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Palisades Mall New Owner Says It Has No Plans To Flip Property
Black Diamond Capital Management, the new owner of The Palisades Center, says it plans to hold onto the mall for the long run and to make improvements, according to reporting from CoStar. The Stamford, Connecticut-based company told Co-Star “Palisades Center is an irreplaceable asset serving one of the most affluent and densely populated trade areas in the Tri-State region. We see significant value in this property and intend to reinvest in the center, enhance the tenant mix, and position Palisades for long term success.”
Black Diamond offered no specifics on its future strategy or investment but malls nationwide are being repurposed as mixed-used development that includes housing, entertainment, open space, wellness and religious purposes.
Black Diamond was the only and winning bidder at a foreclosure auction this month for Palisades Center, offering $175 million for the retail property. That was far less than the $463.4 million it had originally been listed for at auction. The mall has been in courrt-ordered receivership for several years with $418.5 million in debt through a commercial mortgage-backed securities loan. Black Diamond purchased the defaulted loan at a deep discount in October.
Syracuse, New York-based Spinoso Real Estate Group will continue as the mall’s exclusive operating partner, overseeing property management, leasing and related services as it has done since September 2024, according to Black Diamond. The mall has large vacant anchor spaces, including two previously occupied by Lord & Taylor and JC Penney.
Rockland Community College Names New Chief of Staff
Rockland Community College (RCC) has named Dr. Ian Wolf as Chief of Staff, where he will support the President on key initiatives and strategic operations.
Dr. Wolf brings more than a decade of administrative leadership experience across three public community colleges, with expertise in student engagement, leadership development, student conduct, and institutional operations. He joins RCC from Passaic County Community College, where he served as Assistant Dean for Student Engagement and led the launch of the Center for Student Engagement.
“Dr. Wolf brings a thoughtful, student-centered approach and a strong operational mindset to this role,” said Dr. William P. Mullaney, President of Rockland Community College. “His experience building collaborative initiatives and strengthening institutional processes will be an asset as we continue advancing the College’s strategic priorities.”
Previously, Dr. Wolf held administrative roles at Brookdale Community College and Bergen Community College, where he enhanced student conduct and student-of-concern policies and procedures.
Dr. Wolf earned his Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Manhattanville University and holds a B.A. and M.Ed. from Rutgers University – New Brunswick.
Federal Money Secured For Critical Community Investments In Hudson Valley
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand have secured $29,398,000 in federal funding for Hudson Valley projects, which was just signed into law as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 Consolidated Appropriations bill.
The senators secured funding for these projects through congressionally directed spending.
“This nearly $30 million investment will support critical community projects in the Hudson Valley. From improving our roads to creating new facilities to support the growth of our community, we are building a safer and better future for New Yorkers throughout the Hudson Valley,” said Senator Schumer.
“These federal dollars will power real growth across the Hudson Valley,” said Senator Gillibrand, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “From helping to finance the Washington Street Bridge Reconstruction in Poughkeepsie to supporting critical education opportunities at the New York School for the Deaf in White Plains, this money will make a real difference for New Yorkers. I’m proud to have fought to secure these funds, and I’ll keep working to bring more federal dollars home to the Hudson Valley.”
A full list of funded projects is below, including these five that will impact Rockland County.
$5,000,000 for Town of Ramapo’s Streetscape Improvements
This funding will be used towards the installation of pedestrian safety measures, including traffic signals, turning lanes, walking paths, and sidewalks in the Town of Ramapo.
$4,000,000 for the Village of New Square’s Road Infrastructure Improvements
This funding will be used to complete much-needed improvements to NYS Route 45, widening Village roads, completing paving improvements, enhancing traffic flow, and increasing the safety of motorists and pedestrians to address long-standing concerns about road conditions and motorist/pedestrian safety in the Village of New Square.
$2,600,000 for Rockland County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety & Crime Prevention Initiative
This funding will be used to construct a new first-responder reality-based training facility for the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office to increase law enforcement capacity, ensure effective law enforcement operations, and enhance public safety throughout the County. With funding, a new training facility will be constructed with scenario-based training spaces to include a realistic school, bank, retail store, courtroom, jail cell, hotel room, restaurant, mini-mart, stairwells, and space for crime scene processing of blood splatter evidence.
$1,000,000 for Kaser Bus Transit in Rockland County
This funding will help Rockland County and the Village of Kaser purchase new buses to ensure the local transit system can continue to operate without interruption.
$500,000 for the Town of Ramapo’s Ready Transit
This funding will alleviate the local burden of startup costs, reduce Ramapo’s carbon footprint, and support New York’s climate goals by advancing clean, sustainable transportation. As this community has grown by over 20% in the past 10 years, the evolving cultural needs of its residents, who predominantly walk or use over 2,000 local taxis, have contributed to reduced traffic congestion and lower accident rates. This project is a smart investment in health, equity, and the environment.
Other Projects
$3,400,000 for City of Poughkeepsie’s Washington Street Bridge Reconstruction
This funding will be used to reconstruct the deteriorated Washington Street Bridge, which supports vehicular and pedestrian traffic through the central business district of Poughkeepsie and to the Hudson State Historic Park.
$1,800,000 for DAY ONE Early Learning Community for Expansion of the Apprenticeship Program to Address Child Care Shortages
This funding will allow the Early Learning Community’s Teacher Apprenticeship Program (TAP) to deepen its existing services within Ulster County and expand services to additional counties in New York State through replication sites. TAP includes 250 hours of experiential learning, supervised by mentor teachers, and 150 hours of reflective supervision and classroom instruction by an experienced Lead Instructor. TAP’s cohort model forges connections, trust, and supportive relationships among the apprentices, which extend beyond the training cycle, essential to retention in a profession of high turnover.
$1,500,000 for Machne Gila for Camp Gila Food Service Modernization Project
This funding will assist in the construction of a new kitchen and dining facility at Camp Gila and serve over 1,000 low-income campers under the federal Summer Food Service Program, reducing long-term costs through energy-efficient operations. It will strengthen the local economy by creating construction jobs to modernize an outdated facility while improving food safety, accessibility, and service efficiency.
$1,064,000 for Dellinwood Institute Facilities Enhancements at the Anderson Center for Autism
This funding will be used for the purchase and installation of a new septic system for Anderson Center for Autism’s Staatsburg, NY campus. This septic system is an integral part of the construction of a new healthcare and training facility, the Dellinwood Institute for Global Advances in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Care. This facility will seek to address the increasing demand for professional autism care at the regional, national, and global levels through workforce development programs and advancing healthcare-related higher education.
$1,000,000 for Camp HASC Kitchen & Dining Room Renovation
This funding will strengthen Camp HASC’s infrastructure, enabling high-quality, community-based care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, reducing long-term costs tied to emergency services and institutional care. It supports New York’s commitment to inclusive, accessible services and aligns with statewide priorities. Locally, the project boosts the economy through job creation and increased tourism, while also improving the quality of life for families of individuals with IDD.
$1,000,000 for City of Kingston for Safe & Accessible Flatbush & Foxhall Project
This funding will improve the road safety, walkability, livability, and attractiveness of Midtown Kingston, which will spur economic growth for businesses and communities and enhance travel connections to the Waterfront and Uptown neighborhoods. Kingston’s economic strength positively impacts other locations in the region with the provision of new jobs and the draw of tourists who explore nearby attractions and patronize businesses along their travel routes. Safety improvements are critical to expanding travel options, which lead to economic strength in the region. Schumer in the spring of 2024 stood at the notorious Foxhall Avenue rail crossing in midtown Kingston to push for this federal funding.
$534,000 for Hudson Valley Shakespeare Free/Reduced-Cost Public School Arts Education Expansion
This funding will expand performances and educational programming for school groups, offering 15 matinees to provide roughly 4,500 local students and educators with outstanding Shakespeare performances. This funding will also be used to defray costs for schools’ transportation.
$500,000 for The Hudson River Museum’s Planetarium for the Next Generation of Explorers
This funding will preserve a vital STEM education hub that reaches over 15,000 students and 80,000 visitors annually from 45 states. As the only public planetarium between NYC and Albany, it advances scientific literacy, innovation, and workforce readiness. For the local community, it is an irreplaceable launchpad for curiosity and opportunity.
$500,000 for Town of Mamaroneck Safety and Economic Renaissance Roundabout Project
This funding will enhance safety, improve access to local businesses, and foster economic growth. It is important to New York as it alleviates congestion at the I-95 Exit 17 ramp and improves regional connectivity, especially near the Metro-North station. The project also supports infrastructure improvements that will catalyze affordable housing and area revitalization. For the local community, it promotes long-term economic growth, improved quality of life, and increased property values.
$5,000,000 for New York School for the Deaf’s Career and Technical Education Facility
This funding will support the construction of a new 6,500 square foot career and technical education facility to prepare deaf and hard-of-hearing high school students and recent graduates for future careers in the building and construction trades.
