Community reacts to sale of St. Rose campus

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – We first told you the Pine Hills Land Authority won the auction for the College of Saint Rose campus on Thursday with a $35 million bid. On Friday, elected officials and residents shared their thoughts on the sale. 

County and city officials, as well as community members, said the Pine Hills Land Authority winning that bid Thursday was the best possible outcome for the College of Saint Rose campus.

Former president of the college Marcia White attended the auction on Thursday at the Cullen and Dykman Law Offices, where 14 bidders had hoped to acquire parcels of the Saint Rose property.

But it was the Pine Hills Land Authority that acquired the whole campus. Albany County Executive Dan McCoy worked with the state to establish the authority.

“Everyone’s excited. I think I’m the only nervous one in the room. We put a bid in of $35 million. They accepted. It’s nerve-wracking,” said McCoy. “This is a big venture. One of the biggest ones I’ve taken on as County Executive.” 

Albany County Legislator, representing the Pine Hills neighborhood, Beroro Efekoro said this is a step in the right direction and residents want to see it remain a vibrant community.

“That is why all members of this community are very involved in the neighborhood association,” said Efekoro.

Roslyn Jefferson is the Chair of the Saint Rose Subcommittee with the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association. She wants residents to be involved.

“We would really like for there to be a process where neighborhood people get to voice their opinions, so surveys,” said Jefferson. 

She said she was screaming with joy when she heard the news because they had been working tirelessly, advocating for the community. She described what she would love to see happen on the campus.

“To have multigenerational activities and opportunities for residents throughout the city of the county,” said Jerfferson.

On Tuesday McCoy said they’ll be talking to stakeholders to facilitate next steps and selling off parcels of the property. 

“We are going to be talking to everyone who bid today. We have other people who are interested,” said McCoy. He describes what people can expect to see. 

“Probably you’re going to be looking at putting restaurants in there, probably wedding venues and different things. And obviously with my Parks Department, it falls in line to take over the gym, the swimming pool and all of that facility there,” said McCoy. “We can open up lifeguard training.”

Albany Common Council member and owner of Madison Theatre Owusu Anane is thrilled.

“I believe in this neighborhood. I love this neighborhood. I care about this neighborhood. And the people who live in this neighborhood are resilient and they look out for one another no matter what challenge that comes in front of us. We will come out stronger and better because we rely on each other‘s success,” said Anane. 

He was overjoyed when he learned the authority won the bid. He gave a big thanks to Assembly Members Patricia Fahy and John McDonald, Senator Neil Breslin, and McCoy.

“This is a prime example of what happens when the community works with government, the community is ultimately going to win. And that’s what we plan on doing. This is many different levels of government all coming together to say we are going to save the Pine Hills neighborhood,” said Anane. 

Anane and Efekoro both said, this is only the beginning. The Pine Hills Land Authority will be meeting soon to discuss next steps.

“This is the first of its kind in the state of New york, and hopefully it all works out and it's a model for the rest of the state when this happens and across the country. Cause as far as we can tell we are the first county to do what we’re doing,” said McCoy.