Olana Viewshed Lands Protected
by Seth McKee
Significant lands in the Olana Viewshed in Columbia County are safe from residential, commercial and industrial development thanks to conservation easements that permanently protect their scenic qualities.
Earlier this year The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, Inc. closed on two easements on Blue Hill, an agricultural area prominently visible to the southeast of the Olana State Historic Site. The project was made possible by funding from the Lila Acheson and DeWitt Wallace Hudson Valley Land Preservation Endowment. The deals are the latest achievements in more than 15 years of Scenic Hudson's conservation work, which now has safeguarded 970 acres in the viewshed.
Of his hilltop home with its famous view of the Hudson River, Catskill Mountains and Columbia County landscape, Hudson River School artist Frederic E. Church once wrote, "About an hour this side of Albany is the center of the world. I own it."
Mr. Church painted many of his most renowned works from Olana, and his Persian-style mansion and the sweeping vista that inspired his work are enjoyed by more than 100,000 visitors each year.
Orchards Continue Operating
The easements protect a 153-acre apple orchard and an 88-acre cherry orchard in the Town of Livingston in Columbia County. These two farms are vital parts of the rural vista southeast of Olana.
Apple Annie Farm is a commercial apple orchard interspersed with deciduous woodland. Scenic Hudson's conservation easement restricts the property to agricultural uses and allows an additional single-family residence. The agreement facilitated the farm's transfer from an eager seller to a conservation-minded buyer who has leased the land to the orchard's former manager. Thus a farm has been safeguarded and kept in continuous agricultural production - the ultimate goal of protecting farmland.
Hill House Farm, which adjoins Apple Annie Farm to the west, is a cherry orchard offering an annual pick-your-own season. After purchasing the property in 1993, the owner relocated an 1855 residence from Lawrenceville, N.J., to the site. Our easement prevents commercial, industrial or additional residential development of the site.
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| DID YOU KNOW? A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement between a landowner and a land preservation organization like The Scenic Hudson Land Trust, Inc. Through the arrangement the land is permanently restricted from certain types of development but remains in private hands and on the local tax rolls. |
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Lands Still at Risk
The Olana Viewshed remains a high priority for Scenic Hudson, especially in light of the 1,800-acre cement plant proposed for the nearby Town of Greenport and the City of Hudson.
Our work to protect vistas available from this nationally significant property has been greatly aided by partnerships with the Columbia Land Conservancy, The Olana Partnership and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. These organizations have identified critical viewshed lands, helped secure funding for easement acquisitions and advocated for Olana and its viewshed.
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| TIP: Olana Viewshed landowners interested in protecting their land should contact Jennifer Fraulo at (845) 473-4440, ext. 268, or jfraulo@scenichudson.org. |
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| Protecting the magnificent views that inspired Hudson River School artist Frederic E. Church remains a high priority for Scenic Hudson. |
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