Pelton Mansion, adjacent to Wheaton Park
POUGHKEEPSIE – The Poughkeepsie Common Council, in a split vote Monday night, agreed to “alienate” a portion of Wheaton Park and ask the state for home rule to sell it to local developers.
The council had heard hours of comments for and against the proposal
over the course of several weeks.
City lawmakers voted to support moving the redevelopment forward.
Council Chairman Christopher Petsas said the property is not being used as a park now and has sat dormant for years.
“If this park was being utilized by a group of people from my neighborhood or any neighborhood in this city on a consistent basis, I would be the first to oppose it,” Petsas said. “This is a property that unfortunately is falling into disrepair and that needs help.”
Developers Wayne Nussbickel and Steven Tinkelman want to develop a portion of the property for housing, retain parkland and restore the old Pelton Mansion for art space or other activities. That building was occupied for years by the Poughkeepsie Day Nursery, which abandoned it a few years ago.
The vote to ask the state to sell the land as well as issue a negative declaration of environmental impact passed in the common council by five to three votes.
