[Correction (Dec. 8, 2025): A previous version of this article referred to TCD Management Corp. as TC Development Corp. and misstated David Kaminski’s and Jennifer Berlind’s positions at TCD.]

[Correction (Dec. 4, 2025): A previous version of this article did not include a quote from Vassar Vice President for Finance and Administration Bryan Swarthout alleging that the owners of Pizzeria Bacio were only offered space in the Juliet building.]

The real estate partnership Arlington Capital Investors LLC (ACI), of which Vassar College is a 50 percent investor, is planning to demolish and redevelop 2.24 acres of land in downtown Arlington over the next two years. The businesses and housing currently on this land will be closed or relocated, and two three-story buildings with retail and housing spaces will be built in their place.

According to an application ACI submitted in October to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, the planned mixed-use buildings will consist of approximately 150 apartments and 25,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, as well as an underground parking garage. Renderings submitted in the application show the new structures and the Juliet Building—which extends from the former La Vickyna to Savona’s Trattoria and Bar—creating a triangle around a central courtyard, with the new buildings standing multiple stories above the surrounding buildings. According to David Kaminski, the renderings may not represent ACI’s ultimate application to the Town Board. Kaminski is Vice President the property management firm TC Management Corp. (TCD), which has been hired by ACI to run its daily operations; Kaminski is ACI’s Asset Manager. By email, Vassar Vice President for Finance and Administration Bryan Swarthout told The Miscellany News that as 50 percent partner in ACI, for major decisions, “Vassar’s vote is required to move forward.”

The application states, “Virtually the entire Site would undergo some form of new construction. The old buildings will be demolished except for the [Juliet] Building fronting Raymond and Collegeview Avenues, except that the rear portion of the building will also be demolished as part of the project.” Per the application’s proposed timeline, demolition would take place between October 2026 and February 2027. Construction would begin in May 2027 and be completed by June 2028.

Kaminski explained by email to the Miscellany, “This process is underway and it’s unclear when work will commence at any of the properties, however the state/town mandated approval process must first be navigated, so there will be no immediate work starting. It is also possible that any project could be constructed in phases.” In an interview with Miscellany reporters, Swarthout said, “Where we are with this right now is our initial concept of design is too expensive, and so we’re reworking it and trying to think about that. And so the schedule is really uncertain for what’s going to happen from here, so we really can’t think about what may or may not happen and when at this point in time, because it’s just too early.”

The redevelopment project spans 11 parcels of land in Arlington which currently make up almost a dozen businesses and half a dozen residential buildings, from New Nelly’s Restaurant to Barber Haus NY. “ACI has acquired several properties in Arlington along Collegeview, Fairmont and Lagrange Avenues with the intent to redevelop the properties with the goals: bring more commercial and residential density to the area for vibrancy and to support the businesses in the area, create more affordable housing [and] enhance Arlington as a place to live, work, play, and create,” Kaminski wrote.

As The Miscellany News previously reported, the majority of these properties are owned by ACI and College Properties, a for-profit company owned by Vassar. However, KNC Management owns the building occupied by New Nelly’s, Twisted Soul Desserts and Gladmore Cleaners; 14 Lagrange is owned by private individuals. Kaminski wrote, “ACI does have an option to purchase that property [New Nelly’s, Twisted Soul and Gladmore], but we have not yet decided if we will proceed to purchase that property. Accordingly, we have not spoken to any of the tenants in that building.”

According to Vassar Deputy to the President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees Wesley Dixon, he and Swarthout began actively working in Arlington real estate around 2018. Through College Properties, Vassar has owned Arlington property since 1999 and has been a part of the Arlington Business Improvement District (ABID) since 2001. Swarthout has been ABID Treasurer since 2014.

Dixon explained that Vassar decided to become more active in Arlington real estate for two main reasons. First, some businesses were closing due to financial issues or retirement. Second, said Dixon, “We were getting a considerable amount of feedback from families and students who were admitted to Vassar but chose not to come, that they did not feel that the Arlington area was an area that was exciting or enticing or feeling like a college town to them.” Administrators began “grassroots diplomacy” to find local businesses hoping to open second or third locations who could succeed financially while maintaining a local feel.

Dixon emphasized that the College has been careful not to contribute to white flight from the diverse City of Poughkeepsie to the predominantly white Town. Such flight has caused an economic downturn in the City, exacerbated by IBM jobs in the Town. “We don’t want to unintentionally contribute to the continued potential pouring out or parasitic effect that might have on the city of Poughkeepsie,” Dixon explained. “We were very keen to ask people if they’re ready or willing to expand to a second or third location, because, in particular, if they existed in the City of Poughkeepsie, we were not trying to, by virtue of having them come to Arlington, take them out of the City of Poughkeepsie.”

In interviews with The Miscellany News, business owners and tenants in buildings owned by ACI alleged that Kaminski gave different amounts of information to different tenants about the futures of their businesses and homes. Some business owners and residents were told outright that their buildings were set for demolition, while others were never informed, only learning about the planned redevelopment by asking neighbors or Vassar administrators directly.

“When ACI acquired the properties, I informed all the tenants that at some point the buildings would come down and that to the extent that we could help them find new locations in Arlington, we would,” Kaminski wrote. “The goal was to be transparent and provide as much notice as possible to minimize the disruption to them.” In an email to The Miscellany News, Swarthout explained, “We remain early in the planning process and yet we have communicated with all tenants about it.”

Multiple business owners and tenants described living under a cloud of uncertainty, waiting to learn when they must pack up their lives and move at a moment’s notice. “We’re all paranoid, we’re stressed, we’re scared, because we don’t know. We just don’t know,” Shanna Treasure, who works in Vassar Facilities Operations and lives in an apartment behind Bacio’s, told The Miscellany News. “We just hold our breath and we’re just waiting to see.”

Pizzeria Bacio Ristorante

Gerardo Carina has run Pizzeria Bacio, located across the street from Vassar, for 18 years. “I built this place with my own hands,” Franco Carina, Gerardo’s brother, told The Miscellany News. For most of that time, Gerardo renewed his five-year lease informally via email or an in-person conversation: When Gerardo would tell his landlord that he wanted to renew his lease, his landlord would simply remove the old date from the document and write a new one in. 

Then, on Oct. 31, 2023, ACI purchased the property. In December 2024, Gerardo and his accountant, Cathy Servodio, had a meeting with Kaminski, during which Kaminski informed Gerardo about the planned demolitions, as well as ACI’s plans to redevelop Arlington in two phases. At this meeting, Gerardo and Servodio alleged that Kaminski told them that Bacio’s could move into a vacant space in the building that would be constructed during Phase I. The building would be located on the grass field next to Crafted Kup and the buildings currently occupied by New Nelly’s, Twisted Soul and Gladmore. “When building one was ready, they were going to move me in,” said Gerardo. “They were going to do the layout and the only thing I had to do was bring my equipment.” In an interview with Miscellany reporters, Servodio confirmed this version of events. Gerardo recalled telling Kaminski, “I wanna stay at College Avenue,” in Bacio’s current location, but explained that he was happy to move to a new location under an agreement that ACI would cover his expenses.

However, Gerardo also noted that when he brought up renewing his current lease multiple times in early meetings, Kaminski told him not to worry.

Gerardo, Franco, Servodio and a Bacio’s employee all told Miscellany reporters that on more than one occasion, Kaminski reassured Gerardo that ACI would not close his business. In Franco’s retelling, Kaminski said, “We’ll always have a place for you guys. Even if we renovate, whatever, we’re going to have a place for you.”

In early 2025, the College put on two community workshops, or charrettes, that brought together local government officials, Vassar administrators, students, business owners and town planners. Dixon explained, “There was a conversation about, ‘What do we all want Arlington to be, and as such, what kinds of things are possible to help us get to that place?’” In addition to the charrette, the College sent out a survey to the community that received over 500 responses.

On March 10, Servodio informed Kaminski by email that the Bacio’s owners would like to renew their lease, according to copies of the correspondences obtained by The Miscellany News. Servodio received a response from Jennifer Berlind, TCD’s President, that day, informing her that she would pass the message along to Kaminski. Gerardo and Servodio contended that this was the last communication they had with Kaminski, or any other representative from ACI or Vassar, until August.

On Aug. 15, Servodio sent Kaminski an email informing him once again that the owners of Bacio’s wanted to extend their lease. On Aug. 21, Gerardo, Servodio and Kaminski met at ACI’s office. At the time, Gerardo believed he would be signing an extension for his lease at the meeting. Servodio remembered, “He said that I must have misunderstood him about him taking care of the move and everything.” Gerardo and Servodio alleged that Kaminski then showed them a lease for the space in the Juliet Building that previously housed La Vickyna, a building owned by College Properties. (In an email to The Miscellany News, Swarthout confirmed that all College Properties buildings to be redeveloped will be transferred to ACI.) 

Swarthout contested Gerardo’s version of events, saying, “We only spoke to Bacio’s about the Juliet Building.”

One week later, Kaminski, Gerardo and a contractor met at the Juliet to survey the space. Gerardo noted that because the building was not equipped to accommodate a pizzeria, the space would have to be renovated. The contractor was tasked with providing ACI and the owners of Bacio’s a rough estimate of the cost of such renovations. During this meeting, Gerardo claimed that he raised concerns about the cost of moving his equipment and renovating the restaurant. Despite these concerns, Franco recalled telling Kaminski, “We’re going to take the spot because we have no option. You’re giving us no option.” Gerardo remembered Franco saying that, even if ACI or Vassar did not give the Carinas money to assist with the move, they would still do so if given no other option.

On Sept. 18, Kaminski sent Servodio an email about the possibility of ACI loaning Gerardo $50,000 for renovations. Gerardo alleged that, with interest on the loan, he would have had to repay ACI $75,000. (Swarthout confirmed that Gerardo was offered a loan but did not recall the exact amount or interest rate offered.) In the email, Kaminski informed Servodio, “College Properties would like to have a response to the offer no later than next Friday, September 26.” 

On Sept. 19, Servodio responded with an inquiry about the contractor’s estimate for the renovations, which had not been communicated to Bacio’s. The following day, Kaminski sent Servodio a copy of an architect’s report on their inspection of the premises, but did not provide an estimate. In a follow-up email sent three minutes later, Kaminski wrote, “I should note that before we go through a due diligence effort to price out the improvements, we would want to get a preliminary indication if the numbers work for Gerry to make this move, based on the Term Sheet that was submitted.” “We never got an estimate,” said Servodio. “What if it cost 200 grand to get that place set up?” Servodio explained to The Miscellany News that she did not respond to Kaminski’s Sept. 19 email because Gerardo had requested that Kaminski communicate with him directly. 

Swarthout told The Miscellany News that offers about the Juliet space were made in August, September and October. “The last offer, we offered them a pretty significant discount on the rent so that it wouldn’t cost them any more, at least in the short run, to be in that space compared to their current space, even though the one we’re offering them in the Juliet building is much bigger,” Swarthout recalled. “And then we offered them a loan to help them move.”

On Oct. 7, Kaminski wrote in an email to Servodio, “Vassar College is asking if there is any interest in moving forward with the lease for the location on Raymond Ave. They have been approached by another restaurant and need an answer ASAP.” The next day, Kaminski met with Gerardo, Franco and multiple builders the Carinas knew at the Juliet.

During this meeting, Gerardo alleged that Kaminski informed him that the new space would not be able to accommodate outdoor seating, an option available for customers at the current Bacio’s location. Gerardo claimed that during this meeting, he requested that ACI sign a non-compete agreement barring the company from leasing a space in one of the planned buildings to another pizzeria. However, he claimed that Kaminski said he could not make that commitment. Servodio, who was present for this conversation, confirmed to Miscellany reporters that this was an accurate account of Kaminski’s comments.

Gerardo also raised concerns about the amount of time that renovations would take, given that his restaurant would not be in operation while moving out of his current location and into the new space. Due to these concerns, Gerardo recalled once again bringing up the lease renewal for Bacio’s current space, at which point he alleged Kaminski became angry. Gerardo then remembered telling Kaminski he would retain an attorney.

Hours later, Kaminski sent Gerardo a text that began, “Before you spend lots of money on an attorney, please read our lease.” He then informed Gerardo that the lease stated, “Written notice of the exercise of the option to renew must be received by the Landlord, either personally delivered or mailed to Landlord at Landlord’s address via certified mail, receipt requested. Landlord must receive such written notice by Tenant on or before December 1, 2024.” Kaminski ended the text, “You neither delivered anything to us personally nor did you send a certified mail. Case closed.”

On Oct. 9, Kaminski sent Gerardo another text asking if Gerardo could meet him and Swarthout at the Juliet on Oct. 13 at 9:30 a.m.. Gerardo confirmed the meeting, but, in a subsequent message, wrote, “Before we meet up Monday at 9:30 I want to make sure that the people that I wanted to be there they’re gonna be there. I will let you know 100% tomorrow thank you.” In response, Kaminski asked Gerardo to confirm the meeting as soon as possible. He added, “Vassar is requesting financial statements from the past three years and a personal financial statement from you and any other partners with a financial interest.” Gerardo never responded to this text. At 9:20 a.m. on Oct. 13, Kaminski texted Gerardo to confirm that morning’s meeting, given that Gerardo had not responded to this message. Gerardo explained to The Miscellany News that he did not respond to the messages because he felt his English was not good enough to understand their details. 

Gerardo added that he felt caught off guard by Kaminski’s attempts to schedule a new meeting so shortly after their previous one had ended with Gerardo acquiring an attorney.

At 5:20 p.m. on Oct. 13, Kaminski informed Gerardo via text that ACI was rescinding their offer to rent the vacant space at the Juliet Building to Bacio’s. In the text, Kaminski wrote, “College Properties has decided they are going to proceed with another tenant for that space. Their offer to you is hereby removed.” 

Swarthout explained, “During this whole time, there was another local business really expressing a lot of interest in being in that space. We kind of held them off because we wanted to let the conversation with Bacio’s to play out and give Bacio’s the opportunity.” However, after the missed meeting, “Given their hesitation and how long it’s been taking, we did eventually offer [the Juliet space] to them. And so we are going to be bringing [in] another local business.” 

Gerardo and Franco told The Miscellany News that they were surprised by Kaminski’s text, having believed, up until that point, that they would be relocating to the Juliet. Gerardo said that this text was the first he had heard of another restaurant being interested in the space, although Kaminski informed Servodio of the other restaurant’s interest on Oct. 7. Swarthout contested this version of events, saying, “Over many months, we were talking about [the space in the Juliet Building] and exploring this with them [Gerardo and Franco], and they really didn’t show a lot of interest.” Kaminski echoed Swarthout, writing, “Over the course of many months, Bacio’s owner considered it and expressed doubts about the space and concerns about the cost.” Gerardo told the Miscellany, “I never said that I didn’t want the spot. And I never said that I cannot afford to pay the rent.” He continued, “I was just taking my time, because [I wanted to] comprehend everything [that] went on, because up to that time, everything was a lie.” 

On Oct. 14, Gerardo’s attorney emailed Kaminski to inform him that Gerardo had retained counsel. She asked to be put in contact with a representative of College Properties to follow-up on moving into the Juliet space. She clarified that, by doing so, she was not waiving the Carinas’ current lease, which she said Gerardo had “duly renewed” for another five years.

Kaminski responded on Oct. 21. He wrote, “This claim [that Gerardo renewed his lease] is categorically rejected and is wholly without merit.” He alleged that Gerardo had not given him written notice in-person or by certified mail by the deadline of Dec. 1, 2024. He concluded, “The tenant’s failure to comply with these express contractual requirements renders any purported renewal ‘null and void’… Any continued assertion of a renewed lease term will be viewed as a bad faith attempt to create rights that do not exist under the Lease.”

On Nov. 13, Gerardo received a letter from ACI’s attorney informing him that to stay in his current location, instead of a five-year lease renewal, he would have to sign a six-month lease, which would then move to month-to-month. Kaminski previously offered a month-to-month lease in September, which Gerardo did not sign at a lawyer’s advice. A copy of Kaminski’s letter obtained by The Miscellany News, dated Nov. 12, noted that unless Gerardo agreed to the updated lease by Nov. 14, ACI would refuse to accept his rent payment on the current lease’s expiration date of Nov. 30. The letter stated, “The Tenant must vacate the Premises, remove all of the Tenant’s personal property from the Premises, and surrender possession of the Premises to the Landlord in the condition required by the Lease on or before the Termination Date [Nov. 30].”

Gerardo’s attorney informed Miscellany reporters that a landlord giving tenants such a short time frame for deciding whether to agree to a new lease is highly unusual. She noted having only seen this sort of behavior from what she described as “predatory landlords.”

On Nov. 14, Gerardo’s attorney reached out to the attorney representing ACI, contesting ACI’s demand that Gerardo respond to their new lease offer one day after he received the letter. She wrote, “Your client’s proposal raises material issues requiring careful review and consultation, which cannot reasonably be completed within 24 hours.” On Nov. 21, the attorney sent a follow-up letter to ACI’s attorney, writing, “Your client’s recent conduct, including imposing unreasonable deadlines and attempting to force a ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ arrangement inconsistent with the Lease, raises significant concerns regarding the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, which is implied in every contract under New York law.”

Also on Nov. 21, Kaminski emailed Servodio, informing Bacio’s accountant that Gerardo would have to pay water and sewage bills, in addition to real estate taxes, by Nov. 30. In this correspondence, Kaminski reiterated: “Besides the two amounts set forth above, Landlord will not accept any further rental payments.”

Despite ACI’s demands, Bacio’s resolved not to vacate their restaurant by Nov. 30. Instead, the Carinas intend to take the issue to court, where they plan to argue that ACI had a duty to honor their right to renew their lease. “We’ll have the lease,” said Gerardo. “We’ll have the emails. And we’ll see what the judge says.” As of the date of publication, Gerardo has not received any additional information from ACI regarding his lease or possible eviction. “Also, December’s rent will get mailed,” Servodio said, noting that the Carinas’ lawyer assumes the rent will be returned. “We’ll mail January’s rent.”

Bacio’s has been an involved member of the Vassar community for years. At the Arlington Amble, an orientation week activity during which first-year students are acquainted with local businesses, Bacio’s staff hand out free t-shirts to the new class. For years, Bacio’s stayed open until 4 a.m. on the weekends in order to serve Vassar students. “I tried to treat the college kids the best I could’ve,” said Gerardo. 

“They have catered to Vassar more than any business on that block,” said Shannon Holmes, who has worked at Bacio’s for seven years. “I just don’t understand why somebody would do something so horrible.”

Waiting to see if December’s rent would be returned, Gerardo said, “What’s my next spot? Really, I’m gonna be on the street, or no?”

Barber Haus NY

Barber Haus, located at 9 Collegeview Ave, would also be torn down in ACI’s planned redevelopment. In the nearly 10 years since the business opened, Barber Haus owner Jaime Anglero has been on a month-to-month lease. Like Bacio’s, Barber Haus’ building was acquired by ACI on Oct. 31, 2023. But, despite Kaminski’s claim, Anglero claimed he was never told of any planned demolition and only learned of the potential redevelopment by speaking with the Carinas. “Speak to us like human beings,” said Anglero in a conversation with The Miscellany News. “This is not a gangster thing… Speak to us like gentlemen. And that’s it. That’s all we’re asking for.”

Anglero expressed his frustration with ACI and Vassar’s perceived lack of regard for local businesses: “When it comes to Arlington Business Capital, who’s Arlington Business Capital? He’s [Gerardo] been 20 years. I’ve been here 10 years. We’re Arlington Business Capital.” He noted his dissatisfaction with ACI’s treatment of Bacio’s in their negotiations, especially why they rescinded their offer to rent the pizzeria space in the Juliet. “If it’s not your fault, not his fault, come together and talk about it,” said Anglero. “Not, ‘Oh, well, you didn’t sign this and you didn’t give me this.’ He’s a pizza guy. He doesn’t read emails. I’m a barber. I don’t look at my emails… You know where we’re at. Come by… What’s so horrible about that? That’s all we’re asking for. Just be up front with us.”

Like Gerardo, Anglero discussed his disappointment with ACI’s conduct given his business’ contributions to the community. “We’re here for you guys, really,” said Anglero. “I cut hair on campus during COVID. I was on campus cutting hair by the cafeteria. We do the [Arlington] Amble every year… I do stuff with the baseball team. We do stuff with the volleyball guys.” In light of the local business’ involvement with Vassar students, Anglero said, “This is shocking to me that they would be comfortable doing this.”

Though Anglero opposes ACI’s redevelopment of Arlington, he did acknowledge that the Bacio’s and Barber Haus buildings need repairs. “All these buildings are crap, but you don’t have to handle it the way you did… There are renovations that could be done, but that’s different than kicking people out of here.”

House of Nutrition

House of Nutrition, located next door to Bacio’s and purchased by ACI on the same day, is another local business that will be affected by the demolitions. Even before ACI owned House of Nutrition’s building, owner Matt Johnson described having negative encounters with College Properties. According to Johnson, House of Nutrition was previously located at 1 Collegeview Ave, which is now occupied by Savona’s. After College Properties acquired the building, they elected not to renew House of Nutrition’s lease, instead offering the space to another business.

Today, House of Nutrition still has two years left in its five-year agreement with ACI. Johnson reflected, “A lot of people’s leases are up, and they’re at the mercy of ‘the kings.’ I’ve been in that situation… And I learned a hard lesson then—don’t play ball with those guys, they’re not nice.”

When ACI first acquired the property, Johnson alleged that Kaminski told him that 3 Collegeview Ave would be demolished in the coming years, but was not given a concrete timeline. Swarthout told The Miscellany News, “The project is intended to be phased, with current occupants able to move into new space in the neighborhood either temporarily or permanently should they desire to do so when their current locations are redeveloped.” However, Johnson maintained that, to date, no one from ACI has offered him a new space, nor helped him locate one.

Knowing that demolition is imminent, Johnson said that he feels stuck in his lease agreement: “I can’t go someplace that I know is open right now and move my store, because then they’re going to fuck me and stick me for two years in my lease… Because you know they will. They’re not nice. So I got to wait ’til my lease runs out.” He continued, “I only hope that they at least give me six months, 12 months, something acceptable.” 

However, Johnson expressed hopefulness about ACI’s plans for redevelopment. Though he had previously opposed the plans for Arlington, he noted that he has come to appreciate many of them, including the newly constructed roundabouts on Raymond Avenue. “I’ve learned after being around here for almost 40 years, that they’re not wrong,” said Johnson. “It’s just that we’re in the way, and that sucks. So, I’ve accepted my fate.”

Shannon Holmes

Shannon Holmes, a current Bacio’s employee, lived in an apartment above Barber Haus with her son and husband for nine years. Holmes and her family moved out of their home due to concerns over the property’s potential demolition.

Holmes only rented from ACI beginning in late 2023. Holmes described that her previous landlord would fix issues “almost immediately.” She maintained that this was not the case under ACI. “Everything was brushed off,” said Holmes. “And I blame that partly on the fact that [Kaminski] knew he was tearing the buildings down anyways. I’m sure he was like, ‘Why spend money on something I plan on destroying?’ But [he was] being negligent in the fact that people actually live there.”

While ACI owned Holmes’s apartment, she claimed that the unit’s roof was leaking, pieces of the ceiling were falling off and the walls were severely cracked. Holmes alleged that she communicated these concerns to Kaminski, but that no action was ever taken. Instead, Holmes said, “They came in and put in fire extinguishers and the necessary stuff, but that was about it.” 

Ultimately, Holmes and her family moved out of her former apartment on Oct. 1, 2025. “We had been looking for a place because we knew, obviously, the building was being torn down and we didn’t want to be left out on the streets because we were on a month-to-month agreement with Kaminski,” said Holmes. She reported that the apartment’s condition also motivated the move. 

While Holmes is no longer ACI’s tenant, she remains concerned about the impact that the company’s demolitions could have on her life. “I’m completely stressed,” said Holmes. “I mean, not only have I had to move, but now I’m losing my livelihood. I’ve been working at Bacio’s now for seven years.”

Shanna Treasure

Shanna Treasure works in Vassar Facilities Operations and has lived in the apartments behind Bacio’s for 16 years. When ACI bought her property in 2023, her old landlord gave everyone new year-long leases and told them that Berlind would be their new point of contact. According to Treasure, no one from ACI told her or her neighbors that demolitions were planned. However, Treasure explained, “I started hearing talk from my neighbor saying that we were going to be evicted.” Her neighbor asked, “‘Because you worked for Vassar, I was wondering if you heard anything?’ And I said, ‘No.’” She responded, “‘But now that you inform me in this, I am definitely going to ask.’”

At a Vassar event in Fall 2024, Treasure ran into “very important people” in the Vassar administration, whom she declined to name. “I asked one of these very important people,” Treasure remembered, “‘Were they going to evict us all?’ Just so we have a heads up, just so we’re not just blindsided.” She continued, “This person told me, ‘No.’ They had no intentions of putting anyone out. They know we work. They know that people have families. People are there with their children. They know the rents in the area are extremely high. They know that the building has reasonable rent. So they had no plans.”

In late Spring 2025, Treasure asked the same administrator if her building would be demolished. Now, Treasure said, “They confirmed to me, ‘Yes, we want to make a Vassar-friendly high rise.’” According to Treasure, the administrator said final plans were uncertain, but that they wanted the redevelopment to resemble Eastdale Village.

Treasure said that if her building is demolished, she will have nowhere else to go. “I love my apartment… It’s very reasonable. You’re not completely drowning in bills,” she explained. “Now, I have no idea where I’m going to go.”

Swarthout told the Miscellany, “As we approach this, one of the things we want to do is really bolster the high-quality and diverse and affordable, engaging community that is Arlington and build more housing and make more affordable housing available.” He added by email that occupants affected by redevelopment would be able to temporarily or permanently move into new neighborhood spaces.

Town Supervisor Rebecca Edwards, on leave from her position as Vassar Professor of History on the Eloise Ellery Chair, told the Miscellany by email, “This [redevelopment plan] is an opportunity to think about an array of issues related to Arlington. Those include what amount and types of housing are available, including expanded affordable housing, which is a very high priority for the Town.”

Treasure explained that she feels disillusioned from the lack of clear communication about her home’s future. “I don’t trust you,” she said of the administrator. “Now you’re just kind of in limbo, because you ask people questions and nobody wants to give you an honest answer. So now I literally don’t know if I’m going to come home and there’s going to be a 30-day eviction notice on my door.”

According to Treasure, her whole building is living under the stress of their home’s uncertain future. In prior years, she and her neighbors put up wreaths and other Christmas decorations. Now, she described, “I haven’t even decorated for Christmas because I don’t know if I’m going to be there or not… It’s just a bland, un-holiday building when it wasn’t like [that]. We used to love to decorate.”

Image courtesy of Kwabena Adae ’26.

Blue House

16 Lagrange Ave, commonly called Blue House, has been Vassar student housing for years. ACI bought the property on Jan. 22, 2024, making it ACI’s third property on Lagrange. 

One day after moving into Blue House, one of the tenants had to permanently leave the property because of a pre-existing health issue they claimed was exacerbated by the house’s conditions. The other students were unsure of what made the house uninhabitable for their housemate but speculated mold may have contributed. To check, they purchased at-home mold testing kits from a hardware store, which produced positive results. However, the students noted that these tests can be inaccurate and wanted professional testing to confirm. They also worried that factors other than mold may have contributed to their housemate’s illness.

On Sept. 2, 2025, the students reached out to Kaminski with their concerns about mold. Kaminski called them shortly thereafter, telling them that they should immediately move out of Blue House and into 30 Lagrange Ave, a house that ACI owns down the street. Kaminski told them that they should tour the new house that same day.

The students expressed concerns with 30 Lagrange Ave upon arrival. While the students had their own rooms in Blue House, 30 Lagrange was smaller and would have required them to share bedrooms. The students alleged that Kaminski told them that ACI would potentially move some of the walls to accommodate. The students were also concerned about the house’s condition. “There was fiberglass exposed in the attic in pretty sophisticated quantities,” said Blue House resident Kwabena Adae ’26. “And we also found mold in the basement that we took photos of before we left the house.”

The house was also unfurnished and Kaminski informed the students that they could not bring any of their old furniture to 30 Lagrange, in case it was infected by mold. “We would have had to furnish the entire thing by ourselves in the middle of the semester and then be [expected] to be leaving in about six months,” said Adae. 

Hours after the students toured 30 Lagrange, Kaminski called to ask them whether or not they would accept his offer to move. At that time, only two of Blue House’s residents had toured 30 Lagrange. Ultimately, the students felt that the new house was not safer.

“I think my personal biggest issue with that was, they were telling us to leave this house without having done any professional mold testing,” said Blue House resident Avery Nahf ’26. “They were saying, ‘This is the issue, this is our reason for asking and pressuring you to leave.’ They were not doing any proper testing to find out if this was actually an issue in the house.” Nahf added, “Every reason they gave for why they wouldn’t do precautionary measures, we heard equally as much as, ‘We care about your health, but we won’t put any money into the house because it’s set to be demolished.’”

The residents of Blue House alleged that Berlind informed them on Sept. 22 that if they refused to move out, she would ask them to sign a document waiving their right to a healthy and habitable house. 

Instead, the students pushed for ACI to order professional mold testing for Blue House. However, the students alleged that Kaminski was initially reluctant to do so because he did not want to pay for remediation in a property he planned to demolish. According to the students, on Sept. 24, Kaminski told them that New York State’s Warranty of Habitability can be waived due to the economic waste doctrine. The Warranty of Habitability establishes a landlord’s responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment for their tenants. The economic waste doctrine, a legal principle established by Jacob & Youngs, Inc. v. Kent, applies when the cost of a particular repair is substantially greater than the increased value of the property, if the repair was completed.

After repeatedly expressing their desire for professional mold testing to Kaminski with no resolution, the students sent an email to members of Vassar’s administration, including President Elizabeth Bradley, and Kaminski on Sept. 29 detailing their experiences with ACI, their concerns about Blue House and their demands moving forward. 

The students wrote, “We understand that mold abatement may be costly and disrupt plans for the re-development of the area. However, our lease was renewed with the agreement that we would have a safe and habitable place to live until June 1st, 2026. Your financial interests do not waive this agreement.” The students also requested a “clearly defined settlement offer” that met their housing and health needs while addressing their financial losses, such as the cost of moving and purchasing new furniture, if ACI declined to remediate the mold. 

The students only received a response from Kaminski. After the students’ email, Kaminski agreed to hire professional mold testing. The testing concluded that eight to 10 square feet of mold were discovered in the attic which would require remediation, but that Blue House was safe to inhabit. Professionals conducted mold remediation in October.

“It was a long, arduous process and like a tense process between us and our landlords,” said Nahf. “I’ve lost a lot of trust in them. In the end, we don’t know where we’re at now. Is the house safe? Is it not safe? It’s hard to tell.”