PINE PLAINS— After an exhaustive search for qualified buyers, the town happily announced that the old library building has been sold. New Pine Plains resident Matthew Brimer purchased the South Main Street (Route 82) site for an agreed upon price of $140,000.
The property was originally acquired by the town on or around Sept. 3, 1974. Shortly thereafter, the Pine Plains Free Library moved in. There it remained until a new library building was constructed across the street specifically for that purpose. The library finally moved in to its new abode in 2016, after being delayed for years due to a legal back and forth.
At that time, explained town Supervisor Darrah Cloud at the Thursday, April 18, Town Board meeting where she shared the news, “the property was no long being utilized by the library or for other municipal purposes.”
In June, 2018, the town decided to place the old library building on the market, and set a minimum bid price of $125,000. It received and reviewed several bids, but selected Brimer’s as the most acceptable.
The town had considered selling the old library at auction, but opted to open the process up to bidders instead. It also used Steed Real Estate in Millerton to try to attract buyers.
The purchaser was represented in the sale by Paula Redmond Real Estate, for a 3% commission, which the town will pay. The town’s Realtor, Steed Real Estate, waived its commission on the sale.
The Town Board had to approve the sale, which it did at last week’s meeting with a unanimous vote. The only contingency was a review of the zoning by the purchaser, which has been completed. The closing is set to occur 30 days after the contracts are fully executed, which the town supervisor and attorney to the town are both authorized to complete. The building is being sold “as is,” according to Cloud.
According to Attorney to the Town Warren Replansky, a legal notice must be prepared to be published (in this newspaper) to make the sale subject to a permissive referendum, which must be done in writing within 30 days. Doing so is required by law.
“It can’t sell until then,” he said about the protocol, adding he was not going to go into details. “I don’t want to give instructions on how to do it.”
After such a lengthy hunt for a buyer, the board and the public both laughed appreciatively.
The sale was deemed to be a Type II action and not subject to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) process, according to the supervisor.
The property offers a main floor space zoned for retail — formerly occupied by the library — and a second floor apartment zoned for residential.
A library representative was at the Town Board meeting. She expressed her feelings on the library’s behalf.
“We are just so excited,” she said. “They are looking to do a thoughtful restoration with a residence upstairs and community-minded retail on the main floor.”
All of the board members around the table expressed their pleasure that the building has been sold.
Pay Bill for Robin Starr’s service in the Continental Army.Courtesy the Alex Breanne Corporation
John Mills speaking at Quinnipiac University.Courtesy the Alex Breanne Corporation
Stephanie Saetta,with her rescue dog George and Blue (left), a shepherd mix awaiting his forever home.Madi Long
Blue, a 7 year-old Shepard mix, is waiting for his forever home. Madi Long
