That deal for Fosdick Field isn’t final just yet.
The Buffalo Board of Education on Wednesday voted to “study all aspects regarding the feasibility of purchasing the property” before the School District agrees to take ownership of the 4 acres of land in front of City Honors School.
While the School Board is still supportive of the proposal to acquire the land from the City Honors/Fosdick-Masten Park Foundation for an athletic field and recreation, the district needs to do its due diligence, said Nathaniel Kuzma, its general counsel.
Specifically, the School Board wants to know how exactly the district is going to pay the $2 million owed to the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority for the land and construct the $3.5 million athletic facility, which would include an all-weather field, scoreboard, landscaping and walking path around the property.
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The district also wants to meet with officials from the BMHA, as well as the donors who pledged $600,000 to the foundation for the project. The district wants reassurances the donors are still committed, even if the property changes hands.
District officials are expected to report back to the School Board no later than December in time for the board's monthly meeting, said School Board President Sharon Belton-Cottman.
The board discussed the acquisition of the property in executive session Wednesday.
“We want to see the field happen,” Kuzma said after the meeting, “but even obtaining this deed comes with a $2 million liability, so before the board jumps in they want to know what’s fully involved.
“We’re optimistic about it. We want to see the field happen,” he said, “but in fairness to the board – and the taxpayers – we’ve got to look at every angle before diving in.”
The foundation acquired the property from the BMHA a few years ago for an athletic field, but the nonprofit couldn’t afford the $2 million payment that came due this summer. The housing agency was preparing to rescind the title.
Foundation members met with Superintendent Kriner Cash last week and asked for the district’s help saving the property and realizing the vision for the land.
The superintendent offered to acquire the land for $1, so the district can get to work funding the project.
