Simon has summed it up perfectly. As a former local I must say that part of the reason the Village let it get so bad was the years it has spent dealing with "restorationists" who fought tooth and nail to save something that was unsaveable. My father worked for years in the local government and although we lived and worked there since the 70's, (and no we were not wealthy we were middle class) new people, especially those from NYC, would move up and try to save the place from those of us who had been worrying and dealing with the place for years. Every time the village thought they might get somewhere, a new group of "just moved here" folks would mount a campaign to save the place. IT CANNOT BE SAVED. It's done.. Unless someone has millions of dollars to spend on rebuilding it from the foundation up just for fun, without any expectation of economic return there is nothing to do to save it. In fact it will be millions of dollars just to demolish it. Anyone friends with Bill Gates?
I went to Bennet Nursery School in the late 70's before it was moved from the top of the hill to this location. It was a wonderful place. I remember when they moved it. No the kids aren't scared of the place, when you live there and see it every day it is not scary but sad and beautiful.
I grew up in Millbrook, and have always loved this building. No one wanted it to end up like it did. At this point, those that want to "preserve" the place, do not have the money or ability to do so. They have moved to the town in more recent years and want to "save" it but don't know how. So they blame development and evil village government. The building is so extensive and so damaged, the cost to gut part and "redo" it is in the tens of millions. The options for it are to either find someone with millions and millions of dollars to "fix" it...more like take it apart and rebuild it...or unfortunatly raze it because it is a danger. I will pray for the former. I'm so happy to see photos of the inside of this beutiful place I drove by every day, and also glad the photographer is out safely. It is a very dangerous place due to the damage.
word those p[laces are scary as shitt i skate the park next to them and have been inside, there terrifing u shudda gotten into the tunnels that connect them off i think there still open from the inside. great pic.