BREWSTER – More than four years ago, Brewster’s Garden Street School was sold to a Manhattan developer for just under $1.5 million.
At the time village officials were enthused, forecasting the sale would eventually lead to the renaissance of the Village of Brewster.
Cedar House Capital, LLC purchased the nearly 100-year-old building with plans to create “market-rate residential apartments” on the property. However, since that time, village officials haven’t heard a word from the new owners.
Since the sale to Cedar House was completed, Mayor James Schoenig was baffled that “not a single representative of the corporation ever reached out to us.” Attempts to independently reach Cedar House Capital also were unsuccessful.
Mayor Schoenig believes the old school can be converted into apartments, an art center, or for academic purposes. “What I would really like to see developed is a satellite for a college which would result in the property not being brought back onto the tax rolls, but it would bring new life and scores of people into the village.”
In the interim, the village continues to bill Cedar House for maintaining the exterior of the school that includes cutting lawns. Numerous fines have also been levied against the developer due to its violation of village codes and ordinances.
Cedar House did board up the lower level of the school last year in addition to installing a chain link fence due to widespread vandalism.
In the fall of 2022, a series of fires intentionally set inside the school outraged village officials and emergency responders countywide.
Fast forward to the present: more vandalism has been reported to the brick building.
A Brewster resident said it was sad to see a building “abused and forgotten.” He said the grass has not been mowed for weeks, windows have been broken, doors pried open, and graffiti has been scrawled on upper windows.
Mayor Schoenig expressed dismay over the vandalism. “The school is privately owned. We are currently exploring eminent domain” referring to the power of a government to take private property and convert it into public use, referred to as a taking. The Fifth Amendment provides that the government may only exercise this power if they provide just compensation to the property owner.
For now, the mayor said the property is privately owned so no one should be walking on it.”
The mayor said he and the village have attempted to work with the owner but “they have done absolutely nothing. It’s a blight, but that’s all we can presently do.”
