Cathedral of the Incarnation Chancellor Frederick Reuss, Esq. sent a message to all members of the congregation, via the church's periodical The Cathedral Message, stating that the Chapter of the Cathedral has reached an agreement to sell the historic St. Mary's property to a corporation which will use the property to build new homes. With the demolition of the large brownstone and brick building, located east of Cathedral Avenue between 4th and 5th Streets in the Central section of the Village, will come an end to the bankruptcy suffered by the Cathedral. Zoning considerations will be likely be brought to the Village within the next year as the Cathedral is currently completing the sale process.

The Chancellor stated in his letter that, "This is a totally positive step. It's completion -- and that may take as much as a year or more -- is of such meaning to us all that we thought you should know at the earliest possible date." He added, "In a few weeks, after the signing of formal contracts, I am certain that all details of the transaction will be made available to you. Until then, please don't expect me or anyone to say more." He also asked the congregation to, "Please pray for the Chapter, the Treasurer and the Chancellor-- that their good work may bear fruit."

St. Mary's School, a preparatory academy for girls, existed prior to the construction of the facility under discussion now. The structure between 5th and 4th that stands there now was built in 1892 and was constructed by James L'Hommedieu, using plans drawn by E.H. Harris. The building housed the girls with dormitory rooms and served as a counterpart to the St. Paul's school for boys.

When the church was forced to declare bankruptcy, the St. Paul's property was eventually sold to the Village of Garden City to preserve the historic building and to help alleviate some of the financial strain on the church. St. Mary's has remained in a state of limbo all this time as the committee, consisting of the Treasurer and the Chancellor, sought a buyer for the land.

In the July 31,1997 issue of Garden City Life the news of a court case involving the property was announced. Justice F. Dana Winslow of the Supreme Court of Nassau County decided in favor of the Cathedral in its case against The Garden City Company which prevented them during the duration of the court proceedings from selling the land which the Cathedral planned to sell off in compliance with bankruptcy court's earlier ruling. The Garden City Company, successor-in-interest of the estate left by Cornelia Clinch Stewart, argued that a deed of 1893 entitled them to compensation should the Cathedral sell any of its properties, which they claimed as theirs. The judge declared in his Memorandum Decision that, "The deed contains no specific provision for any right of reverter or any obligation to reconvey or surrender the land."

With the conclusion of the legal case, the Cathedral was able to conduct a search for a buyer and sell the property. By this time next year or the year after, the Cathedral School of St. Mary's will have been replaced with a small development of new houses. Some residents have expressed a great regret and sadness to see the historic structure lost, but others say they know of no other way to bring an end to the Cathedral's long financial problems and welcome the new homes and new families that will become a part of the Garden City community.