Developer Pulls Sain Building Offer

NEW CITY, NY – County Executive Ed Day stood on the steps of the now closed Sain Building in New City to discuss the news that National Development, the developer who offered to purchase the building for $4.5 million, can no longer move forward with its original offer.

Day has been trying to sell the dilapidated building for two years. The legislature has refused to act several times. Explanations have seemed inadequate for the level of infighting. Lawmakers have cited irregularities in the process and also said they think the space is needed for parking.

Michael Glynn, Vice President of National Development sent a letter to the County Executive and the County Legislature earlier this afternoon, Day said.

The letter stated, “six months ago I sent you a letter to express our continued interest in developing the Sain property for a senior residence to serve the needs of Rockland's elders. In that letter I had mentioned that our original offer was still on the table, but that time was running out because of changing market and financial conditions. These conditions have indeed changed our ability to move forward with our original offer. That straightforward offer from March 2016 no longer works.”

The Massachusetts-based firm, National Development, had previously said it wanted to buy the county-owned building on New Hempstead Road in New City and create senior housing.

Day laid the fault for this at the feet of some in the Rockland County Legislature. “Over the last 3 years, some Legislators, despite approving the sale of this building in affirming the 2016 budget and then trying to include it in 2017 budget, have engaged in nothing but gamesmanship and obstructionism to the direct detriment of the people of the county and particularly the people of Clarkstown.”

“It is a total disgrace," Legislator Patrick Moroney said. "The county is losing $4.5 million in the sale and the County, Town and School District are losing close to half a million dollars a year in real property taxes.”

Day gave credit to eight legislators who have attempted to move the sale of the Sain Building forward: Moroney, Lon Hofstein, Chris Carey, Laurie Santulli, Vince Tyer, Doug Jobson, Charles Falciglia and Jay Hood.

The proceeds of the sale of the Sain Building would be put towards contract settlements to give Rockland’s hard-working employees the raises they deserve and towards rebuilding the General Fund Balance, Day said.

Timeline of events:

• March of 2016, National Development responded to an advertisement for the sale, offering to pay $4.51 million – $510,000 above the appraised value for the Sain Building.
• September of 2017, National Development submitted a bid to the County Legislature with the same offer, $4.51 million.
• December of 2017, the Sain Building was officially closed as the County offices that had been located in the building were moved to the Dr. Robert Yeager Health Center complex in Pomona.

SEE:

• Firm Re-ups Offer to Buy Sain Building for Senior Housing
  
• Bid on Sain Building is Actually No Bid, Say Rockland Lawmakers
  
• A Glimmer of Hope for Sale of Sain Building
• Rockland County Executive Padlocks the Sain Building
• Hofstein Says that Rockland Could Lose Sain Building Buyer