NY leaders, advocates support proposal for repurposing former prisons

North Country leaders and advocates support Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to repurpose former prisons. Hochul announced more than 200 proposals in Tuesday’s State of the State Address, with one of them being a constitutional amendment to redevelop former correctional facilities in the Adirondacks.”In this budget, I’m proposing a simple common-sense update,” Hochul said. “When communities say yes to housing, infrastructure, clean energy, we’re going to let them build.”The facilities include Camp Gabriels and Moriah Shock, both within the Adirondack Park, and Mount McGregor in Saratoga County. Hochul said she wants to redevelop them into affordable housing for people in the communities.But before anyone can buy or sell the facilities, the state constitution needs to be amended. The challenge is that they’re protected under the “Forever Wild” Clause because of the land on which they were built.”The Forever Wild Clause is cherished by so many people because it does protect the forest preserve, it’s ironclad,” said Claudia Braymer, the executive director of Protect the Adirondacks. “So, it is a difficult process. But it is possible.”A similar amendment to allow the Olympic Regional Development Authority to use forest preserve land was approved by voters in the November 2025 election.The nonprofit group “Protect the Adirondacks” supports the governor’s idea.”This is a great amendment for the Adirondacks because it’s really going to allow these closed facilities to be rehabilitated, repurposed and bring new life back into these very rural communities,” Braymer said. Hochul’s proposal is also getting bipartisan support from North Country leaders.”It’s an environmental issue, and it’s an eyesore on the community,” said New York State Sen. Dan Stec (R), NY-45. “No community would want these buildings rotting in their community. The state is the one that’s responsible.”Similarly, former assemblyman Billy Jones (D), NY-115, introduced a bill requiring the state to have a reuse plan for correctional facilities they close, but the proposal wasn’t acted on.”It’s a process that I think should have happened years ago,” Jones said.”If we can’t get a constitutional amendment passed, we need to do something different because these facilities are just sitting there.”If this proposal passes, Hochul said she wants to add more wild land to the forest preserve. To change New York’s Constitution, a bill has to pass the Senate and Assembly in two consecutive legislative sessions. Then, it goes on the ballot and it’s up to voters to make the final decision in the upcoming general election.

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. —

North Country leaders and advocates support Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to repurpose former prisons. Hochul announced more than 200 proposals in Tuesday’s State of the State Address, with one of them being a constitutional amendment to redevelop former correctional facilities in the Adirondacks.

“In this budget, I’m proposing a simple common-sense update,” Hochul said. “When communities say yes to housing, infrastructure, clean energy, we’re going to let them build.”

The facilities include Camp Gabriels and Moriah Shock, both within the Adirondack Park, and Mount McGregor in Saratoga County.

Hochul said she wants to redevelop them into affordable housing for people in the communities.

But before anyone can buy or sell the facilities, the state constitution needs to be amended.

The challenge is that they’re protected under the “Forever Wild” Clause because of the land on which they were built.

“The Forever Wild Clause is cherished by so many people because it does protect the forest preserve, it’s ironclad,” said Claudia Braymer, the executive director of Protect the Adirondacks. “So, it is a difficult process. But it is possible.”

A similar amendment to allow the Olympic Regional Development Authority to use forest preserve land was approved by voters in the November 2025 election.

The nonprofit group “Protect the Adirondacks” supports the governor’s idea.

“This is a great amendment for the Adirondacks because it’s really going to allow these closed facilities to be rehabilitated, repurposed and bring new life back into these very rural communities,” Braymer said.

Hochul’s proposal is also getting bipartisan support from North Country leaders.

“It’s an environmental issue, and it’s an eyesore on the community,” said New York State Sen. Dan Stec (R), NY-45. “No community would want these buildings rotting in their community. The state is the one that’s responsible.”

Similarly, former assemblyman Billy Jones (D), NY-115, introduced a bill requiring the state to have a reuse plan for correctional facilities they close, but the proposal wasn’t acted on.

“It’s a process that I think should have happened years ago,” Jones said.”If we can’t get a constitutional amendment passed, we need to do something different because these facilities are just sitting there.”

If this proposal passes, Hochul said she wants to add more wild land to the forest preserve.

To change New York’s Constitution, a bill has to pass the Senate and Assembly in two consecutive legislative sessions. Then, it goes on the ballot and it’s up to voters to make the final decision in the upcoming general election.