A Plan To Preserve St. Paul's For Future Generations

The Committee to Save St. Paul's and the Garden City Historical Society painted a picture of their proposal to preserve St. Paul's School: residents mingling in a parlor during a cocktail party surrounded by period architecture brought back to life after years of neglect.

This vision could become reality in as little as 11 months, according to Bill Sullivan, a building consultant hired to develop a "reasonable, realistic and affordable plan" for the former boys school. He's confident the work could be completed in less than a year for $8 million or less at an annual taxpayer cost of $105.38.

"As we all know it's always been about cost, the cost versus the benefit derived," Committee to Save St. Paul's president Peter Negri said Tuesday to a standing room only crowd at village hall. "Why save St. Paul's? Well we feel it's the, and I think most would agree, it is the most significant piece of real estate in the Village of Garden City."

The proposal intends to:

• rehab the major rooms on the first floor and the chapel;
• abate any hazardous materials;
• install fire sprinklers throughout the building;
• create new mechanical equipment rooms to service the public space;
• seal off the school's upper floors for future use;
• preserve the building's exterior with a full roof, some new windows, pointing, brick and masonry where necessary; and
• bring the space into full compliance with all building codes. 

The demolition of Ellis Hall is not included in the proposal but could be financially offset by Nassau County grants, other grants and private fundraising.

"What are we going to end up with?" Mayor Robert Rothschild asked. "Looks like we got a piece-meal building. Where are we going with the cost of this building? There are many residents, whether it's right or it's wrong, that want to see an end to this. With demolition, it comes to an end. With this, it doesn't."

Kimber Barton, former headmaster of St. Mary's/St. Paul's, said the plan is a "good start to make it live again." As the director/CFO of Tower School New York City, Barton is looking at P.S. 64, a building almost as old as St. Paul's, to use as a school. "I should open the school here," he said, smiling.

Establishing a 501©3 non-profit, such as a conservancy, allows the village to retain ownership of the land. The conservancy will own the building and issue 15-year bonds to service the debt through leased payments from the village.

Proponents said demolition - at $5.8 million plus $2.2 million for additional consultants and work - would cost the average Garden City taxpayer $117.82 a year over a 10-year finance period for nothing but a dry hole in the ground.

They say their plan – also totaling $8 million (plus an added $2 million provision for operating costs) – would cost the average taxpayer $12.44 less a year and provide public use of the building for possible art shows, theatrical and musical performances, senior citizens groups, even village historian lectures. 

Several trustees questioned the $8 million figure for demolition since previous estimates the village received were less. Sullivan said not only has the cost of demolition gone up but additional consultants and work also contribute to the increase.

Resident Frank McDonough, who spent 15 years working on the financial side of Goldman Sachs, is a member of the Committee to Save St. Paul's executive committee. In outlining the plan's financials, McDonough said what's trying to be accomplished is anything but a new concept, citing the conversion of the Garden City dump into Garden City Community Park.

"That project was a multi-generational project that took an incinerator, a dump, and converted it into the fields and pool that we all enjoy today and which has added immeasurably to our home values. That's what we're doing here," he said. "We're doing what every homeowner in Garden City does when they do a renovation. You're not building what you want, you're building what you can afford at the pace at which you can afford it ... In effect what we're saying here is don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good."

St. Paul's School closed in 1991. The village purchased the building and surrounding acres in 1993. It has sat unused on Stewart Avenue for 17 years. 

For village resident Judy Alzner, who taught at St. Paul's from 1985 until its closing, demolishing the building would be devastating. "I was in mourning for a year when they closed the school," she said.

Sullivan was confident in saying there's not a whole lot of work to be done inside the building. He last walked the school's halls in late 2009 and believes a roof fix can stop the "lion's share" of water infiltration.

Mayor Rothschild said the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the building's demolition states that 60 percent of the masonry needs re-pointing. Sullivan, however, believes that less than 10 percent actually needs immediate attention.

"I don't agree that 60 percent needs to be re-pointed. Maybe over a 10, 15-year period," Sullivan said, reminding the board that the undertaking is not considered a full building restoration. In effect, areas of the school – inside and out – were selectively chosen for rehab. The work could essentially buy the village another five years, at least.

Trustee Dennis Donnelly equated the work to a band aid: "You're applying a band aid to a cut." Sullivan shot back, saying, "It's better than a band aid. It's 10,000 square feet to use."

Negri said the main objective is saving the building. "Today all it is is a drive-by. We want to get bodies in the building. I would have to think there'd be some support to save the building," he said.

Support he had, from many of those in attendance anyway, who applauded this latest idea to keep St. Paul's alive.

Ed Castagna, a Class of 1986 St. Paul's graduate, said at least 500 alumni of both St. Mary's and St. Paul's are willing to raise funds and help contribute to a viable plan that would save the school. "I have a very strong connection to the building and its history and I would hate to see it torn down for any reason," he said.