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Psych Center Project Delays Irk Residents
Builder Seeks Support at Dover Meeting
02.28.2007
Michael Woyton
Poughkeepsie Journal
DOVER PLAINS - Roger Edwards joked that his grandchildren won't live to see the former Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center rebuilt.
"My main concern is that it is stagnating," the Dover resident said, "and they need to get on with it."
The "they" to whom Edwards referred included the Dover town board and the Benjamin Companies, the developer that bought the 850-acre former state hospital.
The Long Island developer held a public information meeting Monday at Dover High School to outline its grievance against the town and try to stir up support for its proposal.
More than 200 people traveled through the persistent snow to see the developer's presentation and ask questions about what it means for their community.
The company bought the site from the state in October 2003 for $3.96 million. More than $16 million has been spent in planning and development on the site.
During a series of meetings with the town board, an alternative development plan was designed. It contained less senior housing and less commercial space than previously proposed.
Market studies cited
The developer's architects and economists decided the newer plan makes more sense according to market studies and wants to study it for environmental effects.
In a letter dated Feb. 2 to the developer, the board rejected the new plan and told the developer to study the original plan.
This came as a complete surprise to the developer, attorney Michael Zarin said.
"You can't ask us only to study a project that we know is going to fail," he said.
Dover resident Roksolana Geramita said the developer's plight is its own fault.
"You changed the terms for us," she said. "Last time it was primarily senior housing and now it's not."
That raises more and different questions, Geramita said.
Dover Plains resident Linda French thought the presentation by the developer was good.
She wished the developer hadn't waited so long - it has been more than a year since the last public meeting - to present the proposal.
"They've been trying very hard to come forward with a plan and show the people," French said.
There are no public or town meetings scheduled on the Benjamin Companies' proposal.
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