<p id=”par-1_132″>Two hours from the pedestrian traffic and bright lights of New York City sits the town of Rhinebeck. Nestled along the banks of the Hudson River, Rhinebeck boasts a vibrant main street, well-maintained homes, and a deeply rooted sense of community. It isn’t alone; its Dutchess County neighbors, Hyde Park and Beacon, have a similar feel. Still, Rhinebeck stands apart. What makes the town different is how it’s been targeted by the upper echelon as a country retreat. Apparently, new faces have been popping up in town as weekenders, and not everyone is happy about it. Celebrity transplant <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/hilarie-burton-says-her-family-was-shocked-when-she-moved-in-with-jeffrey-dean-morgan.html/”>Hilarie Burton</a> just lamented the changes to the neighborhood in an open letter. A lot of people think she’s played a role in the changes she’s complaining about — but is that even possible?</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-hilarie-burton-has-critiques-for-rhinebeck”>Hilarie Burton has critiques for Rhinebeck</h2>
<p id=”par-2_82″>On May 23, Hilarie Burton took to <a href=”https://www.facebook.com/hilarie.burton.22542″>Facebook</a> to share her thoughts on the changes she’s seen around her adopted town. Burton, who penned the letter in support of Debbie Hecht for Town Supervisor, claimed Rhinebeck, where she put down roots years ago, is now the third place she’s called home that has changed significantly before her eyes. Burton noted that wealthy weekenders are buying up properties in the village, raising real estate prices, and failing to actively contribute to the neighborhood.</p>
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<p id=”par-3_66″>She claims the schools are suffering from low enrollment and that teachers are being driven out of town by rising housing costs. Burton went on to claim that town traditions are being lost, and that the region has been inundated with strangers who lack any interest in cultivating a community. The Facebook post has amassed plenty of attention, but not everyone is on Burton’s side here.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-the-one-tree-hill-actor-has-responded-to-criticism”>The ‘One Tree Hill’ actor has responded to criticism</h2>
<p id=”par-4_44″>Hilarie Burton likely didn’t expect her open letter to leave the confines of Facebook, but it has. After portions of the letter were published by the Hudson Valley Post, Burton returned to Facebook to claim the local news outlet had run a “misleading” headline.</p>
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<p id=”par-5_65″>She says the story has led to a wave of messages from locals, many of them criticizing her take on town dynamics. She even shared a screenshot of one message she received, which claimed she was the “reason” Rhinebeck now “sucks.” Burton went on to explain that she simply believes the town should prioritize locals who serve the community, especially when it comes to housing.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-is-she-the-person-who-let-the-cat-out-of-the-bag-though”>Is she the person who let the cat out of the bag, though?</h2>
<p id=”par-6_86″>While Hilarie Burton is feeling a bit blue about the changes she sees in Rhinebeck, not all residents think she is blameless. Burton’s arrival in the town, along with that of her husband, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, was anything but quiet. Burton told anyone who would listen about Rhinebeck. Her move to the town, her farm, and her life in the region seemed to find their way into every interview. She even wrote two books about her life in the region. Hilarie Burton really, really loves Rhinebeck.</p>
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<div class=”related-article related-article–simple”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
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<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/before-his-death-willie-garson-planned-publish-book-hilarie-burton-vows-see-through.html/”>
Before His Death Willie Garson Planned to Publish a Book, Hilarie Burton Vows to See It Through </a>
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<p id=”par-7_60″>When Jeffrey Dean Morgan teamed up with Paul Rudd to purchase <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/did-you-know-paul-rudd-owns-a-candy-shop-in-this-tiny-new-york-town.html/”>a longstanding candy store </a>in the community, even more eyes were suddenly on Rhinebeck. Burton, Rudd, Morgan, and other celebrity residents have shone a spotlight on the Hudson Valley; they’ve certainly drawn attention to the towns that dot the Hudson River, but did they really influence an economic shift?</p>
<p id=”par-8_135″>Of course, Hilarie Burton is not “the reason” for the shift in the economics of the town of Rhinebeck. Her “publicity” for the town obviously didn’t singlehandedly drive a major change in the real estate market. No single person or event is to blame. The shift upstate is something that has been happening for decades. People who grew up in Westchester County, priced out by rising home prices, moved north to Orange and Dutchess Counties. Their children, if priced out, will move further upstate in the years to come. Wealthy city dwellers will continue to weekend in the mountains in the fall and winter, and out on Long Island in the summer. Burton is seeing the consequences of a shift that has become pretty commonplace. Still, that doesn’t make it any less painful to watch.</p>