wurtsboro 411 (Spring Valley, Sullivan, Monsey: 2013, rental, amusement parks)

[njsg]

whats the deal with wurtsboro? i heard through the grapevine that there is an overwhelming orthodox jewish community, and i also see that they are part of the monticello school district. I looked at a rental there, and planned on moving my 2 children who are 4 and 2.5, but now I am wondering if that is not a good idea. (please do not berate me for questioning the jewish community, I am moving from bergen county and only have seen a decline in the areas that are highly concentrated with orthodox and higher jewish communities have become very unsafe on the bergen/rockland border, and it makes me unsettled.)

[VintageSunlight]

I personally would not live in Sullivan County. As you mentioned, there is a large Orthodox Jewish community there, and unfortunately, they tend not to maintain the areas in which they live. See several communities in Bergen, as you mention, and also the problems in Lakewood NJ, Kiryas Joel, and Monsey / Kaser in Rockland County. I live a few miles from one now, and its not safe, its very run down, and many areas are unsanitary (dumpsters overflowing, decaying food around, diapers on dirt patch front lawns, old mattresses and furniture left outside, etc).

Keep in mind that all of the land used as religious properties are tax exempt. In Sullivan County, that's a lot of land. That leaves the schools, police, fire, bills to be paid for by everyone else. Even though they use these services as much as anyone else. Using, but not paying. Nearly any house or dwelling can be considered a "yeshiva" and therefore, tax exempt.

Also, a huge $6 billion development is slated for Mamakating (the town that surrounds Wurtsboro) called China City. That's billion with a b. Basically, it will be a huge complex with housing, hotels, malls, casinos, and amusement parks.

"On the surface it all sounds fascinating, but in actuality the real intent of the project could be for a place for emigrants from China to live.":
From Borscht to Egg Rolls - Sullivan County Post

I wonder if it will be approved, but considering that it would be somewhat unique to the US and that part of NY is struggling big time, it could feasibly happen. Something I'd definitely want to make sure I was aware of, as it will change the semi-rural character of that area significantly.

[VA Yankee]

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An accurate relection, I grew up near New Square by Spring Valley and to travel through their was like visiting Warsaw Poland after the Nazi invasion..... Not good.