Brian Harrod: FOCUS ON: Sleepy Hollow - Twenty-five miles north of New York City on the Hudson River’s eastern shore, is a space where Lenape tribes gathered and hunted, where a sizeable Dutch plantation milled grains to ship to markets along the Hudson.

 

From The Desk Of Sleepy Hollow Newswire Publisher Brian Harrod..... FOCUS ON: Sleepy Hollow - Twenty-five miles north of New York City on the Hudson River’s eastern shore, is a space where Lenape tribes gathered and hunted, where a sizeable Dutch plantation milled grains to ship to markets along the Hudson #SleepyHollow is where lines in the Revolutionary War were drawn. #SleepyHollowNY is where a famous American short story is set. The #VillageOfSleepyHollow is where farm plots yielded neighborhoods incorporating as North Tarrytown in 1874, where industrialization began with brickyards and ended with an auto factory. By the early 20th century, the Village’s identity and finances were tied inextricably to #GeneralMotors. At times. #GM represented 50% of Village tax revenues and employed 5,000 workers. Local businesses were built around the double shifts. In 1996, the factory closed. GM retained title to the 99-acre property. Contentious negotiations led to the Village gaining public river frontage and 28 acres east of Metro-North’s Hudson Line. GM received, and sold to developers, a permit to develop 1,177 housing units and 175,000 square feet of retail, hotel and commercial space across 68 acres. The Village embraced this change, strategically moving past its industrial identity. A referendum changed the name from North Tarrytown to its historical appellation, Sleepy Hollow. Then the village's extraordinary natural, historic, and cultural assets came into focus. A new wave of people began to arrive from the city, including the creative class. That a small village stood up to GM brought civic pride. Local spirit strengthened, evidenced by a series of cultural festivals, art installations and community gardens (Halloween remains the top tourist draw.) The development of a Riverwalk and Common will provide public access to the Hudson and Pocantico Rivers and a large central public space open to all who wish to gather. https://www.facebook.com/groups/668281599925204/permalink/3723915594361774/