The Newburgh City Council is unsure what they would do with the New York State Armory on South William Street if they get it, but they promise they’ll find good use for it if offered.

The City Council Monday night voted 5-0 to authorize City Manager Rick Herbek to apply to the State of New York Office of General Services for the transfer and conveyance of the Armory to the City of Newburgh.

The state is seeking to unload all of its 12 armory sites in an effort to relieve itself of unnecessary upkeep costs.

Members of the council were advised that they won’t be able to turn a profit on the Armory, which dates to 1932, as a Newburgh landmark. The Armory was built for a cavalry unit of the New York National Guard. It’s a sprawling brick complex consisting of a two-story, flat-roofed administration building, a story-and-a-half gabled administration building, a large barrel-vaulted drill shed, a tack room wing and a stable wing.

All in all, it totals 69,000 square feet of space. The drill shed is the size of a full soccer field, Mayor Nick Valentine told the council Monday night. It reportedly is so large that it hosted a circus on more than one occasion.

Acting City Manager Rick Herbek said that during a walk-through of the property, he was “amazed at the size” and got him thinking about possible uses for the city.
State agencies would have first call on the facility if they wish, Herbek said, but none have shown any interest. The City of Newburgh would have next call, he said, saying he could see a lot of possibilities.

But, he stressed, the City doesn’t want to buy a problem. There could be environmental issues. He suggested the City tread slowly.

“If the City wants to move an operation there, it would involve a considerable amount of money, but we think it is worth pursuing.”

Consolidating City operations in one location makes a lot of sense, he said. Moving the City’s Department of Public Works there would open the opportunities for the Dupont site, he reminded the council.

Curlie Dillard, the newest member of the council, asked if there was a chance to get the land back on the tax base if developed by an outside developer.

Other members of the council, Marge Bell for one, expressed interest in pursuing the Armory site, even if the City could not profit from the move.

Herbek was instructed to make the necessary application for the site, which will buy the City some time to investigate possible uses for the property.

By ALLAN GAUL
agaul@tcnewspapers.com