A developer who bought the former Narrowsburg school and planned to turn it into a drug rehabilitation center has agreed to back away from the project.
At a meeting on Thursday, September 4, the Sullivan West School District voted unanimously to allow the developer, Joan Buto, to transfer her right to buy the building to rival developers Brendan and Kathy Weiden. The Weidens had offered their own higher bid on the school back in June, and had planned to turn it into a multi-use facility.
In a letter issued by the Weidens on Thursday, the couple wrote that Buto's decision to abandon the project was voluntary.
"Ms. Buto acted of her own accord in offering to assign her contract rights to us," they wrote. "We ask that you join us in thanking Ms. Buto for her generous act."
The Times Herald-Record has a great recap of the meeting.
When the former Narrowsburg school building was sold to Buto in June, a furor erupted. Members of the community formed a protest group, Narrowsburg Organized For Responsible School Usage, which organized a letter-writing campaign and hired a study of the sale by an independent planner.
A dozen community members, including the Weidens, filed a lawsuit against Buto and the Sullivan West School District.
In the press release, the Weidens express "much thanks and great joy" about the vote. In return, they promised to withdraw the lawsuit.
Read their entire statement below:
Statement of September 4, 2014 Brendan and Kathy Weiden
Dear friends, supporters and neighbors,
We thank you all for your continued encouragement and support for our plan for the Narrowsburg School building.
We share with you the information that Joan Buto has assigned to us her contract right to acquire the Narrowsburg School building and nearby 14+/- acres, and that the Sullivan West School District has consented to the assignment.
We have agreed to withdraw the lawsuit filed in early August against the Sullivan West School District.
Ms. Buto acted of her own accord in offering to assign her contract rights to us. We ask that you join us in thanking Ms. Buto for her generous act.
The Sullivan West School District acted of their own accord in consenting to the assignment. We ask that you join us in thanking the District for their consent.
For our own part, we stand in awe of all of you who worked so tirelessly for this result. Your courage to speak out, your determination to see the Narrowsburg School building brought out of hibernation and restored to its role as an integral and lively element of our community’s infrastructure, and most of all, your passion for our community and its quality of life, have been truly inspiring to us. In the days and years ahead, we will do our very best to always deserve the faith you have demonstrated in us and in our plans for the Narrowsburg School building.
With much thanks and great joy,
Brendan and Kathy Weiden
