On March 4, Beacon residents will be asked to vote on whether or not to give the Beacon City School District permission to sell the old high school building - again. The building reverted back to the school district at the end of 2006 after the BCF filed for bankruptcy. An affirmative vote by the residents will allow the district to entertain any potential offers to purchase the property. Word has it that there have been parties interested in acquiring the building, but I don't know if there is a current offer on the table. Last week the Poughkeepsie Journal announced the upcoming vote and stated that proceeds from an eventual sale, after expenses, will be used to reduce the tax levy.
Residents can vote on the sale of the old Beacon High School from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. March 4. Polls will be at Beacon High School, Glenham Elementary School, Chelsea Firehouse and the district bus garage. The school district covers the City of Beacon and portions of the towns of Fishkill and Wappinger. Call 845-838-6900 ext. 2017.
In June 2002, voters approved the sale of the high school to Terminal Associates for the creation of the Decorative Arts and Design Institute. Plans for that project never came to fruition, and eventually, under the management of the Beacon Cultural Foundation, the building was opened as artist studios in 2003.
Update: On March 5th, the Poughkeepsie Journal reported the vote results: 496 to 41 to allow the BCSD to sell the building.
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