Nicholas Politi
Yesterday I had the chance to attend a panel at the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex titled “The region’s Olympic future.” As someone who lives here year round, I do not need to be convinced that Lake Placid has world class venues or a legacy that runs deep. We have been living it for decades.
What stood out to me most was the momentum in the room and the growing feeling that the idea of New York hosting the Winter Olympics again is not just a fun conversation anymore. It feels possible.
I have always had tremendous respect for leaders like Ashley Walden, Andrew Weibrecht, and Tim Burke, not just because of their resumes, but because they are our friends and neighbors. They care about this topic and our community, they understand the challenges, and are thinking long term. I also appreciated Assemblyman Robert Carroll’s enthusiasm, because if a future Olympic bid ever becomes real, it will take more than local support. It will take true alignment between upstate and downstate.
The timing of this conversation could not feel more relevant to me personally. I recently had the opportunity to travel to Milan and Cortina, which are hosting the 2026 Winter Olympics, and I could not stop thinking about how familiar it felt. Cortina is a small mountain town with many of the same challenges we do, including transportation, access, and the logistics of supporting a massive international event. Milan is the economic engine, and it reminded me of the relationship between Lake Placid and New York City. Seeing that dynamic up close made me think, if they can do it, why can we not.
As a local broker, I cannot ignore what this could mean for the real estate market. Historically, the Adirondacks tend to surge when something negative drives people out of New York City, like 9/11 or COVID. But an Olympic bid would be different. This would be a positive economic driver, created intentionally, not triggered by crisis.
Of course, growth has consequences. If demand spikes, Lake Placid risks becoming even more unaffordable than it already is. That is why it is just as important to protect the community as it is to pursue opportunity, through projects like Homestead Development’s Fawn Valley, and the recent protection of the Cascade Acres mobile home park.
What I left with was not hype. It was pride. Lake Placid has the legacy, we have upgraded venues, and we have the leadership. And after hearing the optimism from the people closest to it, I truly believe this is a moment worth taking seriously.
Because maybe for once, we do not have to wait for a crisis to drive opportunity.
Maybe we can create it ourselves. For our kids.
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