The village received a total of six responses to its St. Paul's Request For Proposal (RFP), according to Trustee John Mauk, chair of the trustees' Committee on St. Paul's. The responses were due back Oct. 5.

The committee will take its time evaluating the proposals before beginning an interview process with the leading candidates. The committee is expected to make a recommendation to the full board in early November, at which time the board will determine what direction it wants to go in.

Because it is a negotiated selection process, according to Trustee Mauk, the names of those who did respond are not being released at this time. "We could reveal those who responded but it really puts the village at a disadvantage."

It became clear, however, that a public vote is not taking place prior to trustees making the final decision on the historic St. Paul's Main Building. Mayor Gerard Lundquist explained that the decision does not require a public vote but did add that there will be "some kind of an opinion survey."

Trustee Thomas Lamberti added that the single goal is to get the facts out. "There is no single magical way we can do this that will be perfect ... No matter what we do, it must be fair."

Kathy Cavanaugh of Cathedral Avenue, who asked the question, was quite aggravated, telling trustees, "I live in America - one person, one vote. I feel I'm mature enough to make my vote count."

According to Village Counsel Gary Fishberg, section 9-900 of New York State Village Law states, in short, that if referendums are not specifically called for in state law, then they are prohibited. Therefore any expenditure of money for such a prohibited action is also prohibited and illegal.

Rachel Cashwell, a member of Families for St. Paul's who recently brought information about the building - through a picture collage - to residents at the soccer fields in September, told trustees that the newly formed organization has collected 340 signatures thus far in support of public use of St. Paul's.

"We made a big effort to really listen to people that are out there, especially people with young children, families that are planning to be here for a very long time and are willing to brunt some of the cost of it for a very long time ... In addition to comments we've received from villagers, I do want to share with you that so many people who have participated in travel soccer, people from other towns, have come up to see our pictures of St. Paul's and have asked about the issue. I must tell you that over and over and over again, people from other villages are amazed that an affluent town like Garden City would ever sell land in the heart of their town..."

Cashwell urged trustees to really listen to the voice of the people. "I don't see any effort at this point from the board to listen to the public and listen to the villagers," she said.

Trustee Robert Rothschild took umbrage to Cashwell's comments. "I think you're barking up the wrong tree. I can sit here and tell you how many people I've spoken to but I know that doesn't matter to some people. We as trustees are required to get the feeling of everybody ... I take umbrage with you telling us that we haven't spoken to people ... How many people, do you think, have told me, 'If you guys think of spending a nickel on that building, you're crazy.'"

The RFPs were sent out in July. As envisioned in the RFP, developers would assume all the costs of renovating the school in exchange for the opportunity to build upscale residences that would also generate significant annual tax revenues for the village and the school district, according to village officials.

"We have been trying to save this beautiful structure that is St. Paul's and put it to a productive use for 13 years," Trustee Mauk said, "and it's critically important that we do this job thoroughly and with great care and deliberation."

If the trustees agree on one or more finalists, Mayor Gerard Lundquist said the board will widely disseminate information about the selected proposal to the public and will seek community input before a final decision is made.

Although village trustees at this time are not releasing the names of those who responded to the RFP, the Committee to Save St. Paul's, one group who did submit a proposal, is sharing the details of its idea with Garden City Life this week:

"After many years of listening to and speaking with residents about the present and future needs in the Village of Garden City, the Committee to Save St. Paul's has responded to the village RFP with a practical and achievable solution for development of the Historic St. Paul's Main Building as a combination of Community Center, Senior Center and residential apartments targeted to seniors. This compromise solution preserves the historic integrity of St. Paul's and provides community space for all village residents at an extremely reasonable cost to taxpayers.

"While ensuring continued public use of a significant portion of the building and accommodating the growing senior population, the committee's mixed-use proposal calls for the establishment of a 'partnership' consisting of the private sector, the nonprofit community and the village. The committee, under its St. Paul's Conservancy nonprofit standing, would operate as an essential member/partner, allowing the entity to take advantage of federal and New York State rehabilitation tax credits. It's the committee's belief that a number of public and private funding and grant programs for historic properties give higher priority and preference to nonprofit sponsors. This organizational structure allows the village to maintain its ownership of the entire property, control the use of the building and preserve a priceless legacy for future generations of Garden City residents.

"By blending the municipal and nonprofit sectors with private commercial development, under the committee's proposal, the 'average home' in Garden City would be responsible for an additional $100 in village taxes per year, while receiving the genuine benefit of public use of a village icon, built in memory of founder Alexander Turney Stewart, some 125 years ago.

"Most important, the committee believes that our proposal is the only one that has a chance of gaining the support of a large majority of village residents and their state legislators to secure the necessary special home rule legislation and relief from parkland designation, which now restrict the disposition of the property to public use only. This solution represents the only real hope of protecting this historic monument from the wrecker's ball."

"The Committee to Save St. Paul's proposal meets the village RFP criteria, which calls for development within the footprint of the historic Main Building, and contains no new construction for housing on the site. The demolition of Ellis Hall provides for comparable square footage in the rear of the building to accommodate parking.

"The committee's development proposal includes approximately 62 upscale, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, ranging in size from 500 to 1,600 square feet. The rental units will reflect the unique character and charm of a special historic building like St. Paul's, and will be marketed to Garden City seniors. This focus addresses a major demographic shift within our community, the growing need among the village's own population of empty-nesters.

"By selecting rental housing over condominiums, the development can avail itself of rehabilitation tax credits, which provide an important source of financing. The other clear benefit of rental housing is the 'ground lease' arrangement, which allows the village and its residents to retain ownership and control over the property in perpetuity.

"The committee's proposal includes approximately 19,000 square feet for community use in the west wing and the southwest section of the first floor, the corresponding space below on the ground level, the area under the chapel and the chapel. A new Senior Center sketched out in the proposal provides considerably more space for senior activities than the village's two existing facilities. Located in the West Wing of the first floor, this center can bring opportunities for residents to enjoy activities in one of the more beautiful areas of the building.

"Remaining space, dedicated for public use, also includes the original dining room located under the chapel, and the chapel, which has great appeal to residents and incorporates such grand detail and wonderful potential for use, such as a site for banquets, concerts, receptions, recitals and other events.

"As a result of conversations with developers in recent weeks, the committee believes that its proposal provides what might be the largest devotion of space in prime areas of the historic building for resident use, including access through the main entranceway. The overall 'community area' can be used to meet the demand for meeting and gathering space that has been detailed at length in previous community surveys."

"The committee's project architect and development consultant were recommended by the Preservation League of New York State, a statewide nonprofit organization that promotes historic preservation.

"Stephen Tilly, architect, located in Dobbs Ferry, specializes in well-designed, finely crafted public, institutional, commercial and residential projects. Their expertise covers a wide range of property types - libraries, mixed-use development and housing.

"The firm has conducted historic structure and landscape studies and prepared drawings and specifications for historic properties working with local, state and federal agencies. In Irvington, NY, the firm shaped the political and development process for recycling an historic factory and office complex into a mixed-use building containing a new public library with 22 units of housing. The project received numerous honors from organizations, such as the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, the Preservation League of New York State and the American Institute of Architects. Current projects include the restoration of A.J. Davis' Swiss Factory Lodge and the revival of three 19th century worker houses and association landscape at Historic Hudson Valley's Montgomery Place.

"Development consultant Murray Gould, founder of Port City Preservation LLC, provides services on a wide range of adaptive reuse and rehabilitation initiatives, and has a proven track record in utilizing creative and innovative financing opportunities. Prior to founding his firm in 1995, Gould served as chief tax executive for a number of investor-owned electric utilities, including the Long Island Lighting Company. Gould has been involved in numerous successful historic restoration and adaptive reuse projects primarily in North Carolina and upstate New York. He is currently working on a $10 million adaptive reuse project for the Oswego Public Library.

"The Committee to Save St. Paul's is also tapping the resources of Richard Chirls, Esq., one of the country's foremost authorities on the tax aspects of public finance transactions."

"The Committee to Save St. Paul's proposal represents the best opportunity for the village and its residents to preserve the historic Main Building at St. Paul's, maintain public ownership and control and continue a legacy to current and future residents that protects our property values and maintains the unique residential quality of our village. Moreover, it has the best chance of successfully galvanizing the community support needed to obtain crucial state legislative approval.

"Peter Negri, former trustee and president of the Committee to Save St. Paul's, comments: 'The committee feels it has been responsive to the community in its proposal to redevelop St. Paul's. We hope residents agree. And if so, we urge you to write or call your trustees and Senator Kemp Hannon to offer your support for the committee's proposal. For those who want to know more, please keep your eyes out for community presentations of the committee's proposal. Over the next several weeks, we hope to reach out to as many of you as we can.'"