Montebello, NY – The Town of Ramapo has clarified that its Senior Citizens Community Center at 319 Haverstraw Road is not being sold, following questions about a proposal from Veolia Water New York to purchase a portion of the surrounding town-owned property.
According to information provided by town officials and reported by Rockland Report on November 11, 2026, Veolia submitted an unsolicited proposal to purchase approximately three acres of vacant land on the southern portion of the property. The company wants to use the land for a water treatment facility intended to reduce per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS, in drinking water.
Town officials said the proposed purchase does not include the Senior Center building or the entire property. The center is expected to continue operating without changes to its existing programs and services.
Ramapo also confirmed that it has not accepted Veolia’s proposal and has not reached an agreement concerning the terms of a possible sale.
The matter had been scheduled for preliminary consideration during the Town Board’s October 28 meeting. An agenda item sought authorization to retain a real estate broker who could negotiate the proposed transaction.
However, according to the town’s clarification, the item was removed before the meeting and was not discussed by the board.
As of November 11, the matter had not been placed on the agenda for another meeting, and no final agreement had been announced.
Questions about the property’s future followed the circulation of a memorandum prepared by Ramapo’s Finance Director. The document had been included among supporting materials for the October 28 meeting agenda.
Town officials explained that the memorandum summarized the potential transaction but did not contain all the details of Veolia’s proposal. In particular, it did not specify that the company was interested in purchasing only approximately three acres of vacant land rather than the Senior Center itself.
The distinction is significant because the facility provides recreational and social activities for older residents.
According to the Town of Ramapo Parks and Recreation Department, the center offers activities that include chair fitness, ceramics, card games, billiards, knitting, and other recreational programs. Its published schedule also lists bridge, canasta, mahjongg, poker, and pinochle.
The proposed water treatment facility would address PFAS, a group of manufactured chemicals that have been detected in drinking-water supplies throughout the United States.
Certain PFAS have been associated with health concerns, and federal and state agencies have established drinking-water standards and monitoring requirements for specific substances.
Veolia, which provides water service in Rockland County, publishes regular reports concerning PFAS testing and treatment efforts. Its third-quarter 2026 materials include public notifications, progress reports, and supplemental water-sampling results for Rockland County.
The company’s broader PFAS treatment efforts are separate from the question of whether Ramapo will sell the vacant land near the Senior Center.
The specific treatment technology proposed for the Haverstraw Road property has not been confirmed in the available reporting.
The potential purchase price, any required land-use approvals, and a possible construction timetable have also not been publicly established in the information reviewed.
Should the proposal advance, additional details about the transaction and any applicable approval process would be necessary to determine how the project could proceed.
For now, the town’s position remains that the Senior Center building is not for sale, no agreement with Veolia has been finalized, and existing Senior Center operations will continue.
Residents seeking information about activities at the facility can contact the Senior Citizens Community Center at 845-369-1802.