For More Information Contact:
Public Information Officer Poughkeepsie City School District (845) 451-4900 ext. 4974 igoldberg@poughkeepsieschools.org
Poughkeepsie, NY Dutchess County Government and the Poughkeepsie City School District (PCSD) have begun discussions about the district possibly purchasing the 26 Oakley Street property in the City of Poughkeepsie, currently owned by the County. County Executive William F.X. O’Neil and District Superintendent Eric Jay Rosser have had preliminary talks about the building, which the County purchased last year.
Dutchess County purchased the Oakley Street property with the intention of using the building as its new Emergency Housing Facility, the cornerstone of a new evidence-based emergency housing model. In addition to supplying those experiencing homelessness with emergency shelter, the facility would provide thorough wrap-around services for these individuals – all under one roof where they reside.
Ongoing challenges, including community opposition and pending litigation, high costs to meet zoning and state requirements, as well as substantial community benefit payment requests from the City Council, have forced the County to reconsider this location. The County is now looking at other options for the property, including possible sale to the PCSD.
County Executive O’Neil said, “The high costs and challenges relating to creation of our Emergency Housing Facility have made 26 Oakley Street a less viable option for the County. However, we do have other alternatives for the site, including possible sale to the Poughkeepsie City School District. Dr. Rosser and I have began talks, and shortly we should have a final decision about this option.”
PCSD has been engaged in a search for space to house the district’s administrative offices since 2019. The district had previously been interested in the 26 Oakley Street property, going as far as putting in an initial purchase offer, however the County was already under contract to buy the property.
For the last several weeks, PCSD has been discussing this potential purchase and working with County officials to evaluate if this property will meet the requirements of the New York State Department of Education. In the event the district moved to purchase the property, there would be no tax impact on the city’s taxpayers nor would it take away from student programming. Funds to purchase the property will come from a Capital Reserve account that was developed with insurance proceeds from damaged administrative offices. A public referendum vote would be required and would be scheduled to align with the annual school district budget vote held in May.
“Our efforts to identify a permanent administrative building and vacate Columbus Elementary School will provide opportunity for the district to explore a more child-centered use for the building. We recognize that as the resurgence of the City of Poughkeepsie continues, the Poughkeepsie City School District has to continue to transform itself to compliment the transformation underway throughout the city,” Dr. Rosser said.
As the County considers its options for use of the Oakley Street property, the search for a permanent location for the Emergency Housing Facility will be reopened. In the meantime, the current location in the PODs on North Hamilton Street will continue to be used on a temporary basis. The County will, however, be able to implement the programming and services to stay on target for implementing its new model in 2023 by utilizing space in the current jail facility as it is decommissioned and vacant this summer. The former jail space will also be evaluated to potentially replace the PODS as better temporary housing to utilize as the County continues its search for the permanent Emergency Housing Facility location.
