SUNY seeks Washington County sign-off to list Sanford Street lot for sale

SUNY representatives told Washington County supervisors Wednesday they would like county approval to sell a parcel on Sanford Street in Glens Falls that the college received from a benefactor in 1980.

At a personnel/administrative briefing, a SUNY spokesperson said the 3.5-acre parcel has not been used for at least a decade and has become a maintenance liability. The college said it is legally required to list the property at appraised value; a 2023 appraisal set a market estimate near $100,000 after reviewing comparable vacant lots. “We are legally required to list it at the appraised value,” the SUNY representative said, and asked the county for a resolution that would allow the sale to proceed and give the counties an interest in the transfer.

County supervisors asked how sale proceeds would be used; the representative said funds would be unrestricted if the college sells the lot. Supervisors also noted a prior attempt to swap the parcel with the city of Glens Falls for parking, but said the swap discussions fell through. A motion to send the resolution to the full board was made and the committee recorded unanimous voice support to forward the item to the board for final action.

SUNY officials said the college had tried to keep the property tidy but that continuing upkeep without program use made the parcel a liability. The college advised it will follow required public-scoped listing procedures and reduce the asking price only with documented justification. After the committee vote, staff said the item will be placed on the full board agenda with the resolution packet for final approval.