Never been there and so I can’t say if this is practical, but 50,000 bungalows within 100 miles of NYC? Is there a reasonably decent train running or can there be? It’s ripe for commuter residential, imho.
Millions of dollars are transforming Route 17 into I-86. Travel time will be reduced. I would imagine when the new Tappan Zee is opened the area will more than ‘pop.’