Any former employees at Hillside that can give some insight into the condition of the buildings?
Rumor is that there was a problem with drinking water in some of the buildings and that Hillside was bringing in bottled water for drinking and cooking.

Were the buildings maintained so that they can be reused?

Also, anyone know what Earl Martin is planning? He got it for $65,000, but the property was described as:

This site consists of fifteen (15) buildings, several large paved parking lots, paved access roads, a pool, and large landscaped lawns. The buildings, which were mostly constructed by the US Army during the 50 consist of residence halls, cafeterias, theatre, warehouses, classrooms, offices, and a gymnasium/recreational center

Hearing a bit more. Something about campgrounds, camping in the bunkers, playground for campers, move White Deer Tours to the Northeast Corner of the Depot (near the ponds and the Audubon Birding Area?), offices for Seneca Dairy Systems and Seneca Iron Works.

If that's the plan, why do they need the buildings? Don't they already have 7,000 acres? Will they have to demolish the buildings?

And what is the attraction for a campground so far from the lake or any recreation?

Have talked to a lot of people from seneca county, not one of them knew hillside land and buildings were for sale. Would it have been much trouble to put a sign up at entrance? THIS PROPERTY FOR SALE by sealed bid, on a piece of plywood! something seems fishy with only one bid!

More info:

The appraiser hired by the IDA appraised the property at $350,000.

Which raises more questions about why the IDA accepted a bid of $65,000. How many jobs did Earl say it would create?

Which makes perfect sense that Seneca County would sell it for $65,000.

I hear that the IDA and the White Deer Park/Earl Martin are refusing to dislose the planned use of the Hillside area.

This land belongs to the public for public use. Claiming the purpose is a true secret is BS.

whatever became of the road being reopened thru the depot that was a selling point for Mr. Martin? Haven't seen it happen yet!

Last thing I saw was in the plan for the galvanizing plant. To meet traffic limits for trucks entering and leaving the plant, in the hamlet of Romulus, Martin is claiming that the trucks will use the entrance on 96 A, but that it will remain a private road.

We'll see how this works.

Boy, is it a challenge to share the IDA documents with you.

IDA All Approvals Page

Then you have to select the "Sale of Hillside Property"

Then you have to select and open each documemt. (Phew, this is not easy and they are not chronological nor are the dates in the titles, so you need to look at them all. And there are some obvious documents, like the application, that are not on the website.)

RFP for Sale

Appreciate Trout, Kime and Shipley for their lack of participation.

Maybe it didn't meet their stink test?

This line, in the letter to the Governor for approval of the sale has me confused.

The public was told that Earl Martin was the only bidder.

But the IDA is now telling the Governor:

Justification for Disposing of the Property by Negotiation: The IDA engaged in a modified bid process in the disposal of the Property. In order to appropriately accommodate the needs of the IDA to relieve itself of the burden of the asset while advancing to the extent possible the IDA's economic development mission, it was necessary for the IDA to negotiate the final terms of the transfer, rather than accepting any particular bid outright. The disposition of the Property is within the purpose, mission and governing statute of the IDA and is thereby exempted from requirements to publicly advertise for bids and obtain fair market value pursuant to Public Authorities Law Section 2897(6)(c)(v) and 2897(7)(ii)

Sounds like they rushed to dump the property ASAP. Why?

If I recall correctly, Martin was sold the land ,(the original 7000 acres +/- even though he was not the highest bidder, because the IDA thought his use plan for the land was the better of other bidders. I thought it included the reopening of a road from 96 to 96A. Did his original plan include a galvanizing plant? Was the proposed incinerator building going on his property? Was that in the sale use plan? Just asking! this hillside deal smells fishy from a long ways away.

The Incinerator was going in on the old warehouse area owned by Flaum Management.

Martin's plan talked about moving his Seneca Iron Works to the Depot, but never mentioned a galvanizing plant. I have to believe that that info was shared with the IDA before the sale.

Before the IDA can finalize the sale to Earl Martin at less than Fair Market Value, the law requires a 90 Day notice to the State justifying the sale for less than Fair Market Value. The IDA just posted their notice:

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5...llside+Sale.pdf

The improvements to the Property consist of fifteen structures. Nine of the buildings were constructed in the 1940's and 1950's while the remaining six structures were constructed in the 1970's or 1980's. The buildings consist of dormitories, classroom (school) facilities, a gymnasium, administration buildings, a pool, and an on-site sewage treatment plant . All structures are considered in poor condition and functionally obsolete and would require substantial repairs and/or renovations to make them usable. Moreover, the buildings contain significant amounts of asbestos and lead based paint that would need to be remediated as part of any reconditioning. Finally, the wastewater treatment plant servicing the facility is in the process of being decommissioned and shut down by Seneca County, leaving the property without any functioning sanitary sewer infrastructure, such that a new on-site septic system would need to be installed to service any improvements to the property. In short, the Property requires a substantial investment to be restored to a functional level of use, and just maintaining the property in its current condition requires substantial resources that the IDA does not have. As such, the IDA has prioritized transferring the Property to a private party for repurposing.
As part of its economic development mission, the IDA publicly solicited bid proposals to purchase the property. Bidders were instructed to include in their bid proposals their plans for reuse of the Property. The IDA received one complete bid proposal from Earl Martin of Deer Haven Park. The IDA's Governance Committee reviewed the bid, and considered the nat ure, potential economic impact, feasibility and likelihood of success of the redevelopment proposals in the bid, as well as the necessity for the IDA to divest itself of the Property.

The IDA ultimately determined to approve the bid submitted by Earl Martin. The IDA concluded that Martin's bid met all of its requirements and conditions of sale, and included a sufficient redevelopment proposal that include a mix of tourism and other redevelopment opportunities .

Earl owns the Rd I was told, neither Towns of Romulus or Varick want to maintain the Road because of the cost.

WRONG----------

And what exactly is wrong?

Article on the Depot Sale to Refresh Governer's Recollection

I thought so seeing eye! No road yet, Not keeping his word, but got the land.