Vets’ Home demolition scheduled for fall
OXFORD – The controversial demolition of the former New York State Department Of Health Veterans’ Home on state Hwy 220 in Oxford is officially scheduled to begin in the fall.
A spokesperson for the New York State Dormitory Authority said competitive bids will be opened on Wednesday and the low bidder and cost for the project will be known about six weeks later. A completion goal is set for late fall, but landscaping work for the project would continue into the spring of 2011.
Over the past two years, a grassroots group consisting of Oxford residents, business owners and local government officials – along with Commerce Chenango and state officials – have repeatedly advocated for reuse of the 30-year-old facility. Staff and residents moved into a brand new, state-of-the-art facility adjacent to the old one last fall.
In a letter to New York State representatives on Friday, Commerce Chenango President and Chief Executive Officer Maureen Carpenter implored them to reach out to the NYSDOH and Dormitory Authority to put an end to the demolition plans.
“We have not yet been successful in our search for the appropriate reuse, but feel there are still many opportunities that have not yet been evaluated,” she wrote.
Carpenter cited a report that was released also on Friday by New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli that stated the state’s general fund ended the first quarter of the fiscal year with a negative balance for the second time in modern history.
“The state ended the quarter $87.1 million in the red. ... Why is the Dormitory Authority seeking to spend up to $1.25 million dollars? Wouldn’t a better solution be to preserve the building, make it secure and weather proof and allow the community, one with such strong support in favor of a reuse, the opportunity to seek private investment, create jobs and reuse a facility that in no way has lived out its useful life?” she wrote.
Oxford Village Mayor Terry Stark said Monday that despite the efforts of the grassroots group, an alternative use for the facility was never identified by the village, the town, the county, nor the state.
“I’ve done everything I can from a village point of view to retain the building for an alternative use that would be beneficial to the village, the town and our veterans. At this point, it’s just unfortunate that a $20 million building can be destroyed. It’s in good shape,” he said.
A spokesperson for the New York State Dormitory Authority said competitive bids will be opened on Wednesday and the low bidder and cost for the project will be known about six weeks later. A completion goal is set for late fall, but landscaping work for the project would continue into the spring of 2011.
Over the past two years, a grassroots group consisting of Oxford residents, business owners and local government officials – along with Commerce Chenango and state officials – have repeatedly advocated for reuse of the 30-year-old facility. Staff and residents moved into a brand new, state-of-the-art facility adjacent to the old one last fall.
In a letter to New York State representatives on Friday, Commerce Chenango President and Chief Executive Officer Maureen Carpenter implored them to reach out to the NYSDOH and Dormitory Authority to put an end to the demolition plans.
“We have not yet been successful in our search for the appropriate reuse, but feel there are still many opportunities that have not yet been evaluated,” she wrote.
Carpenter cited a report that was released also on Friday by New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli that stated the state’s general fund ended the first quarter of the fiscal year with a negative balance for the second time in modern history.
“The state ended the quarter $87.1 million in the red. ... Why is the Dormitory Authority seeking to spend up to $1.25 million dollars? Wouldn’t a better solution be to preserve the building, make it secure and weather proof and allow the community, one with such strong support in favor of a reuse, the opportunity to seek private investment, create jobs and reuse a facility that in no way has lived out its useful life?” she wrote.
Oxford Village Mayor Terry Stark said Monday that despite the efforts of the grassroots group, an alternative use for the facility was never identified by the village, the town, the county, nor the state.
“I’ve done everything I can from a village point of view to retain the building for an alternative use that would be beneficial to the village, the town and our veterans. At this point, it’s just unfortunate that a $20 million building can be destroyed. It’s in good shape,” he said.
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