Preservation or Progress? NYC’s Landmark Program Winds Down
In a quiet but historic move, New York City has officially ended the bulk of its Catskills land acquisition program — a decades-long initiative that safeguarded the city’s drinking water by purchasing over 156,350 acres of pristine forests and farmland. The program, launched in 1997, was a visionary response to a very real problem: how to avoid an $8 billion water filtration mandate from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Instead of building filtration plants, the city invested in nature — creating a buffer against pollution and preserving the integrity of the Catskills watershed. Over nearly 30 years, the city spent $518 million acquiring land, much of which remains open to the public, with key parcels near the Ashokan Reservoir placed off-limits for environmental protection.
A Model of Environmental Stewardship — with Economic Trade-Offs
From a conservation perspective, the program worked. The water remains among the cleanest municipal supplies in the country. But the story isn’t without complexity. For the communities of the Catskills — small towns with limited land and growing infrastructure needs — the city’s buying power often felt like a double-edged sword.
Yes, the program helped improve local water and sewer systems, and yes, tax payments from NYC-owned properties became vital revenue streams. But at the same time, developable land dwindled, and economic expansion — especially in housing and commerce — became harder to realize. In many places, entire parcels were taken off the table for future growth.
The End of the Program: A Moment of Reflection and Opportunity
Now, according to an independent review by the National Academies, the city has little to gain from continued acquisitions. Most of the remaining properties would provide minimal environmental benefit — they’re not significant contributors to runoff or pollutants. The City’s Department of Environmental Protection quietly agreed last fall to scale back the program, retaining all previously acquired land but pausing further purchases.
For us in real estate, this marks a profound shift.
What It Means for the Catskills — and What Comes Next
At Duke Properties, we’ve long advocated for smart, balanced land use. We’ve respected NYC’s commitment to environmental sustainability — but we’ve also seen firsthand how restrictive policies can stunt a region’s ability to thrive. With the Land Acquisition Program winding down, there’s now a rare opportunity to reimagine development across the Catskills, guided by community input and updated priorities.
This doesn’t mean paving over forests or ignoring ecological principles. On the contrary, it means working collaboratively to define what sustainable growth actually looks like. It means finally giving local governments the space to consider new housing, economic zones, and community projects without being boxed in by land-use limitations from decades past.
NYC’s Catskills: A Call for Balanced Growth and Regional Vision
Ending the land-buying spree should not be seen as the end of environmental protection — it’s a pivot point. The Catskills can now pursue a new chapter where preservation and progress coexist. This will require updated zoning, expanded infrastructure, and new investment — not just from the public sector, but from developers, business owners, and long-term residents who believe in the region’s potential.
The moment calls for bold, region-specific planning. The Catskills are no longer just a quiet backdrop for New York City’s water system. They are living, evolving communities that deserve the same access to opportunity as their downstate counterparts.
Final Thoughts: A New Balance for a New Era
New York City’s Land Acquisition Program will go down as a pioneering achievement in urban water management. But its conclusion opens a new and equally important question: How do we support the rural and suburban communities that helped make it work?
At Duke Properties, we believe the answer lies in dialogue, innovation, and a shared commitment to equitable growth. The land has been preserved. Now, let’s make sure the people who live on it can prosper, too.
— Albert Dweck
Founder & CEO, Duke Properties