Beekman Park sidewalk project stalled after DOT halts work

AMENIA — Work on the new sidewalk along Route 44 near Beekman Park has stalled after the New York State Department of Transportation issued a stop-order in January over safety concerns.

Amenia Town Supervisor Rosanna Hamm first disclosed the stoppage at an April 1 Town Board meeting. She said the matter is being handled by the town’s attorney, and it’s still unclear what the next steps will be, but she holds out hope that the work will resume soon.

Hamm said construction company Southern Industries had already poured, removed and replaced sections of the sidewalk multiple times since construction began in August 2025. Inconsistent work schedules and construction continuing into the winter months further complicated the project before it came to a halt.

Hamm said that town officials, along with the engineers who designed the sidewalk and DOT representatives, have inspected the work and determined much will need to be redone, including catch basins along Route 44.

A Jan. 9 letter informing Amenia of the stop-work order cites safety concerns including improper traffic control and poor pedestrian safety.

Some portions of the concrete will need to be replaced, Hamm said, because construction crews attempted to install the sidewalk while temperatures were too cold. That caused the concrete to cure improperly, leading to flaking and weakness that significantly reduces its lifespan.

“This has been a slow process, which is frustrating,” Hamm said.

Southern Industries Corporation is a Westchester-based construction company. New York Department of State filings list Jonathan Delisa as CEO, although Delisa denied being the company’s CEO in a recent phone call.

It’s unclear who officially serves as the company’s CEO. Delisa said Southern Industries’ owner recently retired and sold the company to a private equity firm based out of Ohio, but did not provide any other specific details.

Hamm also drew attention to large piles of debris left behind by construction crews in the Beekman Park parking lot along Route 44. Crews from the Amenia Highway Department cleaned up the debris in April.

Hamm said that the cleanup cost the town money and will need to be reimbursed, potentially resulting in a fine for the contractor.

Town officials pointed to Southern Industries for the delays. Hamm said inconsistent communication and a failure to maintain agreed work schedules strained the relationship with the contractor.

Delisa pointed back at the town, saying officials were difficult to work with and project designs were insufficient. He said town officials were placing undue blame on Southern Industries, prompting the company to cut ties with the town.

“They still owe us money,” Delisa said. He added the piles of debris were left behind because the contract was terminated. “If both parties had to cancel a contract, and you’re still owed money, why would you go the extra mile and continue working there for free?”

Delisa and Southern Industries are currently facing multiple civil court battles regarding accusations of forgery, impersonation and wage theft.

Delisa would not comment on the lawsuits. All of the suits were filed in the months following Amenia officials’ decision to award the sidewalk contract to Southern Industries.

The construction work currently sits incomplete, with orange safety cones blocking access and causing pedestrians to walk on the shoulder along Route 44, posing a risk to themselves and drivers, Hamm said.

“There’s no place for anybody to walk,” Hamm said. “They’re walking alongside the road, and that’s just no good.”