New York Governor Kathy Hochul has expressed interest in acquiring most of Whitney Park, a large private estate in the Adirondacks, for public preservation. In a letter dated October 10, Hochul reached out to the trustees of the late John Hendrickson’s estate and to Todd Interests, a Texas-based developer that signed a purchase agreement for the property earlier this year.
The governor’s proposal involves the state buying about 32,000 acres of the 36,600-acre property to add to the Adirondack Forest Preserve, with a smaller section left for private development. Todd Interests, led by Shawn Todd, has considered various development options for approximately 4,600 acres, including a resort complex and residential subdivision. The company has also discussed possible conservation easements with the Department of Environmental Conservation.
The potential sale is complicated by claims that Hendrickson, who passed away last year and was married to philanthropist Marylou Whitney, opposed selling the land to the state. Hendrickson had previously criticized state management of part of the property, linking it to a decline in native trout populations. Todd stated that he has not seen any binding deed restrictions preventing a sale to the state, though the estate’s trustees have not discussed terms.
Environmental groups are urging Governor Hochul to pursue full public ownership rather than limited conservation easements. Claudia Braymer of Protect the Adirondacks said, “Anything short of full state ownership would fall far short of the public’s long-standing expectation for permanent protection.”
Whitney Park includes 22 lakes and over 100 miles of undeveloped shoreline. The property has been on New York’s conservation priority list since 1992. According to Braymer, funding for the acquisition could come from sources such as the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act or the $425 million Environmental Protection Fund.
