Officials in Schuyler County say vandalism and trespassing are slowing efforts to redevelop the former Camp Monterey property and attract a new employer to the site.
Leaders with Schuyler County Partnership for Economic Development, or SCOPED, said they began marketing the Town of Orange property last year with the goal of bringing in a business that could create year-round jobs. At its peak, the former minimum security male shock facility camp employed more than 100 people, many of whom lived locally and supported nearby businesses in Monterey and the surrounding area.
Since then, officials have been working to show the property to prospective employers, a process they say requires time, coordination, and community support.
But repeated vandalism and unauthorized activity have created setbacks. The town recently installed security cameras to deter people — including out-of-county visitors — from trespassing on the site. Officials say those cameras have been damaged or destroyed multiple times.
Leaders say the incidents do more than damage property, warning they could hurt the town’s chances of attracting new investment and jobs.
Anyone with information about the recent vandalism or the vehicle seen on the property is asked to contact town officials.
