Peekskill Alive

An Old City Made New

by Erika Alexia Tsoukanelis and photographs by David Cunningham, June 30, 2009

Almost 400 years ago, Jan Peeck became the first European to set foot upon a stretch of land along the Hudson River that is today a haven for artists and art lovers. Just an hour by train from Manhattan, the four-and-a-half-mile plot called Peekskill is home to almost 25,000 people. Its multicultural downtown pulses with life.

Following Peeck’s lead, early settlers came to the waterfront and forged friendships with the Kitchawank Indians. Peekskill served as a crucial military base during the Revolutionary War and was a station for the Underground Railroad. Its advantageous position along the river made it a pivotal player in early industrialization, and iron mines were discovered in 1851, transforming Peekskill into a center for stove manufacturing. In 1984, Peekskill elected the first African-American mayor in the state. By the early 1990s, however, the population was beginning to wane and the city faced financial crisis.

The local government took action, spearheading a revitalization project. In 1996, the Peekskill Business Improvement District was established by community members in cooperation with the city to promote Peekskill’s rebirth. The efforts and dedication of many have turned the once bedraggled downtown streets around. Old buildings have been refreshed, and new businesses have set ground. Everywhere, art in all its manifestations is celebrated.

Artists Lead the Way
Chris Marra, Peekskill’s economic development specialist, plays a key role in keeping the revitalization project in motion. He focuses on business retention and expansion, attracting new retailers and citizens to the area and cultivating the Artist Live-Work District. “If you live downtown,” says Marra, “you are likely an artist.”
Individuals who practice the fine, design, graphic, musical, literary, computer, or performing arts are encouraged to apply for certification with a special city committee. Once they are verified to be working artists who earn their living through their medium, each may rent or invest as a co-op owner in one of 75 livable work spaces, most of which are located within the upper levels of historic downtown buildings. The growth of the Artist Live-Work District has been central to revitalization, as have the many businesses that thrive on street level.

The Flat Iron Gallery contains four rooms of art and jewelry from artists all over the country and flaunts a new collection almost every month. “In Full Bloom,” a group exhibit of floral paintings, will open there in July. At Driftwood Gallery-Studio there is always something new and unique to admire; the gallery specializes in Hudson Valley art and artists.