Do the people of Garden City want the historic St. Paul's building preserved, or do they want it torn down? That is the real question that appears to be facing us, thanks to a few residents who filed a lawsuit against the Village to keep the Village from leasing the St. Paul's building to CareMatrix for assisted living.

*How long do you think CareMatrix will wait while a lawsuit winds its way through the courts? (Perhaps that is the real purpose of the Kenny/Rafferty lawsuit.)

*For every year St. Pual's sits empty, it is costing Garden City taxpayers more money, and the building keeps deteriorating.

*The cost to the Village to bring the St. Paul's building up to code and make it usable is estimated to be between $20 million and $30 million.

*However, CareMatrix will do this as well as restore the most important parts of the building. CareMatrix has agreed to make payments to the Village totaling $4,896,000 over 65 years (the first year's payment will be $2,271,000). CareMatrix will make payments in lieu of taxes to both the Village and the School District.

*CareMatrix wants a 49-year lease with 3 five-year renewable periods. This is not unreasonable considering their outlay of money.

*$7,250,000 was the purchase price of 48 acres of land which includes the St. Paul's building. Garden City purchased this in 1993 from the Cathedral of the Incarnation.

*When CareMatrix leases the building with 8 to 10 acres of land (in payments totaling $4,896,000), Garden City will still have at least 38 acres, plus the Field House and Cluett Hall --everything we are using right now! Just do the math -- what a fantastic investment we made!! And for the first time ever from this property, the Village and School will benefit from annual payments in lieu of taxes.

*Assisted living is the quietest and least offensive use of St. Paul's that I can imagine. It also means the historic building will still be there for us all to see and take pride in, and maybe for some of us to use as we move into the golden years.

I believe our Village trustees have acted responsibly. Let's not blow it now! If you want St. Paul's building to have a future, let your trustees know now. Don't let a small minority of people be responsible for the demise of our historical St. Paul's building.

Jerie Newman