Community Members Needed To Decide On Masera Property

WEST ISLIP, NY — The West Islip Union Free School District is taking new steps toward the disposal of its controversial Masera property.

The district is looking for community members to serve on the Masera Community Advisory Committee, which will ultimately make a recommendation to the board of education about the disposition of the 11-acre property. The committee will meet multiple times during the course of the school year.

This January, West Islip residents voted against the sale of the site, located on the west side of Udall Road north of Sunrise Highway, to a developer planning a luxury senior complex.

Several community members openly opposed the sale, claiming it would set a precedent for other residential properties to be overdeveloped, increase traffic, and possibly decrease local property values. A website, stopmaserasale.com, was also launched to express community concerns.

The district held several public forums last year informing the community about the would-be $8.5 million sale, but ultimately needed approval from residents through a vote. Due to the "condition of the site", the district agreed to sell the building to the developer. The site originally opened in 1955 as Paumanok Elementary School and has remained closed in recent years.

School officials previously stated that West Islip is the only hamlet in the Town of Islip that does not have condos or rental options for seniors. The proposed development would have consisted of 26 condos with more than 100 rental units.

Applications to serve on this committee can be submitted here, and clicking on the announcement labeled 'Masera Community Advisory Committee'. Applications must be submitted by Friday, Oct. 8.