The Orange County Legislature inked its final deal with Mountco Construction Co. of Scarsdale to buy the 260-acre parcel that formerly housed 1,100 homeless men in the town of Chester. Camp LaGuardia was bought by the county two years ago for $8.5 million, with several developers vying for development rights.
Mountco proposed a mixed-use development of single-family homes, a walkable town center with stores and living quarters above them, an affordable housing component and enough space to open a satellite for Mount St. Mary College of Newburgh.
According to the terms of the agreement finalized on Friday, April 3, Mountco will pay the county between a minimum of $9.5 to a maximum of $12 million. The final sales price will be determined by the amount of land available for construction of Mountco”™s project. Â
Some legislators balked at Mountco”™s $100,000 down payment until its plans are finalized and approved. If the process takes longer, another $100,000 will be given to Orange County. Long-time Legislator Alan Seidman, R-Salisbury Mills, called the agreement between the company’s owner, Joel Mounty, and the county “reasonable,” saying the developer must plan and get approvals from the towns of Chester and Blooming Grove, as well as the village of Chester, which has a sliver of the property and also supplies its water.
The camp, which had been in existence since the 1950s, was a constant source of irritation for police, homeowners and local businesses. Since the departure of Camp LaGuardia”™s residents and its accompanying problems, the downtown section of the village of Chester has blossomed into a destination for shoppers and families.
