Local leaders to appeal to Gov. Hochul for Moriah Shock reuse

MINEVILLE | Moriah Shock Incarceration Facility was a minimum-security corrections facility reserved for non-violent offenders who chose to participate in a highly-structured regimen of physical exercise and community service, operated similar to a military training camp. It was closed in 2021 due to lack of inmates, but remains in excellent condition. Local leaders think Gov. Kathy Hochul has an opportunity to constructively reuse the existing state asset, rather than allowing it to fall into disrepair as has happened with the former campus at Camp Gabriels near Saranac Lake and others. By working with community leaders and conservation organizations, the state could create a reuse plan that would serve as a blueprint for other large state facilities no longer needed for their original purposes, officials said as they now organize a public plea for reuse progress next Tuesday, Dec. 13 hoping to push the conversations and plans for Moriah Shock at the executive level. Local leaders said the Adirondack Park has a great need for affordable housing for people who live and work in the Adirondacks full time, including Forest Rangers, trails crews and summer help. The sky-rocketing price of vacation homes is a testament to the international popularity of the Adirondacks. However, market pressure has pushed up all home prices, making home ownership unaffordable for many low- and middle-income residents. Communities often struggle to provide places to live for people filling essential needs in government services and such as teachers, firefighters, police officers. Private employers face similar challenges. Some state facilities could be redesigned as workforce housing. Meanwhile, local leaders said, New York needs training facilities for a new generation of conservation personnel, including a Civilian Conservation Corps to cope with record-breaking visitor levels and to carry out the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. That will require new efforts to curb greenhouse gas and to conserve the forests that remove carbon dioxide from the air. That will spur new jobs in private sector contractors and public employment (forest rangers, engineers, planners). One such project requiring follow-up job training will be the newly created Timbuctoo Summer Climate and Careers Institute, which will begin in Newcomb and will need room to expand its scope over time. It could also be used as an Adirondack base for training a Civilian Conservation Corps and other job training efforts. Moriah Town Supervisor Tom Scozzafava will lead the Tuesday, Dec. 13 conference outside the now vacant Moriah facility at 9:30 a.m. with Aaron Mair, Director of the Adirondack Council's Forever Adirondacks Campaign; Essex County Board of Supervisors Chair Shaun Gillliland; NYS Sen. Dan Stec, Assemblymembers Billy Jones and Matt Simpson and Adirondack Mountain Club Executive Director Michael Barrett.

Signup for our newsletter

Local leaders to appeal to Gov. Hochul for Moriah Shock reuse

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS