BUFFALO, NY - The building that housed Holy Angels Academy in North Buffalo could soon re-open as a school.
The 152-year old all girls school closed in June due to financial problems and low enrollment. The building was purchased for nearly $3-million by Carl Paladino, owner of Ellicott Development over the summer.
Now McGuire Development has purchased a 50/50 stake in the deal. Together they will market, lease and redevelop the Hertel Avenue property.
Danielle Shainbrown of McGuire Development tells 2 On Your Side that all signs point to the former Holy Angels Academy becoming a charter school.
"This building meets the needs of a number of charter schools," she said. "We in talks with about four right now, but the word on the street is that there are more who are interested."
The building has a brand new gym, a state-of-the-art library and media center. Nardin Academy is currently renting the gym.
"The Paladinos and the McGuires are committed to keeping it (the building) in education and maintaining a great educational facility in that neighborhood," said Shainbrown.
Developers are not identifying the charter schools that could potentially take over the North Buffalo building. There are already approved charter school applications with the New York State Education Department. The goal is to have a school open in the former Holy Angels Academy for the 2014-1015 academic school year.
