GOSHEN – There will be no demolition of a portion of the old Orange County Government Center until at least July 1.
The announcement by Orange County officials prompted State Supreme Court Justice Christopher Cahill to hold off on issuing a temporary restraining order following two hours of arguments in court in Goshen on Friday.
Nothing will be done with the dormant government center at least until July
There are two interpretations as to what occurred in court.
County Executive Steven Neuhaus said the county is moving ahead as planned with a July demolition/construction start up. He said the first action was to secure the site.
“We look forward to appearing in court further to show that Mr. Sussman is fabricating lies in order to try to stop the political process from moving forward in relation to his failed effort to not getting elected as county executive,” Neuhaus said.
Attorney Michael Sussman, who brought the suit against the county representing three county residents, said he was “very pleased” with the action in Court on Friday, saying the judge essentially entered the temporary restraining order.
“We understand they are changing their position,” Sussman said. “Today they came in and today they came in and said they are not doing demolition until July 1st, which is nothing we have ever heard before, but given that, the judge said, ‘fine, don’t do it, and we will see you around July 1st’.”
Opponents of the demolition and construction of a new addition say it will ruin the architecture of designer Paul Rudolph, who designed the original building. They also favor selling the building to New York City architect Gene Kaufman, who wants to convert the facility into an art community. As part of that scenario, the county would build a new government center.
