Seasonal Residents spend $28 Million annually in Jefferson County

A study by the Thousand Islands Tourism Council projects that seasonal resident - those who live here for only a few months per year - spend $28 million annually in Jefferson County.

In the face of BP's proposed Cape Vincent wind project this is an important study, $28 million is a good chunk of revenue for Jefferson County.   BP’s project could have a huge financial impact on our economic health, a large portion of Cape Vincent's population is seasonal and it is likely that BP's project will  devalue property.   People just do not want to live in the middle of an industrial wasteland.

 BP claims properties will not be devalued.
Others disagree.
Cape Vincent's Town Assessor, ex-Planning Board Chairman, and other ex-planning board members studied the issue and concluded as part of their economic committee report: “Indications are that there will be an overall decrease in property values with the potential for significant impacts on assessments and related factors such as tax rates and the ability to market property at a fair price.
This is in contradiction to BP’s claim.
Regardless of where you stand on this issue, we should all agree that there is uncertainty; no one knows for sure how BP’s Wind Project has already had an effect on our economy.
Why would people invest in an area under the threat of wind development?

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The following is from a channel 7 report concerning the study compiled by the Thousand Island Tourism Council

Alan and Peggy Jeanotte, who split time between New Hampshire and Alexandria Bay, say they know a lot of seasonal residents.
"There are only five homes here, and four out of five have been seasonal since we've been here," Alan Jeanotte said.
Whether it's on the ingredients that go into a daily smoothie or simple purchases like clothing and groceries, seasonal residents' spending makes a difference for local store owners.

"I would say our business goes up probably 78 to 80 percent in the summertime," said Tami Taitt, who works at the Big M in Alex Bay.
Of the more than 7000 seasonal residents, 80 percent of them have waterfront property.

Most of those seasonal residential properties are valued between $100,000 and $400,000 thousand dollars, which translates into tax revenue.

According to the survey, 65 percent of seasonal residents are between 50 and 69 years old, and, if the ones who spoke to 7 News this weekend are anything to go by, all of them love the North Country.

 link here to read complete Thousand Islands Tourism Council survey

   Link to original from channel 7 news

Link here to read
Cape Vincent ~ Wind Turbine Development ~ Economic Impact~ Final Report