Seven to Save 2000

The Glimmerglass/Upper Susquehanna Region of Otsego County is one of New York State's most intact and beautiful cultural landscapes. The area, which surrounds Otsego Lake (christened "Glimmerglass" by native son James Fenimore Cooper), is home to approximately 18,500 people who live in the region's nine towns and villages. From Cherry Valley to Springfield to Milford, these places exemplify the best of small town life and their houses, churches, farms, fields, and roads retain a remarkable degree of architectural and visual integrity. In fact, the area boasts of 2,300 buildings and sites that are listed in the State and National Registers of Historic Places as individual landmarks and in several extensive historic districts. These properties provide a unique network of historic sites and settings that serve area residents and attract tourists. Yet tourism and its impact—in the form of sprawl development—threaten these very places and the region’s quality of life.

Beginning in 1994, Cooperstown, with its international reputation as the home of baseball, has been a magnet for large-scale development related to sports tourism. The types of projects include youth baseball camps, motels, amusement parks, strip malls, and other sprawl-type development which cater to the tourist. The cumulative effect of these projects is destroying the rural and historic character of the Glimmerglass Region. Farm fields now grow parking lots and hamlets face increased demands on aging or non-existent infrastructure. According to Martha Frey, Executive Director of Otsego 2000, "already a section of New York State Route 28 south of Cooperstown has been significantly altered with suburban-type development. In parts of the region, roads, water and sewer facilities, and other services are strained to meet local needs."

The most vulnerable communities are those with no zoning and little experience with rapid and large-scale development. Yet the economic impacts of tourism are hard to ignore. "The question facing the Glimmerglass Region is not whether there will be tourism—it has been in place for decades," according to Scott P. Heyl, President of the Preservation League of New York State. "Rather, the issues are what form tourism-related development will take and how best to integrate its economic benefits without diminishing the region's outstanding beauty and historic significance."

One answer is in integrating planning efforts across municipal boundaries. Heyl notes that "in a state where 'home rule' is strong, it is often challenging to get two neighboring communities to work together. Yet the actions of one affect the other. By including the Glimmerglass Region in this year's Seven to Save program, the Preservation League is promoting cooperative economic development and land use planning that can guide development, protect the area's remarkable assets, and benefit the region as a whole."

"Although some inter-municipal work has occurred, including a Generic Environmental Impact Statement among three municipalities, more efforts are needed if the region is to take hold of its destiny," says Martha Frey. "There are plans for the expansion or development of three baseball camps, a motel, and a 200-unit baseball-related housing facility on the table right now."

"A goal of the Preservation League," according to Heyl, "is to work with all stakeholders toward a sustainable economic development strategy that is diverse and respects the region's rural character and rich heritage."

Contacts:

Martha Frey, Executive Director, Otsego 2000, 607-547-8881

Scott P. Heyl, President, Preservation League of New York State, 518-462-5658, ext. 19

Tania Werbizky, Director of Technical and Grant Programs, Preservation League of New York State, 607-272-6510