Catskill Watershed Corporation Approves Funding for Cold Spring Housing Development Stormwater Project

ARKVILLE — The Catskill Watershed Corporation (CWC) Board of Directors has approved funding under the MOA-145 Stormwater Program to support the implementation of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) for the Cold Spring Housing Development Fund Company, Inc., located at 55 Spruce Street, Tannersville.

The Cold Spring Housing Development project is managed by RUPCO, Inc., and designed by Keplinger Freeman Associates with Kearney Realty & Development Group serving as the contractor. The project will implement stormwater management practices in accordance with New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Watershed Regulations and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) stormwater regulations.

The redevelopment project will transform a long-vacant property into a vibrant, sustainable community hub. The project will create 56 high-quality affordable homes across three modern apartment buildings, providing stable housing for local workers, families, and seniors who are essential to the region’s year-round vitality. By repurposing the former Cold Spring Hotel site, the development not only restores a key piece of the village landscape but also strengthens the local economy by keeping residents closer to jobs, schools, and services. Designed with sustainability in mind, the new apartments will feature energy-efficient construction, geothermal heating and cooling, and green infrastructure that aligns with the environmental values of the Catskills. Together, these improvements will enhance housing options, reduce energy costs for residents, and ensure the site contributes positively to both the community and the watershed.

Funding was made available through CWC’s MOA-145 Program, which supports small business stormwater projects, single family residential stormwater permits, and low-income housing projects throughout the watershed.  The CWC’s Board of Directors approved $760,931.66 in funding representing 50% of eligible NYCDEP and NYSDEC stormwater costs, with the applicant providing the remaining portion.

The DEP and DEC approved stormwater plan includes a combination of dry swales and infiltration basins designed to capture, filter, and treat rainwater on-site before it reaches Gooseberry Creek. These systems will manage runoff from the new buildings, parking areas, and sidewalks, ensuring water quality is protected and downstream impacts are minimized. The work also upgrades site drainage with new catch basins and piping, plus outlet control features, underdrains and emergency/rip-rap spillways to safely manage larger storms. The design incorporates pretreatment elements like forebays, check dams, and internal weirs to settle sediment before infiltration, as well as soil restoration across disturbed areas to restore infiltration capacity. During construction, erosion and sediment controls including silt fencing, a stabilized construction entrance, inlet protection, temporary sediment basins, and seeding and mulching will prevent off-site sediment and keep the creek clean.

The Cold Spring Housing Development comes at a critical time for Tannersville and surrounding Catskill communities, where a shortage of affordable and available housing has made it difficult for residents and local workers to find homes close to where they live and work. Rising housing costs and limited rental options have created barriers for families, essential workers, and seniors who wish to remain in the area.

This project will help strengthen community stability by providing safe, modern, and affordable housing opportunities, supporting the local workforce and ensuring that the region remains vibrant year-round.

In alignment with CWC’s mission, the project demonstrates how environmental protection and community development can go hand-in-hand protecting water quality through responsible stormwater management while investing in the social and economic well-being of the watershed region.

The CWC is a locally based and locally staffed non-profit Development Corporation responsible for environmental protection, economic development and education programs in the New York City Watershed West of the Hudson River. www.cwconline.org