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Herkimer County members approve contract step toward purchase of former Village of Purple school
Summary
Members voted to authorize a contract related to acquiring a former school building in the Village of Purple; appraisal and a Phase 1 environmental review are pending and staff said the transfer likely will take 90–120 days.
Herkimer County members voted to approve a contract related to the potential purchase and sale of a former school building in the Village of Purple, a county representative said during the meeting. The action clears a procedural step while the county awaits an appraisal and a Phase 1 environmental assessment.
The purchase and sale contract before the meeting was described as carrying no direct purchase cost to the county. Speaker 3, an unnamed meeting participant, said the Village of Purple held a public hearing and “they declared negative declaration on that.” Speaker 3 also told members the county previously paid its attorney, Hodgkin Russ, “to support this project up to $10,000.”
County staff said an appraisal is under way. “We have an appraisal going on right now on the property,” Speaker 3 said, and added they expected the appraisal “shortly.” Staff estimated the overall transaction timeline — including any buyer-led due diligence and required environmental review — at roughly 90 to 120 days.
Why it matters: The parcel is being marketed for redevelopment and county officials noted developer interest. Speaker 3 said the property is in good condition and that the county will consider sale terms after appraisal results and any Phase 1 findings. The meeting record shows members voted to proceed with the contract step; individual roll-call votes were not specified in the transcript.
Supporting details: Speaker 3 said developers were “very interested in moving forward,” and the county plans further meetings to set a purchase price after receiving the appraisal. The speaker also said the county had already paid legal support to advance the matter through “article 19 b” (as stated in the meeting) and that the county will expect the purchaser to complete a Phase 1 environmental review before closing. The speaker noted potential funding sources that might help cleanup or redevelopment, including possible EPA funds and New York State programs aimed at commercial redevelopment for housing, though no specific program award was reported.
Next steps: County staff will circulate the appraisal when available and return to the membership to discuss sale price and any conditions the county requires before completing a transfer. The transcript did not specify a calendar date for the next meeting on this item.
