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On Sunday, November 6, 2005, the New York Times ran a story about Newburgh in the "Living in..." series in the real estate section. Headlined "Finally, a Confirmation of a Rebound," the story by C. J. Hughes
began as follows:
"If there was a precise moment when Newburgh's fortunes turned the corner, when the long-awaited revival of this hard-luck Hudson River city finally kicked into high gear, it might have been at 5:40 a.m. on Oct. 17.
"That's when the ferryboat West New York set off on its inaugural trip to meet a Metro-North Railroad train on the opposite bank, in Beacon, that would take passengers to Grand Central."
"For Newburgh residents, the ferry shaves 12 minutes off the morning commute, but also reconnects their city, in northern Orange County, to its historic waterfront. And this detail, like Newburgh's affordable homes, exquisite architecture, spectacular views and pioneering spirit, is yet another reason, residents say, to root for its recovery."
Hughes characterizes the city's appeal as follows:
"Instead of predictable, look-alike homes, the city offers a hodgepodge of Italianate row houses, Second Empire mansions and Gothic castles — even a 35-acre park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted — much of it squeezed into a 445-acre, 2,440-building historic district, one of the state's largest."
The author also describes the "leafy hamlet" of Balmville, just north of the city, with its "Tudor mansions hidden behind hedges," the 123-year-old Powelton club, and its "mega-mansions" sprouting along the river.
Hughes reports on the greater Newburgh school system, with 1900 students attending 9 elementary schools, 3 junior highs, and one high school (Newburgh Free Academy). Quoting superintendent Annette Saturnelli, the article reported that "For students in the class of 2004 who took the SAT reasoning tests, average scores were 475 on the verbal, compared with 497 statewide, and 485 in math, compared with 510 statewide."
The article also recounts Newburgh's history, its entertainment scene, the commute to New York City, and typical prices of homes in the area.
For the complete text of the article, log in to the New York Times website (requires free registration), and search on the title, author or date.
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What We Like
"For anybody who has ever wanted to live in an old mansion but could never afford one, Newburgh offers many options - especially if the homeowner has a knack for a hammer and band saw. And, despite sometimes decades of neglect, many homes retain period details like stained-glass windows, marble mantels and plaster medallions. In fact, a home buyer's first stop after signing the deed is typically the historical society..."
What We'd Change
"Now that crime rates are dropping, many residents want the police in Newburgh to crack down on quality-of-life crimes. On some blocks, garbage is strewn across the sidewalks and discarded furniture lies in piles on the curb."
— C. J. Hughes, "Living in Newburgh, N.Y." New York Times, Nov. 6, 2005.
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