By TRACEY DRURY
tdrury@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1609

Hopevale Inc. board members are talking with potential buyers for a 56-acre site in Hamburg where the nonprofit organization operated until shutting down in December. But it's also possible a plan could be worked out to have another nonprofit organization begin using the site.

The mixed-use property on Howard Road was listed through Hunt Commercial Real Estate in February with an asking price of $5.5 million. It includes several buildings totaling 83,150 square feet used previously for onsite housing, offices and a school.

Though the nonprofit closed in late 2010, part of the property is still in use by Hopevale Union Free School District, which leases another 42,250 square feet in a freestanding building on 15 acres. Additionally, the Sisters of Charity rent a small residential facility on the campus.

Hopevale is working with broker Fred Occhino, who says he's had three or four inquiries already from private developers and nonprofit organizations, all of them from the local area. Jill Syracuse, Hopevale board president and chief service officer at Independent Health, says a deal could come as soon as the next few weeks.

"We're continuing in our efforts to try to sell the property," she says. "We also have a potential organization that might like to continue services on that property. I'm hopeful something will come up that will see the property used for the mission of the organization.

Founded more than 150 years ago, Hopevale provided services for abused, delinquent and dependent children from 11 counties, including residential housing. The shutdown followed severe financial losses, leading to declining residents and subsequent declining reimbursements from the state. At the time of its closing, Hopevale had just 40 youth living on the campus, down from as many as 100 in recent years.

About 190 workers lost their jobs in the process, though many found employment at the same agencies that took over client contracts.

Meantime, as reimbursements continue to trickle in from services offered last year, the agency is paying its bills as quickly as it can. At this point, Hopevale Inc. operates solely as landlord for the school and continues to maintain the property.

The future remains uncertain for Hopevale Union Free School District, which served 80 students from area schools in addition to the 40 youth from Hopevale's on-site programs. The school, which remains open, lost a third of its student population when Hopevale Inc. closed. Conversations are continuing with the state Education Department on how to best keep the school open, according to Syracuse.