Hudson Valley Prison Will Transform Hotel, Eatery, Nursery, More

A former Hudson Valley prison is going to be turned into a hotel, restaurant, athletic fields and much more, creating many jobs.

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On Thursday, Empire State Development announced the redevelopment of the former Beacon Correctional Facility in Dutchess County. The winning proposal, submitted by Urban Green Food, will create a campus focused on food, farming, sports, education, hospitality and recreation on the 39-acre, 22-building site, located one mile from downtown Beacon.

The project will foster an estimated $62 million in investment and create 295 direct construction jobs and 150 to 250 permanent jobs, officials say.

The redevelopment will help meet the demand for more hotel rooms, recreational facilities and expansion opportunities for local businesses, according to Empire State Development.

“Throughout New York State, surplus facilities are being transformed in exciting ways that support regional economies. This project is a great example of how a former prison can be reimagined to create new jobs and foster local and regional economies and community growth," Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Howard Zemsky said,

Developer Urban Green Builders partnered with two local businesses, Common Ground Farm and All You Knead Bakery, that will provide services on the site to form the Urban Green Food team.

Key elements of the winning proposal were:

Commercial kitchen
103-key hotel, restaurant and event space
Landscape design and nursery business
Community gardens and small-scale agriculture
Athletic facilities
Classrooms for youth and adult job training
Maker space for local artisans

"The project includes long-established and well-regarded organizations in the area, and its unique mix of sports, hospitality, food production, and education is just the kind of creative, forward-thinking development we need," Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson said.

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The Beacon Correctional Facility closed in 2013 after serving as a minimum-security correctional facility for women.