As a service to residents who may not be fully aware of the history of St. Paul's School and the twists and turns in the 13-year saga to find a use for the historic building, the Committee to Save St. Paul's has established a website, www.savestpauls.org, that compiles this information. Visitors to the site can review a wealth of data - from Cornelia Stewart's commission to build the High Victorian Gothic St. Paul's School building to reflect her husband's vision of a "planned community" to the Village of Garden City's recent issuance of RFPs (Requests for Proposal) to developers to convert the building into high-end condos.

In addition to background and history, the site's "News" page contains an article, "Committee to Save St. Paul's Conducts Tour," dated June 6, 2006, in which two consultants hired by the committee discuss what they saw when they stepped back in time and walked the halls of St. Paul's School.

Stephen Tilly, an architect specializing in historic preservation, noted that he was "impressed with how well the building is withstanding the onslaught of the elements." The Committee to Save St. Paul's second expert is Murray Gould, who heads his own real estate development and consulting firm that specializes in redevelopment of historic properties. Together, these consultants are working with the committee to prepare a solution for the St. Paul's dilemma and submit a proposal to the village by the RFP deadline, Oct. 5.

Photographs on this page give residents an opportunity to see the historic building's English Minton floor tiles that date back to the late 1800s, the rich, wood paneling that lines the hallways, the chapel with its famed stained glass windows and the façade, which proudly displays the building's dedication to Garden City's founder, Alexander Turney Stewart.

As part of its ongoing dialogue about St. Paul's, the committee has heard from many residents who clearly point out the need for public space in the village to service group meeting and recreational purposes. In June and again in July, the committee hosted informational sessions with small groups of residents who represent various organizations or constituencies in the village. At the first meeting, the committee's consultants gave a report to residents on their assessment of the building and views for its rehabilitation. In July, residents stepped forward with ideas for further awareness projects that will broaden people's knowledge about the historic building, its preservation and development as a mixed use property with private commercial use offsetting public community space. While these meetings were made possible through the generosity of the committee's secretary, Tom Poole, interested residents, organization leaders and supporters are encouraged to contact the committee (see below) to arrange for similar small, informal outreach sessions that they might host. Members of the committee's executive board will attend, give a presentation and answer questions.

Visit www.savestpauls.org often. The committee intends this to be a living site, with new information added as the committee approaches a busy fall season in Garden City and the deadline for submission of proposals to the village. Remember: the website - "savestpauls" - has no spaces, no periods and no apostrophe in its name.

If residents wish to contact the Committee to Save St. Paul's to ask about membership, arrange a small group information session or make a donation to defray the cost of consultants, contact the Committee's Administrative and Communications Director, Maureen Traxler, at info@savestpauls.org or by phone at 319-1906.

The Committee to Save St. Paul's is convinced that there is a solution that can save this piece of village heritage for residents, their children and grandchildren. Committee members are dedicated to finding that solution and making it a reality.