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Monday, July 28, 2014
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Lockport City School District residents may sense deja vu Tuesday as they return to the polls to vote on an issue they cast ballots on once before — the proposed sale of Washington Hunt Elementary School.
A city business owner — and proposed buyer of the building — hopes he doesn't have deja vu at the end of the night, however.
Bob Muscarella, owner of Ultimate Physique gym on Ann Street, has offered the school district $65,000 for the former school in hopes of moving his gym there and expanding it — assuming, of course, the voters approve.
The proposed sale of the Washington Hunt building failed by a vote of 805 to 772 on May 6. District officials, however, almost immediately called for a re-vote, saying the ballot was confusing and people may not have been aware of all the facts.
One of the primary sticking points is the fact that whether the building sells for $65,000 or the official assessed value of $195,000, the district won't get any money. The total purchase price will go to the state.
A mailer by the district states that the cost of maintaining the building, which has set empty since the end of the 2012-2013 school year, is between $26,414 and $29,414.
Muscarella and supporters of the proposed sale point out that not only will the district save money by selling the building, it will make money through new taxes paid by Ultimate Physique.
"It's a win-win for everybody involved," he said. "The city gets it on the tax roll and we're going to pay taxes. The school board gets the taxes, too."
Plus, Muscarella says, if the sale is approved and he moves his gym to the new location, he'll be expanding by bringing a day center with him, something his current facility doesn't offer.
"With that separate entity coming into the city, we're bringing in eight to a dozen new jobs," he said.
The Hunt building has 30,000 square feet; Double the size of the current gym.
Muscarella says he's been out campaigning on his own behalf, going from door to door to explain the sale to district voters. He thinks the result of Tuesday's ballot initiative will be largely decided by turnout.
"We know the 800 people that voted 'no' are voting anyway because that's what they do," he said. However, having canvassed the district, he can't seem to figure out who voted against it. "I've been to those houses and I just don't know where those 800 are."
Former School Board member Joe O'Shaughnessy can be counted in the "nay" column. Hesaid he thinks the board should have asked for more money — whether or not the money goes to the district.
"Even though we wouldn't get it (directly), we actually are getting it because that money goes to to state," he said.
O'Shaughnessy, who also owns Oak Run Golf Club, said the district didn't do enough to market the building before signing on with Muscarella.
"That property was listed in the Union Sun & Journal," He said. "It wasn't listed in any other paper. It was listed in the Union Sun & Journal for 10 days."
"It's just ludicrous to sell something for $65,000," when it's valued at three times that. "When nobody knows it's for sale, you never know what the value could be."
Voting will take place from noon to 9 p.m. at normal school district voting places, which are:
If the sale is approved, Muscarella says he expects construction to take three to four months. "I'd love to be open by the first of the year."
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news@eastniagarapost.com
 |
The Washington Hunt building has been vacant for over a year. Lockport
City School District voters decide Tuesday whether Bob Muscarella and
Ultimate Physique can move in soon. (ENP FILE PHOTO)
|
A city business owner — and proposed buyer of the building — hopes he doesn't have deja vu at the end of the night, however.
Bob Muscarella, owner of Ultimate Physique gym on Ann Street, has offered the school district $65,000 for the former school in hopes of moving his gym there and expanding it — assuming, of course, the voters approve.
The proposed sale of the Washington Hunt building failed by a vote of 805 to 772 on May 6. District officials, however, almost immediately called for a re-vote, saying the ballot was confusing and people may not have been aware of all the facts.
One of the primary sticking points is the fact that whether the building sells for $65,000 or the official assessed value of $195,000, the district won't get any money. The total purchase price will go to the state.
A mailer by the district states that the cost of maintaining the building, which has set empty since the end of the 2012-2013 school year, is between $26,414 and $29,414.
Muscarella and supporters of the proposed sale point out that not only will the district save money by selling the building, it will make money through new taxes paid by Ultimate Physique.
"It's a win-win for everybody involved," he said. "The city gets it on the tax roll and we're going to pay taxes. The school board gets the taxes, too."
Plus, Muscarella says, if the sale is approved and he moves his gym to the new location, he'll be expanding by bringing a day center with him, something his current facility doesn't offer.
"With that separate entity coming into the city, we're bringing in eight to a dozen new jobs," he said.
The Hunt building has 30,000 square feet; Double the size of the current gym.
Muscarella says he's been out campaigning on his own behalf, going from door to door to explain the sale to district voters. He thinks the result of Tuesday's ballot initiative will be largely decided by turnout.
"We know the 800 people that voted 'no' are voting anyway because that's what they do," he said. However, having canvassed the district, he can't seem to figure out who voted against it. "I've been to those houses and I just don't know where those 800 are."
Former School Board member Joe O'Shaughnessy can be counted in the "nay" column. Hesaid he thinks the board should have asked for more money — whether or not the money goes to the district.
"Even though we wouldn't get it (directly), we actually are getting it because that money goes to to state," he said.
"That property was listed in the Union Sun & Journal," He said. "It wasn't listed in any other paper. It was listed in the Union Sun & Journal for 10 days."
"It's just ludicrous to sell something for $65,000," when it's valued at three times that. "When nobody knows it's for sale, you never know what the value could be."
Voting will take place from noon to 9 p.m. at normal school district voting places, which are:
- Ward 1 and Towns: Lockport High School, 250 Lincoln Ave.
- Ward 2: Board of Education Building, 130 Beattie Ave.
- Ward 3: Anna Merritt Elementary School, 389 Green St.
- Ward 4: Charles A. Upson Elementary School, 28 Harding Ave.
- Ward 5: Roy B. Kelley Elementary School, 610 East High St.
If the sale is approved, Muscarella says he expects construction to take three to four months. "I'd love to be open by the first of the year."
Send an email to news@eastniagarapost.com with "email update" in the subject line.
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