Springbrook expands to St. Mary's site in Oneonta

The Daily Star reported that Springbrook, a nonprofit agency serving people with disabilities, will pay $2.4 million for the 55,550-square-foot property. The school closed last year because of declining enrollment.

"I am so excited about it," Kennedy said. "It will be a tremendous opportunity."

While providing more space, she said, it will actually save Springbrook money by allowing it to cancel leases and discontinue use of some energy-inefficient locations.

Springbrook is expected to take the title in mid-February to March. The space will be used to centralize many of the agency's operations and community functions from other locations, Kennedy said. It will start about a month after closing by moving the information technology department and continuing through to the preschool program in July.

The move will allow the agency's Kids Unlimited Preschool to be opened to the community, Kennedy said. It will also allow additional adult programs at the site, as well as operations such as evaluation and training of 980 staff.

Springbrook will maintain its headquarters near Portlandville. The recently expanded K-12 residential school program will continue there as well.

Agency representatives looked at the Oneonta facility in June and said they were impressed by how well it was maintained. The purchase was approved by the board of directors in December.

It will make the most of a $22.5 million capital project being completed, which is expected to result in 112 new jobs, Kennedy said.

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