Developer looking at old Holley High School for apartments

File photo by Tom Rivers – This photo from October 2014 shows the side of the old Holley High School facing Route 31. The Landmark Society of Western New York named the school to its annual list of “Five to Revive.”

HOLLEY – Leaders in Holley say it is very preliminary at this point, but Village Board members have been meeting with a developer who has an interest in the old Holley High School building located at the prominent intersection of routes 31 and 237.

Deputy Mayor Brian Sorochty says Rochester-based developer Home Leasing, LLC, specializes in the development, construction and management of apartment-style communities.

“It’s early in the process,” Sorochty said. “There are many hurdles to get over.”

Those hurdles include issues regarding the title and back taxes, he said. Stakeholders met Tuesday afternoon to hear from the developer regarding, “what they are thinking and what are the next steps,” Sorochty said.

The former Holley High School was constructed in 1931 and was placed on the Landmark Society of Western New York’s “Five to Revive” list in 2013.

The building has been vacant for about 20 years. The Landmark Society is trying to get the site on the National Register of Historic Places, which would make a rehab project eligible for tax credits.

Home Leasing is currently a co-developer in the Eastman Gardens Complex in Rochester, which involves converting another historic building on the 2013 “Five To Revive” list – the Eastman Dental Dispensary – into apartments for seniors 55 years and older, Sorochty noted.

Village leaders plan to meet with Home Leasing again in January.

Regarding the regular meeting of the Village Board Tuesday evening, Sorochty said that board members approved the hiring of two new part-time police officers, pending background checks.