NEWBURGH – A proposal by Alembic developers to restore the Dutch Reform Church, the City Club and redevelop a vacant parcel of land has been under discussion for 10 months and Newburgh City Council members feel they are no further ahead with it.
As a result, at the end of a four-hour council session Monday night, the local lawmakers voted to give Alembic until the end of the month to come up with concrete plans or have it scrapped.
Alembic was chosen following a request for proposals process, but council members, led by Hillary Rayford, said the developers have missed deadlines to provide plans and associated costs.
“I had it with Alembic so this is why I put this proposal out there and I’m ready to vote on it because I just can’t waste no more time,” she told fellow council members.
While Rayford wanted to cancel the arrangement immediately, fellow council members voted to give the developers until June 30 under an amendment from Councilman Jonathan Jacobson. Rayford voted against that, but the deadline was approved by a majority of those present.
