I’ve driven by the sign on the Taconic State Parkway countless times and in the recesses of my mind wondered just what it was all about. It turns out ‘not much.’
The Guardian has a story about this ‘park’ :
www.theguardian.com/…
Bought by Trump in 1998 for $2.75 million, it was supposed to be a golf course. Local opposition and environmental concerns stopped that effort and Trump donated the property to NY State in 2006 claiming it was worth $100 million. Apparently there is some confusion as to what valuation has been claimed — It was valued at $26.1 million on a 2016 list of his charitable contributions. It appears that the ‘park’ a gravel parking lot and some demolished buildings — lacking even rest room facilities — is currently closed.
Quoting the Guardian:
Trump declared: “I hope that these 436 acres of property will turn into one of the most beautiful parks anywhere in the world.”
It is anything but. Typical Trump hyperbole and an interesting view into how Trump seems to be playing games with property valuations. How does property bought for $2.75 million become a $!00 million donation (or even $26.1 million using the lower value)?
I recall a piece pf property at the foot of the Whitestone Bridge in the Bronx that sat empty for two decades. It finally was turned into a golf course. I don’t think Trump was the original developer and don’t know when he took control, but he now has the right to run it for 20 years. It eventually became Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point. An article in 2018 has it costing $269 million though a 2017 NYT article has it costing half that. A firewalled Washington Post article has it losing money last year (it closed in April for COVID). It has been denounced for its too high fees and appears to have problems turning a profit. As part of his contract with NYC Trump had to build a $10 million clubhouse by March 2020 That was apparently included in the $269 million cost announced in 2018.
It IS a great location on the water but one has to wonder. Frankly, it seems like this property would’ve served the Bronx better as a plain old park with various playing fields. THOSE would get used by far more people.
Again — at least on a cursory view — widely varying valuation numbers and questionable profitability.