The pandemic-inspired population boom in our area has had a dramatic effect on the local real estate market, both residential and commercial. Since 2020, dozens of properties have changed hands in the village of Ellenville, some more than twice in a single year, marking a shift in the makers and shakers of the village. While the boom quickly depleted the area’s available real estate, the impact has yet to be realized.

To see just how much real estate has changed hands since the pandemic began, the Shawangunk Journal delved into Ulster County’s recent property sale records for buildings along Ellenville’s main thoroughfares: Canal, Center, Market, and Main streets.

Canal Street alone has seen at least 12 properties sold and purchased since 2020. Along Center Street, between Circle Avenue and Water Street, about five properties have changed hands. And from the McDonald’s down to around St. Mary’s & St. Andrew’s Church on Main Street, nine properties have sold. Looking at just the portion of Market Street that connects to downtown Ellenville — from Warren Street to Liberty Square — four properties sold. (See the map in the slide show above for a more detailed look.)

One thing to note is that the common practice these days is for real estate purchasers to form an LLC and then buy the property under that LLC. This is a way to essentially hide ownership from the public to help limit liability. It also allows for partnerships, so that multiple people can pool money into one property. So, most of the properties listed here, particularly commercial lots, may not have a person named to the property.

Canal Street

Your home for most of the village’s restaurants, as well as the Shawangunk Journal office and a variety of shops, Canal Street has seen some big acquisitions of late. As previously reported, 90 Canal Street, the building with artist Roger Baker’s murals overlooking the village clock, the gazebo and Main Street, was purchased in October 2021 by the folks who are also looking to purchase the Nevele resort property: Somerset Partners. However, county records show the owner as “90 Canal Owner LLC.” They bought the property for $400,000 from Yuri Pleskun, who bought it in 2018 for $80,000 from 88-90 Canal LLC. Quite an increase in just three years! The building at 130 Canal that includes the Publik House, a large parking area and a soon-to-be renovated Carriage House sold for $500,000 in September 2021 by the Krieger Estate to “130 Canal LLC,” which includes recent transplant Eric Springer.

But several other, mostly commercial, properties also changed hands on Canal. On the other side of Main Street, the commercial space at 46 Canal sold in May 2021 for $250,000. The previous owner, ARC Management Corporation, sold it to a company called Entertainment Co America Broadcast and LLC, according to county records.

Moving back across the highway, the old Bank of America building at 83 Canal Street sold in March of 2022 for $180,000. The owner is only listed as 83 Canal Realty LLC. The prior owner was 180 Developers LLC. It was last sold by Bank of America in 2018 for $202,000, showing a slight loss.

At 110 Canal Street, folks are eagerly awaiting the opening of “Everything Nice,” a new café and shop planned by Jessica Clark. The property sold for $285,000 in January 2021 to 110 Canal Street LLC by Ryszard Parzoch, who was the trustee for the property. The last time the property was sold, in 2005, it went for just $90,000.

One building sale that resulted in the ousting of Harry Patel’s liquor store at 117 Canal, also includes Sammy Brown’s Walkaway Café at 115 Canal. Beth Lieberman bought that building in May of this year for $330,000 by way of Miona LLC from NYS Deputy Comptroller Elliott Auerbach, an Ellenville resident. Right next door, the building at 119 Canal, was sold in May 2021 to 119 Canal Holdings LLC from Major Equities LLC. The building previously sold for $180,000 in August 2019 from Masten LLC.

As we continue down Canal, we find that the storefront that used to hold Kristin Osterhoudt’s Brandybrook Studios, at 148 Canal Street, sold in December 2021 for $150,000. It was bought by 148 Canal Propco LLC from Seth Kestenbaum. The last time the building sold was in 2003 for $45,000.

The building that once housed Carly’s Mountain Grill and currently holds Top Shelf Jewelry, 150-152 Canal, sold in January 2022 for a whopping $585,000, the largest commercial sale on Canal in recent years. The current owner is listed as Fox & Goose Enterprises LLC, which purchased it from Manuk Kerovpyan. The last time it was sold was in 2003 for $185,000. What a difference nearly two decades makes!

T’s Barber Shop, at 163 Canal, and the former location of The Shaken Express (which will be moving to Adan Aldarondo’s gym AA Fitness 845, on Market Street) at 159 Canal, was sold in March 2021 to L.L.C. Good Old Bricks for $300,000. The previous owner was 763 Development LLC. It had last sold in June 2017 for $34,376 from the county.

Also in March 2021, the storefronts at 172 and 174 Canal were sold to AAA Antique Auctioneers LLC for $160,000 from Vitold Tchaikovsky. The location held “It’s a Cinch” and now includes an antiques dealer. But, illustrating that 20 years doesn’t necessarily guarantee a windfall profit, county records show that the last time that building sold was in 2005 for $132,000.

Center Street

While Canal Street has seen mostly commercial sales, Center Street has had several residential property sales. Across from the Ellenville Public Library, three prime properties were sold this year: 41, 47, and 49 Center Street. Mayer U. Galandauer bought 41 Center for $230,000 in September 2022 from 16 Circle Ave. LLC; just a few months earlier, in March 2022, it was sold for $105,000 from Henry Bartosik. Also in March of this year, Baruch and Shifra Rosenfeld bought 47 Center from Bella Uma Properties LTD for $172,000. Prior to that, the house was sold for $25,000 in 2015 from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). In April 2022, 49 Center Street, a corner lot that borders Park Street, was sold for $190,000 to Bitochon Bhashem LLC from James D. Bussascano. It last sold in May 2012 for $44,856.

While we recently reported on the sale of the Norbury building, a couple more properties on Center Street recently changed hands: Berardo Disanto sold 104 Center Street for $525,000 in April 2022 to 104 Center LLC. It was last sold in January 2003 by Charlene Coviello for just $115,000. And the rental units at 128-130 Center Street sold in May 2022 for $290,000 to Baruch and Shifra Rosenfeld, who purchased it from E-Ville Properties II LTD. Prior to that, the property was sold in October 2017 from Canal Street Ellenville, LLC, for $48,500.

Main Street/Route 209

Next, we looked at about a half-mile stretch of Main Street, from near the McDonald’s down to St. Mary’s & St. Anthony’s Church. The properties at 40-42 N Main Street were jointly sold by Gary and Dianna Wilhelm for $207,625 in October 2020 to 40-42 N. Main Street LLC. It was last sold in 1996 by Charles E Vanaken for $55,000.

The auto repair shop and dealership at 53-55 N Main Street sold in July 2022 for $275,000 to EMMH Enterprises LLC by RT Baldassare Trust. This was another rare case where the more recent sale price was lower than the last time it was sold. According to county records, in February 2009, the location sold for $300,525.

The residential building at 68 N Main Street was sold by Raymond Williams in October 2020 to Theresa Branch-el for $115,000. It neighbors Motel Du Val.

Moving to the south side of Main Street, we find that the gas station at 106 S Main sold in March 2021 for $690,000. However, the current and previous owners are both listed as 106 Ellenville Properties, LLC. In June 2015, the location was sold by Power Test Realty Company for $325,000.

The house that sits next to the Valero station and across from Dollar General at 115 S Main sold for $120,000 in March 2020 at the very beginning of the pandemic to Ellenville Portfolio Inc from 770 Development LLC. Prior to that, it sold for just $25,000 in February 2011 from Alex J. Nirenberg.

The commercial space at 124 S Main sold in November 2020 for $130,000. The buyers, Alpine Mountain Mgmt LLC, bought the property from Tri County Medical Associates. This property, too, sold for less than previously. In December 2008, it sold for $225,000.

The Stoeckeler Real Estate building at 126 S Main also sold in November 2020, for $65,000 to Cragsmoor West LLC. It had previously sold for $35,000 in October 2017. Finally, a building formerly own by the Berger family, at 129 S Main, sold in September 2021 for $400,000 to CBC HOLDCO LLC.

Market Street

The Shawangunk Journal has covered a few of the commercial sales on Market Street. For example, artist Paul Villinski, by way of Nine Market LLC, purchased 9 Market Street in January 2021 for $135,000 from the prior owner, Elamirus Corp. Before that, the Maca Corporation sold the property for 145,000 in September 2016.

The property that once housed General Sportswear, at 23 Market Street, sold in June 2021 for $260,000 to KOSD 23 Market Street LLC from the prior owner Ellenville Gallco Corp. Before that, General Sportswear sold it in April 2013 for $24,000. Architect Scott Dutton and RUPCO CEO Kevin O’Connor are the names behind KOSD 23 Market Street LLC. They plan to transform the space, which used to operate Devil Dog Dungarees, into a mixed-use residential and commercial building with 13 apartments on the second floor, and six commercial “maker spaces” on the ground floor.

Across the street, 24 Market sold in September 2020 for $193,000 to Benjamin Lebovits and Berel Kohn, who bought it from Franco Rossi Jr. It had previously sold in August 2007 for $135,000 from HUD.

And the house on the corner of Market and Warren streets, at 30 Market Street, sold in February 2021 for $285,000 to J. Benedict Campbell and Paul Lozito. The new owners purchased it from Orange Property Development LLC. Prior to that, it sold for $114,900 in March 2020 from U.S. Bank National Association.

These are by no means the only properties to sell in the Ellenville area these past two years. Homes on Broadhead Street, Yankee Plaza and Mine Lane have also recently sold. But it shows just how quickly a neighborhood, and its businesses, can change hands under the right conditions.