One only has to look at trends in the surrounding area over the previous few decades. 1980's Rensselaerville, Middleburgh, & Oak Hill, 2000's Hudson, then Athens and Catskill, and now Coxsackie. In come the the roller coaster of trendy, new, quaint businesses plant themselves in these upstate communities until they seemingly disappar as their owners lose interest or money on the investment a decade later. Hopefully they stay and invest longterm in the community as Mr. Flach has, but historically they don't. One only has to look at the lack of basic infrastructure, limited broadband, poor healthcare access, few employment opportunites, and the inability of the area to retain its best and brightest.  A few small shops and a hotel, although ambitious ventures are "destination locations", and are not going to put a dent into what the area truly needs, including jobs with living wages and a sustainable economy. The trendy grand allure of the Catskills and the Hudson Valley  has always drawn people here, but the economy, weather, lack of services and conservative politics have served to eventually send them off to the next new quaint little town, leaving little behind but memories of better days.

One only has to look at trends in the surrounding area over the previous few decades. 1980's Rensselaerville, Middleburgh, & Oak Hill, 2000's Hudson, then Athens and Catskill, and now Coxsackie. In come the the roller coaster of trendy, new, quaint businesses plant themselves in these upstate communities until they seemingly disappar as their owners lose interest or money on the investment a decade later. Hopefully they stay and invest longterm in the community as Mr. Flach has, but historically they don't. One only has to look at the lack of basic infrastructure, limited broadband, poor healthcare access, few employment opportunites, and the inability of the area to retain its best and brightest.  A few small shops and a hotel, although ambitious ventures are "destination locations", and are not going to put a dent into what the area truly needs, including jobs with living wages and a sustainable economy. The trendy grand allure of the Catskills and the Hudson Valley  has always drawn people here, but the economy, weather, lack of services and conservative politics have served to eventually send them off to the next new quaint little town, leaving little behind but memories of better days.

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