Alumni Support St. Paul's Restoration and Re-Use

An exciting and encouraging announcement was made at the Aug. 19 public hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the demolition of St. Paul's.

Edward Castagna, St. Paul's Class of 1986, made a commitment by alumni to help defray the cost of annual maintenance of St. Paul's, under "The Community First" proposal for preservation and partial public use presented to the board of trustees by the Committee to Save St. Paul's (CSSP) and the Garden City Historical Society (GCHS).

Castagna further stated that the alumni would be willing to create a foundation within the proposed "Conservancy" that will carry the project to fruition. The foundation would provide a scholarship or grant to Garden City residents; plans are still in the early stages.

Castagna represents approximately 500 alumni from The Cathedral School of St. Paul and The Cathedral School of St. Mary, the boys' and girls' schools established and built by Cornelia Stewart, along with the Cathedral of the Incarnation, in honor of her husband, Garden City founder Alexander Turney Stewart.

Speaking of the alumni, Castagna said, "We all share that building in some way. Given the opportunity, we 'outsiders' will contribute in a way that will significantly offset some of the restoration costs." 

He notes that under "The Community First" plan, debt service to satisfy the 15-year capital bond will be borne by the village as a lessee of the 10,500 square feet of public space for use by the community. Castagna's group pledges to supplement the funding of this expense on an ongoing basis through alumni contributions.

"That adds up to tangible support," he says, noting that at the public hearing he was asked where the alumni have been for the past 17 years.

"After the building left the hands of the Cathedral, it was involved in several different plans; we, like many others, had been shut out for many years," he said. "We certainly weren't enthusiastic about donating money to an Avalon Bay project. The alumni was together in our sadness regarding the state of the building and lack of a school."

However, Castagna added, "Thanks to the Committee to Save St. Paul's and the Garden City Historical Society, a competent fiscally responsible plan has come forward. Our alumni can get behind this plan to restore the building at a cost below or equal to the 'true' demolition cost."

He notes that if the village considers added elements, such as demolition of Ellis Hall, securing Cluett Hall and the field house, and rehabilitation of the property, the cost of demolition will go up.   

"The alumni are invigorated and ready to start giving back to a place that gave us so much," says Castagna. "Alumni located locally and around the world have shown great interest in the fate of this landmark, and they are willing to make a financial commitment to the building and to the Village of Garden City.

"It's a fair thank you from the alumni to Garden City and a way to make the alternative plan a reality," adds Castagna. "Restore this building and you will create new life in the spirit of community and education. Unfortunately, we can't convert the love of this building and our experiences there into real dollars if the structure is demolished. If you save it, we will be there."

(Editor's Note: This announcement was submitted by The Garden City Historical Society.)