To continue this variety, Ambling has sought designs for riverfront estates from architects around the country, including Alexander Gorlin, who is based in New York.

"I think this is great news, and we're all very proud of him," said Henry H. Livingston, a distant cousin who lives at Oak Hill, a 200-acre riverfront estate that was built in the 1790's.

When the railroad began construction, in the 1850s, Belcher built most of the other homes in the district as tenant properties, to be rented to both his employees and those working at the large riverfront estates nearby.

But a snag has recently developed: the building occupies riverfront real estate, which its owner has realized could be put to use much more profitably as residential.

But in recent months, Mr. Taylor - along with other township and state officials - has taken to imagining this seven-mile stretch of riverfront real estate transformed by $1 billion in new development.

But the newsroom continued to mourn the loss of its riverfront real estate.

They are drawn to the Hudson Valley landscape with views of the river, the Catskills and a stretch of riverfront estates.

The Victorianstyle boathouse had been part of a riverfront estate.

This is the town's future, an empty canvas offering nearly 100 acres of prime riverfront real estate in the shadow of the Tappan Zee Bridge.

And the Hoyt House is next to the Mills Mansion, in an area of riverfront estates.