NEWBURGH – Following a
two-hour public hearing followed by another hour-and-a-half of debate
by council members, the Newburgh City Council Monday night approved a
resolution to apply for a RESTORE New York grant of $845,450 to shore
up the roof of the vacant Dutch Reform Church.
There is concern that without shoring up the roof, the weight of snow
this winter could collapse it.
City Economic Development Director Deidre Glenn explained that the grant
would only be for the old church and not include the old City Club building
or property at 2 Montgomery Street. The three parcels as bundled together,
have been proposed for development together.
But, several residents who spoke called for the Dutch Reform Church to
be separated out from the other two. In the end, any reference to the
other two parcels or a potential developer, were removed from the resolution.
The grant application must be filed with Albany by December 15.
To vote the application down or table would mean the fate of the Dutch
Reform Church would be “demolition by neglect,” said Councilwoman
Karen Mejia.
