Woodbury to Purchase St. Patrick’s Education Center

TOWN OF WOODBURY – Senator James Skoufis (D-Orange County), Assemblymember Chris Eachus (D-New Windsor), and Morgan Slocombe, Regional Representative for Governor Hochul, announced $4 million was secured in the recently enacted state budget to purchase and renovate the St. Patrick’s Education Center in Highland Mills. They were joined by Woodbury Town Supervisor Jacqueline Hernandez, Village of Woodbury Mayor Andrew Giacomazza, and many local residents. Located at 26 Hunter Street, the Education Center closed in 2023 as part of a major consolidation by the Catholic Archdiocese, and has been a longstanding cornerstone of the community for people of all faiths.

The $4 million – secured by Skoufis, Eachus, and Governor Hochul – will be granted to the Town of Woodbury to protect the property from development and repurpose it into a municipal building, housing the supervisor’s office, town clerk, parks department, tax collector, assessor’s office, and space for official town meetings. Additionally, a multi-purpose community room will be built and the existing gymnasium will be maintained for CYO basketball and other recreational opportunities. The state’s investment will cover the entire costs of the project, both the $1.9 million purchase price and the $2.1 million retrofitting, a major savings to local property taxpayers.

Currently, the Town of Woodbury pays $78,000 per year on a lease for its office space in a professional building along Route 32. As an additional benefit, once the St. Patrick’s Education Center is retrofitted for municipal use and the town’s current lease expires, taxpayers will accrue savings associated with no longer needing to pay for a lease.

“I’m truly thrilled to see this building remain a centerpiece of this community,” said Senator Skoufis. “One of my most important jobs is to bring our hard-earned tax dollars back to Orange County, which is why I fought so hard to see this funding included in the budget. It’s gratifying to know that generations to come – of all faiths – will stay connected to this cornerstone of the Woodbury community.”

“St. Patricks’ has been a fixture of the community for years,” said Assemblymember Eachus. “A representative from my office was present during the town hall to announce its consolidation in 2023. It brings me great pleasure to join Senator Skoufis in announcing state funding for its purchase and conversion to a multi-purpose community center, which will also come as great relief to the local taxpayer.”

“Today marks more than the acquisition of a building, it marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Town of Woodbury,” said Supervisor Hernandez. “By transforming St. Patrick’s Education Building into our new municipal home, we are preserving a place that has served our families for decades while creating a lasting center for public service, community engagement, and local government. The Town Board extends our deepest gratitude to Father David, Former Supervisor Thomas Burke and Mayor Giacomazza for initiating this process, and Senator James Skoufis for his unwavering leadership and commitment in bringing this vision to life. His partnership with Governor Kathy Hochul and Assemblyman Chris Eachus secured the funding necessary to make this historic investment possible. Their dedication to Woodbury demonstrates what can be achieved when leaders work together with a shared purpose, to strengthen Woodbury for generations to come.”

“This has been a long time coming. I would like to thank State Senator James Skoufis and Assemblyman Christopher Eachus for remaining engaged, Governor Hochul for committing funds to secure the property, and Supervisor Jacqueline Hernandez for her leadership in saving this property for our community,” said Mayor Giacomazza.