Published: December 04, 2007 01:51 am            

LOCKPORT: Sale of county land to Christian school in the works

Closing on the sale of county property to Christian Academy of Western New York is anticipated next spring, the school’s administrator said last week.

Earlier this year the Niagara County Legislature OK’d the sale of 16.5 acres on Davison Road, including the former county infirmary, to CAWNY for $375,000. The school originally aimed to take possession in time for the 2007-08 school year, but that didn’t pan out.

Since the sale was OK’d, the county has done some physical work to make the property ready for a title transfer, including removal of an underground storage tank.

The buyer and seller have signed a contract, and the sale is still in the works, according to Public Works chief Kevin O’Brien.

“Everything is moving along,” he said. “We’ll be ready (to transfer) the title as soon as they’re ready to take it.”

CAWNY will not be taking over the nearby baseball fields or an old cemetery associated with the infirmary. Still unknown is whether CAWNY will allow Mercy Flight to continue using a section for landings once it takes over the property.

A closing date of April 2008 is anticipated, CAWNY administrator Patricia Poeller said.

The school still has to win site plan approvals and zoning variances from the city and town of Lockport and raise money to make the move from its current leased site, 120 Main St. The sale is contingent on those things, Poeller said.

        

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