FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Sept. 15, 2016

Contact: Jane Lerner, Director of Strategic Communications

Office of the County Executive (845) 638-5645

Same Buyer Again Submits Sole Bid for Sain Building

NEW CITY, NY – Rockland County Executive Ed Day said that one bid was received and opened today for the sale of the Sain Building.

National Development, the same company that submitted a bid six months ago, was the sole bidder. The bids were requested by the Legislature, which opened them today.

National Development, the same company that submitted a bid six months ago, was the sole bidder.

The Massachusetts-based firm had previously said it wanted to buy the county-owned building on New Hempstead Road in New City and create senior housing.

The Legislature rejected the offer and put the sale out to bid again. 

The same company today submitted a bid in the same amount: $4.51 million.

“It is very hard to understand what the Legislature achieved by playing this game except for delaying the sale, forcing the county into austerity and just about guaranteeing that Rockland will end the year with a budget deficit,” County Executive Day said. “The taxpayers of Rockland deserve better.”

Day proposed the sale of the dilapidated office building nearly one year ago when he submitted his 2015 budget proposal to the Legislature.

The legislature approved the budget, which counted on $4 million from the sale to make ends meet.

National Development in March responded to an advertisement for the sale, offering to pay $4.51 million – $510,000 above the appraised value. 

“If not for the Legislature, we could have had that money in the bank by now,” Day said. “This fiasco speaks to a continuing pattern of fiscal irresponsibly by the Legislative leadership.”

The bid received today is currently being reviewed by Rockland County Attorney Thomas Humbach. He noted that there was no down payment included with the bid as required.

The company has indicated that it does not want to comply with the terms set in the bid specifications by the Legislature.

The company said it wants to proceed according to the terms negotiated with the county in the first bid process.

Day wants to relocate county employees from the Sain Building to Building A in the Pomona complex.