopy Development Company
Northampton, Massachusetts
