Orange County to issue RFP to sell former Camp LaGuardia property

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The former Camp LaGuardia

GOSHEN – Orange County officials, Wednesday, announced that they will issue a request for proposals to sell the county-owned Camp LaGuardia property in the towns of Blooming Grove and Chester.

Bidders will be able to submit proposals for all or portions of the 258-acre property.

County Executive Steven Neuhaus said the uses could range from farming to commercial, office and entertainment.

“We want to sell it to some place that we think is a good fit for the community and namely complies with the zoning. You buy it as is,” he said.

The RFP should be ready for distribution in the next couple of weeks with submissions due by mid-to late January. County real estate consultant John McCarey said the selected proposals would go before the county legislature, probably in March 2020.

Over the years, there has been some interest in the property. Most recently Great Wolf Lodge has been exploring development of a water park and hotel on a portion of the property and Neuhaus said the Camp LaGuardia site is in the company’s “development pipeline.”

McCarey noted there is a lot of interest in the Hudson Valley right now and with Legoland under construction just west of the Camp LaGuardia property, that amusement park has been “a game-changer and has opened a lot of doors.”

The county paid $8.5 million years ago for the former New York City-owned camp for homeless men. Neuhaus said roughly another $500,000 was spent on engineering and other services.

He anticipated some of the old buildings will be razed prior to sale.

The county has submitted a state Consolidated Funding Application grant request for $400,000 to support remediation, demolition of dilapidated buildings and maintenance.




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