Poughkeepsie leaders consider taking land back from county as youth center project stalls
Early construction estimates, which were more than $100 million, showed a project financially out-of-reach for the county.
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Poughkeepsie officials are figuring out what to do with a three-acre lot where a project to build a state-of-the-art youth center has stalled.
They are now considering trying to take back the property from Dutchess County, who has fallen behind on its plans and its funding.
Daniel Bell, 14, doubts the county will build anything at the Montgomery Street site, let alone the Youth Empowerment Center, aka 'The YOU,' whose original plan included a pool, theater and community room.
The city transferred the land to Dutchess County in 2021 on the condition that the county would fund the project.
Early construction estimates, which were more than $100 million, showed a project financially out-of-reach for the county.
The project has stalled.
"There's no 'third spaces' for teenagers or kids around here," Bell said. "I think it's disappointing in that fact."
Dutchess County Comptroller Dan Aymar-Blair released a report on the project last week which finds the county is not holding up its end of the deal with the city.
The report found:
- Construction did not begin within the agreed-upon 27 months
- The county has not allocated the full $25 million as it planned
- The county has not consistently maintained the property and has not kept the property out of disrepair
Following the report's release, county public works crews spent much of Tuesday fixing up the site and rehanging banners that were torn down or vandalized.
County officials have said they are not giving up on the project; the construction estimates were simply too high.
Even after paring down the project, more recent estimates only reached as low as $39 million.
Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers said county officials have told her that for the city to take the land back from the county to do a purely city-sponsored project, the city would have to cover the cost of demolishing the old YMCA building that used to stand on the property.
The county paid close to $2 million for the demolition.
"I was told we'd have to pay back the money that they spent," Flowers said Tuesday during an interview in her office, "and also we'd have to come up with a plan of what we would do and start applying for grants as well."
Flowers met with County Executive Sue Serino Tuesday morning regarding 'The YOU' project.
Serino said they discussed a new possible concept for the youth center, but did not discuss any scenario in which the city would take the property back from the county.
She previously told News 12 she is hopeful about securing grant money to move the project forward.
Flowers said she would support a smaller project, but stressed that it must include the youth services and activities the community has been asking for.
