Seaford School District Gearing Up for Referendum Vote

- The following was submitted by the Seaford School District

After securing an amended contract in accordance with the community’s wishes, the Seaford School District is calling all registered voters to the polls on Dec. 12 to approve a $5 million deal that would sell the former Seaford Avenue School property to a longtime developer who plans to build condominiums on the 5.66 acre site. 

BK at Seaford, LLC, a subsidiary of the Engel Burman Group of Garden-City, hopes to build the Seasons at Seaford condominium community, consisting of about 112 two-bedroom units, a clubhouse, an in-ground pool, private parking, landscaping and other amenities. Selling prices will be between $350,000 and $400,000 per unit.

As per the new contract, at least one person in each unit must be 55 years of age or older and have no school-age children. In addition, no rentals are allowed; the units will only be for sale. The school district sought these stipulations in response to concerns raised at an Oct. 4 informational meeting.

“After months of preparation, reaching out to the community and working with all parties involved, we believe we are presenting to our voters a fair and sound proposal,” said Seaford Board of Education President Brian Fagan. “We hope everyone takes the time to get out to the polls to vote.”

According to district officials, if the sale is approved it would generate nearly $500,000 in additional tax revenue and would save the district an estimated $100,000 on basic maintenance costs associated with the property.

The Seaford Avenue School building was last used to educate Seaford students back in 1981 and was leased to Five Towns College until 1992 and then to Nassau BOCES until 2010. The district, being unable to secure another lessee for the building, left it vacant for the past two years which reduced the district’s revenues by about $400,000 annually.

The Board of Education hired the real estate marketing firm Greiner-Maltz to find a potential buyer and, subsequently, an offer was made by BK at Seaford, LLC and accepted by the school board. In addition to the public vote, the sale is subject to a change in zoning, which the developer would pursue through the Town of Hempstead.

Voting on the referendum will take place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Seaford Harbor School and Seaford Manor School.