“This strategic plan is nothing like I have ever seen or been a part of,” Grasso related.
Smith, an Associate Broker with Rand Commercial, will be celebrated at the Ottaway Medal Dinner on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Villa Venezia in Middletown.
Some observers had written off the project as dead back in June when the Town of Wawayanda’s Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously (4-0) to reject a needed height variance for the Amazon project.
Smith, an Associate Broker with Rand Commercial, will be celebrated at the Ottaway Medal Dinner on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Villa Venezia in Middletown.
SUGAR LOAF—Veteran Orange County Realtor RJ Smith will be bestowed the 31st Annual Ottaway Medal by Vision Hudson Valley at a ceremony next year. The non-profit noted that Smith is being recognized for his decades of visionary leadership, civic engagement, and transformative impact across the Hudson Valley.
“From shaping the region’s real estate landscape to preserving thousands of acres of farmland, RJ’s legacy is one of innovation, stewardship, and deep community commitment. His contributions span business, public service, the arts, youth development, and historic preservation—embodying the very spirit of the Ottaway Medal,” Vision Hudson Valley stated in an announcement on social media.
Smith, an Associate Broker with Rand Commercial, will be celebrated at the Ottaway Medal Dinner on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Villa Venezia in Middletown.
Smith has more than 40 years’ experience in all types of real estate brokerage. Some notable projects in which Smith and his team have participated, either as broker or in taking through the approval process are: Amazon’s 1-million-square-foot warehouse in Montgomery, Medline’s 1.3-million-square-foot facility in Montgomery, Royal Wine’s 500,000-square-foot project in Goshen, Amazon’s “Last Mile” development in New Windsor, United Natural Foods facility in, Montgomery, Crystal Run Healthcare’s projects on Rykowski Lane, Middletown and the Braemar Assisted Living facility on Rykowski Lane in Middletown.
Smith holds several professional designations, including the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member). He also currently serves on numerous community and organizational boards, including Wallkill Valley Federal Savings and Loan, Storm King Art Center and the Historic Huguenot Society.
Some community projects he has engaged in include helping to establish a community health center in Pine Bush and collaborating to preserve and protect more than 3,000 acres of farmland, open space, and watershed properties.
He is a founder and Past President of the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan. He is also a past President of the Orange County Citizens Foundation, the predecessor organization of Vision Hudson Valley.
Smith has received many awards, including the Hudson Valley Council of Boy Scouts of America's Distinguished Citizen Award, the Occupations Vision of Hope Award, Cornerstone Health Center Pillar of the Community Award and the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan David T. Cocks Award for Commitment to Community.
“This strategic plan is nothing like I have ever seen or been a part of,” Grasso related.
Some observers had written off the project as dead back in June when the Town of Wawayanda’s Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously (4-0) to reject a needed height variance for the Amazon project.
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