• Document Cloud
  • FOIL–Your Right to Know
  • See Through NY
  • Tax Exempt
  • Environmental Justice
  • Campaign Finance Reports

Preserve Ramapo

www.preserve-ramapo.com

  • Home
  • Join our email
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • The Archive
You are here: Home / Open Space Properties / Ramapo mulls future for multiple properties amid deficit, development issues

Ramapo mulls future for multiple properties amid deficit, development issues

January 9, 2019 by Michael Castelluccio

The Suffern Quarry Image courtesy Rosspilot

“Town officials continue to wrestle with the future of properties once bought for profit and for green and historic preservation as part of an ambitious plan to prevent development.

With the town facing an estimated $8.5 million deficit, officials are contending with new financial realities as demands for more housing clash with demands for open space.

On Monday night, five of those dozens of properties were discussed during a public hearing that lasted several hours and was attended by dozens of residents who packed Ramapo Town Hall.

Residents and organizations offered views that ranged from rehabilitation of buildings, passive park development, and preservation to partnering with nonprofits to better use the properties for affordable housing, their historic value, and cultural and educational purposes.

Supervisor Michael Specht assured residents the Town Board had made no decisions on recommendations from the Town Asset Review Committee, called TARC. He said the town was seeking public opinions on what to do with the properties, including the potential sale.

No speakers supported selling parcels for housing and commercial development, while several said the town should stick to the commitment to preserve the properties or possibly use land for affordable housing.

During Monday’s meeting, several residents argued the town dedicated the properties as open space for preservation and would need state approval to sell and, in some cases, dedicate an equal amount of replacement land.

“The town of Ramapo doesn’t own these properties,” Michael Castelluccio of the grassroots group Preserve Ramapo said. “You do, the residents of Ramapo. These properties already have been declared open space. The dedication already has been established.”

Several speakers and Specht noted any sales of declared surplus land are subject to permissive referendums in which residents could collect signatures to force a public vote.

The properties discussed were:

  • The Burgess Meredith mansion outside Pomona is a rundown building once owned by the iconic actor who starred in the film version of Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men,” played the Penguin on the Batman series and movie, and trainer in “Rocky” movies. The estate Meredith owned with actor Paulette Goddard hosted pig roasts and horse shows. The main house is run down and several residents want the town to rebuild it. The town bought the 7.3 acres for $2.5 million, with zoning for single-family houses and schools. It’s been appraised at $1.8 million, Specht said.
  • The Suffern Quarry, which is usually filled with water, draws trespassers. Tilcon Quarry sold the parcel to the town  for $1 in December 2006. The town had planned to possibly use the quarry for flood-containment but any development falls under the village of Suffern’s control. The appraised value is $3 million.
  • The Hamlets of Ramapo in the Torne Valley is a collection of small rundown houses along a dirt road dating to the Revolutionary War era. The town has been looking to get out of the housing business and has assisted the longtime tenants with finding new homes. Some of the tenants went years without paying rent and the town failed to maintained the 17 houses, officials said. Officials spoke once of selling the land for commercial development. Though the land is zone residential, Specht has ruled out housing. Disturbing the Torne Valley’s migrating rattlesnake population is state concern and has blocked efforts for previous sales and housing development.
  • A vacant parcel along Pine Brook Road in Chestnut Ridge. The town bought the land for $1.5 million and it’s appraised at $1.9 million. Some speakers said residents walk through the land.
  • Ramapo Cultural Arts Center in Spring Valley was bought during the 1990s for $637,500 and the town invested $1 million in renovations to the former movie theater, which had been showing X-rated movies. Rockland Center for the Arts officials offered to partner with the town on making improvements and program use of the Main Street theater.

Money losers

The committee has recommended retaining the Saddle River Pool, the Senior Center, the Challenger Center, the Rustic Brook Tennis Facility, and the Equestrian Center.

Several of those properties — like the Equestrian Center — are money losers for the town, but officials said they are working on ways to change their fortunes.

The committee is recommending that some of those properties be considered for expansion, upgrade or repair, with a goal of increasing public usage and enhancing the experience provided to residents.

While the Town Board will make the final decision, the committee includes Specht, his chief of staff Mona Montal, the town purchasing director, Finance Director John Lynch, Deputy Supervisor Brendel Logan-Charles, Parks and Recreation Director Michelle Antosca and land acquisitions coordinator Thomas Sullivan.”

Read the full text of the Journal News story here.

PREVIOUS: Ramapo considers selling off property to fill coffers and cover debts

PREVIOUS: Ramapo: Striker Property sale faces opposition from Skyview Acres neighbors

PREVIOUS: Hamlets of Ramapo tenants remain in limbo as town agenda could include moving out the families

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Open Space Properties, Overdevelopment, Uncategorized

Preserve Ramapo tree no border

Preserve Ramapo online since 2003

Recent Posts

  • East Ramapo names new superintendent; 0% tax hike in budget plan
  • Services for Spring Valley Firefighter Jared Lloyd Saturday
  • State education chief Betty Rosa backs law to strengthen monitor’s power in East Ramapo
  • Bluefield Extension: Ramapo to appeal court decision blocking high-density housing plan
  • Airmont, Pomona Election Results

Archives

  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015

Calendar listing for Posts

April 2021
M T W T F S S
« Mar    
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Facebook

Other Links

Airmont,

Pomona,

Montebello,

Suffern,

Sloatsburg,

Hillburn,

Spring Valley,

Chestnut Ridge,

New Hempstead,

Wesley Hills,

Town of Ramapo,

Town of Clarkstown,

Rosa4Rockland,

Rockland Water Coalition

East Ramapo Central School District

Power of Ten -- East Ramapo for the Children,

Strong East Ramapo,

East Ramapo Videos,

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in