Putnam’s Odell Touts Tilly Foster, Danbury Sewer Deal

CARMEL—Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell said recently that her “Year of Business Development” launched in March 2016 as part of her State of the County Address has achieved some significant goals by year’s-end.

Among the economic development oriented initiatives highlighted by the County Executive included approved plans for a new senior center at the Butterfield site in Philipstown, the renovation and rebirth of Tilly Foster Farm as the new Tilly Foster Educational Institute, and the county’s recent award of a $2-million Regional Economic Development grant toward the revitalization of the Village of Brewster. Phase one of the project is expected to begin in 2017 and includes a transit-oriented development adjacent to the Brewster Metro-North train station.

Odell said the Brewster revitalization effort is strengthened by a sanctioned agreement with the City of Danbury whereby Putnam County will buy excess sewer capacity from the city to develop commercially zoned land in the Town of Southeast, as well as exploring other shared services. The City Council of the City of Danbury reportedly approved the agreement with Putnam County earlier this month.

“Our targeted focus on economic development and the significant contributions from supporters, including the Chambers of Commerce, the Legislature and the EDC, has generated significant momentum toward improving the business climate and quality of life in Putnam County,” said County Executive Odell. “Adding this partnership with Danbury is a crowning achievement to the county’s 2016 successes and an outstanding way to end our Year of Business Development.”

“Now we look toward 2017 and the grand opening of Tilly’s Table farm-to-table dining experience at Tilly Foster Educational Institute along with the completion of the Butterfield Senior Center, phase one construction on the Envision Brewster revitalization project and implementation of our partnership with the City of Danbury to create a bi-county economic development zone and shared services that will position Putnam for continued success in 2017 and beyond,” Odell added,

The new agreement with the City of Danbury will enable commercial development of a stretch of Route 6, bordering Danbury through the town of Southeast to the Village of Brewster. The agreement also includes the development of a task force that will be committed to identifying and exploring other shared services opportunities, such as transportation, tourism, education, recreation, emergency services and economic development.

“The partnership between Danbury and Putnam County is an opportunity that will benefit both of our communities,” stated Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. “We are excited to see the revitalization of our neighboring town and recognize that economic development is something we can celebrate regardless of whose soil the project lies on. The prospect of partnering through various services is one we certainly look forward to and I am hopeful that this is a relationship our communities will continue to grow and develop for years to come.”

A special task force will be assigned in January to manage the interstate sewer agreement and the project’s construction. A separate task force will be designated to assess opportunities for shared services, including emergency services and law enforcement collaboration.