May 2007 -- Palisades School Sale Update
The South Orangetown Central School District is looking for ways to offset the cost of upcoming critical facilities improvements to the schools. Last year, the district’s Finance Council suggested learning what our four “excess” properties are worth looking towards the possible sale of one or more of these properties. On March 21, at the SOCSD Board of Education meeting, the crowd in the packed TZHS cafeteria listened to the long-awaited appraisals of the four properties and the preliminary 2007-08 budget presentation.
There were twenty Palisades residents present. William Beckmann of Beckmann Appraisals gave this brief appraisal report.
-The Palisades School:
8.4 acres broken into 2 economic units:
-2.2 acres; the school building; 12,000 sq. ft; $1.25 million
-6.2 acres; land behind school (which abuts the Lennar property); $1.95 million
Total: $3.3 million
Mr. Beckmann recommended that the best use for the Palisades property would be to sell all or a portion of the property for an eight house development. He felt that keeping the building as an educational venue was not wise because it is located so far away from the center of the Town. Busing alone would cause a problem. (This statement drew much criticism from the audience.)
-Oak Tree Park (at RT. 303): currently used as a playground and ball field 2.6 acres; zoned R-15; $1.2 million; recommended 6 lot residential development
-Cowboy Fields behind Tappan Zee Elementary: Total land- 39.3 acres; zoned R-40; $8-10 million; recommended 25 homes
-Orangeburg School on Western Highway
Leased to Dominican College; School $4 million; Cook Hall $990,000
This property is best kept a rental property.
When a board member asked, taking all properties into consideration, which property did he think should be the one to be sold, he quickly replied, “The Palisades School.”
Even though Mr. Beckmann publicly said a sale could take up to a year, the short-term leases of The Fred Keller School and the Children’s Enrichment Center have not been renewed (the Board stating that it was Mr. Beckmann’s previous recommendation to not renew.) The FKS is considering purchasing a church in Nyack and at press time the CEC is still unsuccessful at being renewed. At the end of the summer, the building will be empty. Our polling place has been moved to the Palisades Library. A number of neighbors have asked the district to tell us the next steps, the timetable, and/or the process of the decision-making. We have received vague answers, and will let you know more in a few weeks. So in the meantime, the community is highly encouraged to write letters to the board expressing our opinions about the potential sale of the Palisades School or any of the other properties.
SOCSD School board members:
Richard DiLoreto, Pres.: diloretor@coned.com
Rosemary Pitruzzella, VP: rapboard@optonline.net
Steve Spiro: sspiroboe@msn.com
Leon Jacobs: Jacobs.BOE@gmail.com
Annemarie Uhl: annuhl@optonlline.net
and cc to:
Superintendent Dr. Zambito Jzambito@socsd.org
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Ann Vaccaro-Teich avt@socsd.org
When and where to vote
2007-2008 Budget Information:
The $70,528,012 budget was adopted by the School Board on April 17, 2007
Mark your calendars: School Budget vote and School Board election Tuesday, May 15, 2007 7:00 AM-9:00 PM Palisades residents vote at the Tappan Zee Elementary School
To learn more, visit www.socsd.org to view:
-2007-2008 School Budget
-5 Year Facilities Report
-Appraisal Executive Summary