More Stories
A former Catholic boarding school in Bay Shore could soon get new life with a similar use.
The United American Muslim Association recently reached an agreement to buy the 13-acre complex at 26 South Saxon Ave. to turn it into an Islamic boarding school.
The property housed a Catholic boarding school that closed in the early 1970s and has more recently served as a home for Catholic priests.
According to the buyers, the nonprofit wants to open the school to provide full-time Islamic schooling, early childhood education and community programs.
The campus includes a 73,000-square-foot facility with multi-floor buildings for classrooms, gathering areas for community events, dining capacity for events and student services and outdoor space for activities, according to the United American Muslim Association.
According to the original letter submitted to the town, the facility would have 120 male students who would live on the campus full-time alongside 20 faculty and staff plus 10 teachers who would commute.
The organization said it plans to begin renovations and preparations for the future school once closing is finalized.
But first, tonight, the Islip Town Zoning Board of Appeals will weigh in on a variance application to decide whether boarding constitutes a permitted accessory use to a parochial school within a residential district.
The project has received strong pushback from people who live in the surrounding community.
"I'm all for religious affiliations," Bay Shore resident Athanasios Antoniadis said. "I have no problem with that, but I don't think a boarding school belongs in a neighborhood community."
The waterfront property sits south of a condominium community and west of several residential roads.
"I just feel like it's going to totally compromise the environment and the history that has been here for years," Bay Shore resident Elizabeth Byrne said. "I think it's going to destroy it."
A group called 'Saxon Says No' has signs dotting the front lawns and sidewalks of people who live in the area surrounding the property.
The community group said in a recent statement that their opposition is strictly a zoning issue.
The proposed use by the new property owner is far more intensive than what is appropriate for a quiet residential neighborhood. The plan includes not only a school, but additional uses that will generate activity and impacts similar to those of a commercial operation. We believe such a use should be subject to the same review process required of comparable projects, including the need for a special permit or appropriate zoning approval.
"A lot of these people have been living on this street and in this neighborhood for a very long time and the town shouldn't be making any unilateral decisions without their input," Islip resident Kevin Colgan said.
News 12 reached out to the United American Muslim Association for comment, but has not yet heard back.
An Islip spokesperson said, "It is the Town's policy not to comment on pending land use applications."
Tonight's public hearing is scheduled to take place at Islip Town Hall at 6:30 p.m.
More from News 12
3:00
STORM WATCH: Scattered strong thunderstorms this afternoon into this evening on Long Island
1:55
As housing costs rise, down payment support programs expand options for buyers
0:43
Police investigate violent death of man in Medford
1:13
Hidden Gems: Port Washington
0:25
