South Fallsburg, NY - The group trying to purchase the Raleigh Hotel has plans which are far different than the resort's storied past. And in all likelihood, they will be off the tax rolls as well.
Congregation Khal Bnei Zion Inc., a non-profit Hasidic group out of Brooklyn, presented their plans to a largely skeptical Town of Fallsburg Planning Board. Their representatives laid out their intentions to turn the longtime resort into a summer camp and religious school for children, using the hotel for boarding and other activities.
Their plans were presented by local consultant Steve Proyect and operations manager Mendel Lerner. Lerner, who refused to give his name initially, also refused to divulge what stage the applicant was at in purchasing the property. Neither Lerner or Proyect could give contact information as to the principals behind the purchase.
Board Chairman Arthur Rosenshein called for more specific details in writing as to how the hotel would be used. He expressed concern about safety, due to the number of children that would be roaming the large, seven-story resort, potentially unsupervised. ''There are a lot of questions that I feel are open,'' he stated.
