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Board debates options to save Geismund House as owner seeks demolition
Summary
At a June meeting the Greenburgh Historic Landmarks and Preservation Board discussed demolition, sale or lease options for the dilapidated Geismund House on an 11+-acre lot, requested deeds and remediation estimates, and asked staff and counsel to draft outreach to municipal and state officials to explore designation and funding.
The Greenburgh Historic Landmarks and Preservation Board spent the bulk of its June meeting weighing how to respond to an application that would demolish the Geismund House, a large, historic residence located on an 11-plus-acre parcel that also hosts an assisted-living facility.
Staff told the board that attorneys for the applicant had exchanged documents and that counsel had asked for a copy of the deed. "I provided you with my analysis of the proposed lease terms," said Mister Lieberman, the board's legal counsel, noting technical inconsistencies and that some grant programs the board has used in the past required town ownership. He added that the applicant's attorney had not ruled out a sale or transfer to the town.
Board members described multiple possible tracks: pursue a lease or lease-to-own arrangement, explore purchase by the town or another public entity, or push for historic designation so the building could be eligible for grant funding. "I don't wanna see that building go down — there's too much history in it," said a committee member who urged rehabilitation rather than demolition.
The applicant's representative acknowledged the property's deteriorated condition and the difficulty of immediate repair. Counsel for the applicant noted that some deed restrictions in the property's chain of title included dated language limiting certain uses next to religious occupants; he also cautioned that a town purchase would require approvals from the Charities Bureau and potentially a court process because the owner is a charitable organization.
The board asked the applicant's team to provide an independent appraisal, the deed, and documentation of any remediation estimates. Participants referenced a previously circulated remediation cost estimate in the "$3 million to $4.2 million" range; the applicant's attorney said a 3–5 million figure had been shared earlier and agreed to recirculate the estimate for the board's review.
The board did not take a final vote on demolition. Instead members asked staff and counsel to prepare documentation and to contact municipal, county and state officials about potential designation and funding avenues before deciding next steps.
