Developers are planning to build a two-story Hasidic school alongside a former Catholic school in New Windsor.
In 2021, a religious group called Yeshiva Ketana Satmar KJ purchased the former St. Joseph’s Catholic School on Windsor Highway. The religious group is based out of a condominium in Kiryas Joel.
The existing building at the former St. Joseph’s School is now being operated as an Orthodox Jewish house of worship. The religious group is planning to build two new structures toward the northern corner of the lot, closest to United Rental’s property.
The first proposed building would be a 50,000 square foot, two-story school building. It would include a 184-seat auditorium. The second proposed building would be a 2,000 square foot Mikvah, which is a ritual bath used in the Jewish religion.
John Furst, an attorney with from Catania, Mahon & Rider, addressed the New Windsor Planning Board on behalf of Yeshiva Satmar. The Planning Board voted to schedule a public hearing for the site plan and a special use permit, but the date has not yet been announced.
Jerry Argenio, the Chairman of the New Windsor Planning Board, explained to Furst, “Frankly, I don’t see a public outcry here” due to the minimal impact to neighboring properties.
Argenio advised Furst that the plans need to be cleaned up first before the Planning Board can move forward with any possible approvals after a public hearing. “Get this cleaned up, this needs to be right,” Argenio explained. “This is a nice piece of property in the town and it should be right.”
