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Investors interested in buying Catskill jail

Jun 06, 2019 2:15 pm
Sue Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media a group of unidentified local investors is thinking about buying the existing Greene County jail building on Bridge Street, in the village of Catskill. The building consists of the sheriff's office, the jail and a carriage house. The jail facility closed last year after it was pronounced unfit for use. County officials have proposed demolishing the building, but Catskill resident Cassidy Bua wants to repurpose the property rather than tearing it down. “It is a historical building and it’s important not to tear it down without a lot of thought,” Bua said. “I’m with a group of investors who are thinking of ways the building can be utilized and benefit the community.” One of the group’s ideas is to convert the 1905 building into a criminal justice museum, Bua said. The museum would include a research center and provide vocational training, and potentially be dedicated to law enforcement dating back to the 17th century. The path ahead for the investor group has some challenges. According to Deputy Greene County Administrator Warren Hart, the property is not for sale. “The Legislature would have to decide if they are selling,” Hart said. He said the carriage house will not be demolished but, “at the least, we’re going to use it (the property) for parking,” Hart said. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.