The Dutchess destination will house two hotels, culinary shops, farm-to-table restaurants, quality housing, and more.
by Sabrina Sucato (Hudson Valley Magazine)
Hyde Park is hardly a hole in the wall. Thanks to the presence of the Culinary Institute of America, the Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site, and the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, it’s long been a go-to locale for visitors to the Valley. Over the next 10 years, however, it’s poised to become even more of an attraction in the region.
When Bellefield at Historic Hyde Park broke ground on September 21, it marked the start of a massive new development in Dutchess County. Located on 340 acres on Route 9, just across the street from The Culinary Institute of America, the project will include two hotels, a number of culinary shops and farm-to-table restaurants, an event barn, an educational center, and residential spaces that integrate seamlessly into the surrounding landscape and agricultural sites.
“This is a one-of-a-kind development in a strategic location that will exponentially develop the food and beverage culture in the Hudson Valley while creating a natural partnership of businesses, retailers, farmers, and homeowners,” says Tom Mulroy, CEO of T-Rex Capital Group LLC, the firm whose affiliate, Bellefield Development Partners, will oversee the project over the course of its ten-year timeline.
The September groundbreaking signaled the beginning of Phase 1, a $60 million investment that prioritizes the construction of the extensive infrastructure, including roads, sewers, water treatment, and electric lines. Also part of the initial development is The Inn at Bellefield, a 133-room soft-branded Residence Inn. Developed in partnership with the Shaner Hotel Group and in collaboration with Marriott International, the inn will later be joined by a second upscale boutique hotel during a later phase of development.
“With so many premier tourism destinations located in Hyde Park, the addition of attractive, well-located lodging will allow visitors to stay where they play,” says Aileen Rohr, the Town of Hyde Park’s supervisor.
T-Rex Capital Group estimates that, over its 10-year development, Bellefield will generate more than $118 million in state, county, and town tax revenue, not to mention more than 550 construction job and 370 full-time jobs. While much of the property will be developed for commercial and residential use, 50 percent of it will remain as undeveloped woodland, while 48 acres will be devoted entirely to agriculture.
In the Hudson Valley, Bellefield will act as a destination for locals, Culinary Institute of America students and visitors, and tourists to the region. A culinary manufacturing space will serve as a location for food production companies to expand their businesses, while the aptly-named Hudson Valley Culinary Marketplace will provide a home for chefs and food retailers to share their artisanal goods with the community at large.
In addition to ample business and production areas, the Hyde Park site will contain 559 residences, which vary from brownstone-esque homes and standalone cottages to artist lofts and private estate properties.
“Bellefield at Historic Hyde Park is sure to be a world-class culinary destination for residents and tourists alike that will help to highlight some of the best our community has to offer,” enthuses New York State Senator Sue Serino. “We look forward to seeing all the ways that this project will continue to evolve for years to come and all the ways that it will continue to add to the fabric of our local community.”
