Exciting news for Sloatsburg and the surrounding Hudson Valley communities! A significant 45.67-acre parcel in Sloatsburg recently transitioned to new ownership, with a big focus on long-term conservation.
72 Eagle Valley Road in Sloatsburg, New York, listed and sold by Micaela Stanaland and Kevin Brentnall with Howard Hanna | Rand Realty for $1,265,337
Last month, the 45.67-acre property at 72 Eagle Valley Road was purchased by Open Space Institute (OSI), a renowned non-profit organization dedicated to land conservation efforts throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond.
Local Knowledge, Global Impact
As a real estate agent specializing in the Hudson Valley region, I’m thrilled to share news of this impactful land acquisition. The sale not only contributes to the preservation of our beautiful natural landscape but also reflects the ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship within our community. In the following interview, I chat with Matt Decker, a representative from the Open Space Institute, to learn more about their vision for this property and the positive impact it will have on Sloatsburg and the surrounding area.
The following interview with Matt Decker, Land Project Manager (Northeast) with OSI, and Micaela Stanaland, Howard Hanna | Rand Realty’s representing salesperson, dives into the details of the sale and explores the future plans for the land. We hope the community and outdoors enthusiast will enjoy hearing about OSI’s vision for the exceptional parcel!
(MAY 23, 2024)
Micaela Stanaland, Howard Hanna | Rand Realty: Eagle Valley is a beautiful piece of property in the heart of Sloatsburg. Can you tell us a little bit about what initially drew the Open Space Institute to this particular land?
Matt Decker, Open Space Institute: I had seen these properties in the past but we didn’t pay attention to them until there was a large section of land connected to each other that became available. It looks on the map like a natural place to connect the community to Sterling Forest but it wasn’t until you put boots on the ground and get to those rocky hill tops and see the views. It’s really not until you get out there where you realize how special it is.
MS: What would you say are some of the organization’s biggest accomplishments to date?
OSI: In NY we’ve protected more than 10% of the acreage that’s in the New York State Park system, which is heavily concentrated in the Hudson Valley, including Rockland County. Across the river on the east side, OSI has increased the size of Fahnestock State Park by more than 50%.
MS: Wow. How have employees gotten involved with OSI? Were they volunteers? Are they people that were involved in other local projects?
OSI: OSI has had an expanding presence since it was founded 50 years ago. As there’s more and more demand for our work, OSI’s staff capacity has grown to meet that demand and be able to do more and more and better work through the years.
MS: That’s awesome. The vision for the Eagle Valley property, what’s the game plan to make it become the dream that you guys have envisioned for it?
OSI: We can move quickly when opportunities like this arise, when important properties like this are on the market, but it’s rarely our plan to own and manage land over the long term. Of course, there are exceptions to that. The Eagle Valley property was nominated in Rockland County’s Open Space Acquisition Program. Throughout the process of buying properties, we’ve been working with Rockland County on the idea of them, the county, owning the properties in the future, as a new Rockland County park. Neither OSI or the County are committed to that at this point, but our plan would be to work in the future to kind of see the land to its final conservation stage and see trails be developed and public access be opened. We have a whole team within our organization who are experts in trail design, vision and development, and we’re certainly open to doing that on the Eagle Valley property. We’re working closely with Rockland County on the medium and long term visions for the property. In the short term our focus was on securing the properties and making sure they’re protected.
MS: I think a lot of people in the Sloatsburg community are going to love the idea of this. Whenever a big piece of land such as Eagle Valley comes up for sale, there are a lot of questions about future use. There’s always the question of, “What’s going to go there, and how will the community change?”. As a real estate agent when we’re representing a sizable piece of land similar to Eagle Valley’s, we can only say so much to the public during the negotiation and contract stage. I think OSI’s acquisition of the land is going to bring relief to a lot of people.
OSI: Yea. I want the community to know that. Not everyone is familiar with OSI and they’re going to ask, you know, “Who is that?” and I want the people to know that we purchased these properties to ensure that they will be protected forever. We want the properties to be open for passive recreational use in a way that protects the natural resources and respects the privacy of neighbors and tranquility of the community.
MS: That’s a great way to put it.
OSI: Yea, sounds not so scary.
MS: Yea, it’s calming in a way. That’s great. Is there anything specific that you want to say to the Sloatsburg community about the Eagle Vallery property?
OSI: OSI is always looking for ways to connect people with nature. Connect communities with the protected landscape that they’re surrounded by. Sloatsburg is right in the middle of Sterling Forest and Harriman State Park. Other than being able to look up at the mountains around, when you’re driving through Sloatsburg on 17 you’d never really know that you’re right between these two major protected areas and we’re just happy to be able to protect this land for people that drink from the Ramapo aquifer. Drinking water is another big component of our work.
MS: Does OSI have any educational programs or initiatives that the public can participate in? Either community events, volunteering, partnerships?
OSI: Yes we definitely partner with local groups. I’m excited about the Growing Greenways plan that OSI has. It’s a plan to link more than 250 miles of multi-use trails in the Hudson Valley on the west side of the Hudson River. One of the major arteries of that plan is a 57-mile corridor between Kingston and Port Jervis along the O&W and D&H canal. There are these old rail lines, these old canals, that are ripe to become a linear park and trail system that can connect the communities in the Hudson Valley. We’re doing some public engagement and listening sessions for that corridor right now to hear what the communities would want. There’s a survey open right now that people can participate in.
MS: That’s awesome. Personally, being from Rockland County and moving to Orange County, and having lived in Westchester for a minute, knowing the different trails throughout the Hudson Valley and that they even exist is amazing. I know people come right from Manhattan, cross over the George Washington Bridge and catch the Palisades Interstate Park trail up to Piermont and beyond. Then there’s the Orange County Heritage Trail a little further north, which connects towns like Middletown, Goshen, Chester. Whenever I myself am out on a run or a bike ride I always think how cool it would be to have all of these trails connected, not just for conservation but also from a safety standpoint of not having to run or ride on a main road. To be able to pick up a nearby trail wherever you are is a huge perk of living or even just visiting from outside the hustle and bustle of the city.
OSI: Yea. I think it’s worth mentioning that in New Jersey, OSI facilitated the Essex Hudson Rail Corridor acquisition in partnership with the State of New Jersey. That was a huge project that took multiple years. It was a $65-million purchase, an agreement between OSI and Norfolk Southern Railway that the state of NJ ultimately picked up. It’s…how many miles?
MS: You’ll have to put your Garmin on and go find out.
OSI: Yea! Exactly. I think it’s nine miles. It connects Jersey City across the Meadowlands all the way to Montclair. And then there’s obviously a bunch of communities between. Millions of New Jersey residents will have easy access to nature and an alternative transportation option because of this project. New Jersey owns it and their plan is to build a multi-use trail through the former railroad corridor. Governor Murphy said that when he looks back on his administration 30-40 years from now, it’s going to be a top five accomplishment.
MS: Wow, that’s awesome. When OSI builds the trails, do you do a ribbon cutting or anything?
OSI: Yes! We’re still working through the process with Rockland County, who has been great to work with. When they’re ready to open the park at Eagle Valley, we’d love to have a big celebration of it. We still are figuring out how to make the best public use of the land, so it’s all in the early stages.
MS: That’s great! Sloatsburg is such a cool location, being in Rockland but right on the border of Orange County and also bordering New Jersey’s Bergen County.
OSI: We’re always thinking about local businesses and economies and real estate as we’re doing this work. We want to invest in thriving communities and protect clean and abundant sources of drinking water and provide equitable access to nature – we view those as being good for business and good for the local real estate market. Water resources are always one of the main filters we use. Wetlands are important to protect access to nature. Eagle Valley has these spots of wetlands and streams that flow across the property into the Nakoma Brook, which is a tributary of the Ramapo, and you know, 2 million people drink from the Rampao aquifer which is recharged by that water.
MS: Yea, it’s all a ripple effect. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk about this.
OSI: Yea, and before you mentioned a coffee shop – the Village Blend Coffee Shop – was that the one?
MS: Yes, they’re amazing!
OSI: They have been my go-to meeting place, I love them. I brought our team and CEO out last week to the Eagle Valley property, and I said, you know, “Let’s meet at the Village Blend!” And it was a Monday, and they were closed. Kevin (Brentnall) actually called the owner, who sent someone down to open the coffee shop for us, and they came out and made us coffee and muffins, and I totally owe them my life. I’m a Village Blend customer for life. It’s also great to work with a realtor like Kevin who really knows the community.
MS: Nothing like bringing your CEO to a place that’s closed.
OSI: Oh yea.
MS: There’s also Dottie Audrey’s right up the road, it’s Orange County but maybe 5 minutes or so from Sloatsburg –
OSI: Ohhh yea.
MS: You’ve been there?
OSI: Oh yea.
MS: Their breakfast and lunch – and of course, desserts – are unreal. Also, Character’s is a locally owned spot right in Sloatsburg and is a pretty fun place as well. Especially on a Sunday during football season.
OSI: Yes we will definitely be in the area more often. Have you been on the Eagle Valley property and walked it?
MS: I have. Before we listed it, I walked it a few times with Kevin to get a lay of the land.
OSI: It’s nice. I feel like a realtor sometimes. I have to figure out how to show off these properties in the best light, and I’ve had to get the walk on Eagle Valley down.
MS: You probably know it better than I do at this point, because for someone who likes to be outdoors so much, my sense of direction is awful. There’s that greenhouse looking structure with the four posts nearby which I always thought looked so cool. I always try to imagine what it was, how it was used and how it looked back in its prime.
OSI: Yea. And right up from there, there’s that spring that adds to it and just makes it feel like this magical place.
MS: Yes it’s pretty evident OSI is heavily taking into consideration the past, present, and future of the localities and how to tie it into the nature surrounding it. It’s awesome.
OSI: We are heavily involved in engaging with the local community and getting their input on what and how to make the property the best use.
MS: Well thank you so much Matt for your time and talking about the future of this space, I know everyone in the Sloatsburg community and surrounding areas are going to be looking forward to the what comes out of it.
OSI: Great talking with you. Thanks a lot for your interest and for talking about our work.
We encourage our readers to learn more about OSI’s ongoing land conservation efforts in the Hudson Valley. For more information, head over to their website: www.openspaceinstitute.org
About the Agents
The successful sale of this 45-acre property was orchestrated by the dynamic duo of Kevin Brentnall and Micaela Stanaland. Kevin brings a wealth of experience to the table, with a deep understanding of the Sloatsburg, Suffern, and Mahwah areas gleaned from generations of local knowledge. His expertise is particularly valuable when handling complex transactions involving large, vacant land parcels. Micaela Stanaland complements Kevin’s skillset perfectly. As Howard Hanna | Rand Realty’s marketing coordinator for luxury and new development properties, Micaela boasts exceptional creative marketing and advertising expertise. Together, their diverse backgrounds and experiences have proven to be a winning formula, as evidenced by their impressive record of multiple successful transactions within the past year. If you’re considering a real estate move in the Hudson Valley, contact Kevin and Micaela today – their combined knowledge and dedication will ensure a smooth and successful experience.
KEVIN BRENTNALL
NY Associate Broker at Howard Hanna | Rand Realty
kevin.brentnall@randrealty.com
MICAELA STANALAND
NY Real Estate Salesperson, NJ Sales Associate at Howard Hanna | Rand Realty
c: (845) 596-9414
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