Budd Lake residents angry over sale of lots by HCS

By Genine Hopkins

At Saginaw and Hillcrest in Harrison around Budd Lake, there is a small easement that, after researching, was under a 99-year lease from the Harrison Community Schools to the City of Harrison. The City had been maintaining the easement, but after realizing the property belonged to HCS but before they understood they had the long-term lease, the City of Harrison ceased maintaining. Upon discovering the lease, Justin Cavanaugh, the Harrison City Manager, brought forth three options for the City Council to consider. Continue to maintain the property as it had done prior, negotiate purchasing the easement from HCS, or finally, providing notice of the termination of the lease. On a motion by Bob Stewart, supported by Garrett Wood, the council approved a review of the 99-year lease at the August 4, 2025 meeting.
Last week, neighbors saw a For Sale sign erected on property by the easement and were very upset, believing that the 99-year lease was cancelled and the school district had placed the property for sale without approval at a board meeting. They attempted to stop the sale of the easement area property via a “cease and desist” email to the Harrison Community Schools board. Unfortunately, the board approved the sale of the two lots at their September meeting, after which time, the realtor hired, local, longtime realtor Shannon Cummings, placed a For Sale sign on the properties – two lots. According to Cummings, there is already an offer on both lots but she is willing to take back up offers pending the October HCS Board meeting.
The Harrison Community School Board Special Meeting on this topic will be held on Monday, October 6th, at 5:30 p.m., for area residents to discuss with the school board, any options that may be available to those concerned regarding the property. One of the residents stated a group has submitted a back up offer to purchase the property that would keep the property as is for the enjoyment of the community.
Of note is the fact that at an August City of Harrison Council meeting, the council voted to withdraw or reconsider the 99 year lease on the property and since that vote, the HCS has listed the property and one offer, as indicated earlier, had already been submitted.
In an email to one of the concerned residents, City Manager Justin Cavanaugh noted that while consideration of the value of the property to area residents around Budd Lake was made, in the end, the City of Harrison would have had to invest capital to provide ADA compliance, make any needed changes to the property for safety, and that vandalism had occurred on the property that required clean up. Cavanaugh stated the council had to weigh potential costs for said improvement with other projects the City of Harrison may have planned. After that August meeting the property went back to HCS Board, prompting the meeting for this coming Monday.
“It seems such a shame that this area will potentially be sold for development and not for continued good faith use by our community,” said resident Vicky Paulus, “I hope our group’s counter offer will be seriously considered and allow us to have continued use of this beautiful area.”