Mayor: Rome housing complex has been bought
Fri, Sep 9, 2005
R. PATRICK CORBETT
Observer-Dispatch
ROME - Mayor James Brown said Thursday a New York City developer has purchased the former Woodhaven military housing complex along Park Drive for $2 million.
He said two representatives of the buyer met with him and Rome Planning Commissioner John Sorbello for about 90 minutes Thursday.
The sealed bid process was conducted by the U.S. General Services Administration, Sorbello said. He would not identify the buyer and said the GSA has not confirmed the purchase. Calls to the federal agency's New England office in Boston Thursday were not returned.
Brown said the representatives of the apparent buyer outlined three options for the property: building a gated community for a Hasidic Jewish group, converting the buildings into senior rental units or selling individual homes in the $80,000 to $120,000 price range to the general public. Sorbello said all three concepts would involve renovating the existing housing.
"They didn't indicate a time frame," he said. "They haven't closed (on the purchase) yet."
"With the (Base Realignment and Closure) news and the potential of people moving into the community, options two and three would work well."
The Base Realignment and Closure Commission has recommended that the Defense Finance and Accounting Service in the Griffiss Business and Technology Park gain 620 new jobs over the next few years. President Bush is considering the recommendations.
"Homes in the $80,000 to $120,000 range would be affordable (for DFAS workers)," Sorbello said.
Woodhaven has 270 units that once housed Air Force personnel assigned to Griffiss Air Force Base. The 62.8-acre site has been vacant since the base closed in 1995. Neighbors have complained about the rundown condition of the buildings, which include single- and multiple-family houses.
An online auction by General Services Administration earlier this year attracted several bidders, but the high bidders at the end of the auction dropped out one by one, and the agency decided to solicit only sealed bids, Sorbello said.
Representatives of the potential buyer will return to Rome soon and meet with the Department of Public Works commissioner, assessor and codes officer to discuss specific plans, Sorbello said.
He added that all of the options on the table would result in the city collecting property taxes, except any uses specifically for religious or educational purposes.
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