St. Paul's Report Expected By Late October
By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

The wait may soon be over for Garden City residents who have been anxiously looking forward to some news on the future of the historic main building at St. Paul's. A report is expected to be presented to the public by the end of October, reported Deputy Mayor John Mauk at the September 13th meeting of the Garden City Board of Trustees.

"Now that the summer is about over, we are resuming our work on the committee," said Mauk, who serves as chairman of the Mayor's Committee on St. Paul's. "I expect we are going to be making a report shortly to the trustees and we are preparing for a presentation to the public regarding the proposals, the findings and the analysis, and the debate on them, to be taking place some time toward the middle or late October."

Peter Negri, president of the Committee to Save St. Paul's, urged the Board to make a decision as soon as possible. The CSSP's proposal is one of three finalists being reviewed by the Mayor's Committee on St. Paul's and their consultant Karen Backus & Associates, Inc. Besides CSSP/Canus Corp., the remaining contenders are the Albanese Organization and Avalon Bay Communities.

"It's our fervent hope that the Village does reach a decision so this process can start up in time to get on to the legislative session before the early part of next year," Negri said. "Otherwise, it's going to be postponed for another year."

If their proposal is ultimately chosen by the Board of Trustees, the next step would be to obtain the necessary Home Rule legislation and relief from Parkland designation from state legislators. The CSSP has met privately with Senator Kemp Hannon, who has emphasized that he will only go forward in Albany to secure the necessary Home Rule legislation and relief from Parkland designation if he sees widespread public support for one proposal. Without the legislation, the land can strictly be used for public purposes only.

In other St. Paul's news, Negri urged the Village to continue pursuing a grant under the Nassau County 2006 Environmental Bond Act after learning they are one of the few remaining contenders. In March, the Committee to Save St. Paul's alerted the Village to the potential for funding through the Bond Act, and the Village nominated St. Paul's for much-needed work to abate environmental hazards, including asbestos and mold, in the basement of the historic building and in Ellis Hall.

According to Negri, the CSSP has been following developments and recently called Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi on behalf of the nomination. Negri said the Committee will do everything possible to support their application.