![Developer Shalom Lamm stands below a model home atop the Shawangunk Ridge. Lamm plans to build a gated community of 49 luxury homes on 650 acres. [photo credit: record]](http://www.vinnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/shalomlam.jpg "shalomlam")
Wurtsboro, NY – A Long Island developer plans to build a community of mansions on top of the Shawangunk Ridge.
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Shalom Lamm, under his Black Creek Holdings LLC development company, says he is planning an exclusive gated community of 49 luxury homes on 650 acres. Prices will start at $2 million.
The model house, which has soaring cathedral ceilings and panoramic views of the valley, is 8,300 square feet, with six bedroom suites, seven full bathrooms and two half baths.
Lamm says he intends to build houses that will be admired for generations. He touted the project as a boon for the tax base in the struggling Sullivan County Town of Mamakating, which just raised taxes by 20 percent.
But environmentalists are watching his moves on the ridge closely.
“We are concerned about the whole thing,” Basha Kill Area Association President Paula Medley said. “Anything that goes up on that ridge, a major development like this one, is going to be seriously scrutinized.”
The project, dubbed Seven Peaks at Mountain Road, could include a commercial component. In the northwest corner of the property, which overlooks the Bashakill preserve, Lamm hopes to build a 5-star, 200-room hotel, spa and convention center.
He still needs town approval for the remaining homes and resort, which will require an extensive environmental review. The Planning Board has filed its intent to be the lead agency.
A major developer downstate who owns the Wurtsboro airport, Lamm has been making moves that could bring 282 town houses and homes and a golf course to Forestburgh. He is also developing two shovel-ready commercial sites in Crawford and Fair Oaks in Orange County.
He recently opened an office in Bloomingburg and hired a couple of heavy hitters: Scott Samuelson, the former chairman of Sullivan’s Chamber of Commerce, and Marc Baez, the former president of the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development.
Lamm recently spent more than $1 million to save the near-defunct Wurtsboro Airport, where he learned to fly as a young man. And he has renovated the former Ant Hill, a dilapidated diner in Wurtsboro, at a cost of $600,000. He remodeled the diner as a home for the town library and has also created a wing for a coffee shop.
Lamm says these projects, where he admits to losing money, show a commitment to quality and the town.
“This is the most gratifying thing you can do,” Lamm said, standing among the bookshelves in the library, which will open later this month. “No one can question my motives.”
Who in the present economic downturn could afford the buy such a house?
Exactly. Noones buying at those prices. He’s 3 years too late
What a time he chose to build such luxury homes.. i wish him good luck!
This is a beutiful neighborhood, I don’t think the gate is neccesery since there’s as close to zero on the crime rate as ull ever get State police barracks is just down the road, I spent last couple of years right next door in Ulster hights, the cops are very sensetive to our community needs, its beyond me why the locals would scrutinize his moves here is finaly someone who’s willing to pump in millions into their neglected town they should make him an honorary citizen!!!
There are plenty of wealthy people out there who can still afford it…. How bout all the bankruptcy lawyers…. Ur telling me their not making money?
So “Lamm says he intends to build houses that will be admired for generations” We will not be admiring these 8300 square feet homes for generations. They will be a scar on this beautiful landscape and an environmental disaster. Until someone comes up with a zero emission way to heat, cool and light these McMansions, they will not be admired by anyone who cares about their children’s futures. How about a nice 1500 – 2000 square foot home instead of this tacky conspicuous consumption?
just what we need in klal yisroel, another compound for the elitist snobs.
Will the homes be intended for seasonal or all year use?
What a great tzadik and a baal chassed!
These mansions in no way reflect the way he conducts his personal life. He lives in a rather very warm and welcoming modest home. He assists many needy families and students, sponsoring and organizing scholarships as well as major medical treatments running into the millions. He’s always ready to volunteer le’chol davar she’bikdusha, (Hatzalah, Chevrah Kadisha, etc.) including many times to the former soviet union as a professional Chazzan for yomim noraim and on many more occasions, resulting in bringing about numerous baalei teshuva.
His heart is bigger than America!
May Hashem grant him the koach and means to continue being an exemplary of a successful Torah inspiring and pleasant businessman.
I can see another disaster cooking. I wonder where he takes his ideas from. Doesnt he read the papers?
The time to build or invest is when no one wants things, assuming you can get the financing or have the money. Material costs have come down, and the housing market will return one day. A major devloper in the Westchester area was asked the same questions many have aired here. His response? I’ve been in business almost 30 years. The real estate market comes and goes. It’s going to take 3 years to build this project, and I’m willing to bet the recovery may happen before then.
Post #11 points out some great attributes of this man, who honestly I never heard of (not that it means anything). So instead of trashing the guy, I’m happy he’s creating parnasah for people vs. stealing from the government.
I will say some of the mamzeirim up there are totally resistant to growth. Some of it is legitimiate, some of it is based in anti-Semitism, and the rest is stupidity.
There are still people with money, and they will make a fortune off the mistakes of the fools who only invest or buy at the top. One day we’ll read about them. Some people make their careers of being a contrarian.
Kol HaKavod to Mr. Lamm
Forget such places when Minnesota has both inexpensive land/homes and steady employment.
Shalom Lamm is a incredible buissnessman and even more so a mentsch. A big tzanua baa’al tzedakah and yiras shamayim.
He is the son of Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm the Chancellor of yeshiva University.
Dear Mr. Lamm its very nice that in these struglling times you have the courage for such a great undertaking, I think klall yisroel would appriciate that at the same time you come up with a plan for housing & jobs or buissneses for the tens of tousands of avarege mishpachous who strugle with large families ble”h & can’t find suitable housing that will acommodate their yeshiva & schooling + parnusa
the same time, sullivan county & the whole sorounding area has tousands of acres of empty & neglected land that can be utilised for this purpose & in the same time make evetually a lot of money but all developers want instant returns on their money therfore no one sereiously jumped into such an undertaking maybe like this you’ll have siyate dishmaye on all your other projects too.
“seven full bathrooms and two half baths”
Too much chulent?
I have very mixed feelings. I have lived on this mountain my entire life and have ridden quads and motorcycles on that very land daily and take many walks through the wooded areas and still do occassionally. This home is a stones throw away from mine and my fathers. Mountain Creek has not reached out to us for introduction or cares and concerns on our part. Scott Samuelson VP of sales and marketing had the nerve to use a company to do a visual impact study and without permission or care for us put the sight balloon on my recently deceased fathers land without consulting us first. Which also means false advertising for those who think they are getting one view when in fact they are not. My father sold many acres to them prior to his death and this is the thanks we get. The house is gorgeous but will this bring to our area has yet to be seen. I am skeptical??