Last week, celebrity Interior Designer Cathy Hobbs broke ground on her Highland Passive House project, a multi-use, net zero carbon-neutral warehouse that is in the process of being built at 323 Upper North Road in Highland.

The structure will be 12,500 sq/ft that will encompass a 3,500 sq/ft office and designer showcase/TV/film production space and a 9,000 sq/ft warehouse.

Hobbs said her staging company, “is able to provide furniture on a rental basis for the purpose of marketing and showcasing real estate.” She stressed that her company is not a rental center and is not available to the general public.

“This is something that’s available to the trades, to vacation rental hosts, short term rental hosts, builders, developers and real estate agents. This is not something where someone comes in off the street. We rent furniture for the sole purpose of selling a vacant property. So we go in and essentially create a model look to market a sale.”

At a ground breaking ceremony, Hobbs welcomed everyone, saying, “this is a one of a kind, forward-thinking, construction project with the goal to serve as a model for private companies, municipalities and industry committed to energy-efficiency and conscientious construction.”

Hobbs noted that her warehouse is one of 50 regional projects awarded grants through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority [NYSERDA] under its carbon neutral community economic development program.

“Highland Passive House represents a collaborative commitment to making a difference,” Hobbs said, “Once built, it will be the first multi-use passive warehouse in North America. By design and intent, this project is one that can be easily studied and replicated.” She said her personal goal for this project, “is to inspire other small business owners to dare to dream, dare to stretch, dare to aim higher, dare to be an innovative leader and commit to build energy-efficient.”

Hobbs said, “I can say that getting here today was one of the hardest things that I’ve ever had to do, personally and professionally. It has been a long four year road to get to this day, but we did it.”

Hobbs calls the journey her ‘Raisin in the Sun” story, a reference to a play by the late Lorraine Hansberry [1930-1965]. Hobbs said she used a small inheritance from an aunt to buy the land that is to become the Highland Passive House.

“From this location I will expand my home-staging and furniture rental business into the Hudson Valley and this location will also house a photography space,” she said. “As a designer, I promise it will be beautiful. I hope that Highland Passive House serves as a crown jewel and to expand into the Hudson Valley and beyond.”

Hobbs reserved a special thank you for the unwavering support of Alan Alexander, Senior Vice President and Regional Commercial Banking Manager at NBT Bank.

Patrick O’Shei, Director of Market Development with NYSERDA, said, “to invest in a building is to invest your life’s energy [and] to invest your vision in your hope for the future.”

O’Shei said he was interested in finding out all he could about this unique project.

“These buildings don’t just happen. They happen because someone has vision and is willing to invest a lot of their life, not just their money, but their life in making this happen,” he said.

Michael Oates, of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation, said Hobbs is, “a force to deal with in an incredibly positive way. She had a vision when we first sat and talked about what she wanted to create and did not waiver from that at any point in this process. It takes a community of people to build a project like this and Cathy brought the team together,” he said.

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger said, “Cathy is an incredible visionary and leader and I first just want to thank you for giving life to your vision right here in Ulster County.”

When Metzger served as a NYS Senator she worked to pass the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

“We face a climate crisis and it can feel daunting and it is an existential crisis. We can throw up our hands in despair and say it’s all over, or we can get to work, be creative and really create the models on how to get there. That’s what we’re doing in Ulster County and that’s what Cathy is doing for the business community right here. We can build buildings that are good for the climate and Passive House is the way to go, and you are virtually eliminating your energy bills, which is the main operational cost of most businesses. There is nothing like showing the way and how to get to where we need to be and you are really charting that course for us.”

Michael Ingui, of BAXT Ingui Architects, said, “there is a revolution happening when we actually know how to build buildings that don’t need heat. I live in a passive house and my heat’s been on just two nights this winter.” He said Hobbs’ project, “is real it’s not fiction and is happening in New York in a huge way because people like Cathy are doing it.”

Brigham Farrand, Director of Business Development for Baxter Construction and Manager for this project, said, “We couldn’t be more excited to take this journey with Cathy in the last two years; she really willed this project into existence. The Highland Passive House is going to be and is a truly aspirational and ambitious project. We’re excited to be on this project.”

Sonya Smith, Director of the Mid Hudson Small Business Development Center, congratulated Hobbs, saying, “this project is a collaboration and the best part is a lot of resources coming together for the greater good and a better need for entrepreneurs and for economic development.”

Town of Lloyd Supervisor Dave Plavchak said, “this is a one of a kind project and the first one in North America. I’m glad they came to Ulster County and they came to the Town of Lloyd. It’s a great project.”