Synopsis
This 1-hour documentary film (currently in post-production) begins when a developer arrives in Haverstraw, a poor, mostly Latino village on the Hudson River. He sees this former industrial site — once known as the “brickmaking capital of the world” — as the testing ground for his ambitious plan to transform the entire Hudson Valley region. Haverstraw, he announces, will become a model of “Smart Growth” and a destination for tourists and day-trippers from New York City. Taking advantage of its spectacular riverfront location, his plan includes a miles-long riverside promenade, a port for cruise ships, a children’s museum, a cable car ascending to the surrounding mountains, and a world-class restaurant and hotel, all at the water’s edge.
Supporters of the plan claim that Haverstraw can be a model of humane development — revitalization without gentrification. But local residents ask: How will the community, with its rich history and lively culture fare in the process? Will there be a place for them in the New Haverstraw? These are the fascinating questions this film explores.
HAVERSTRAW is 90% complete. We are urgently seeking funds to finish the film. For information on how you can help, Contact Us or DONATE.
Produced and Directed by: Sarah Mondale, Vera Aronow and Roger Grange [In Post production]
On The Set of "Haverstraw"
MAJOR FUNDING FOR HAVERSTRAW PROVIDED BY:
The Ginsburg Community Fund
Tilcon New York, Inc.
The Community Arts Grant Program of the Arts Council of Rockland, the Decentralization Program of the New York State Council on the Arts and a generous grant secured by Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee.
