Most residents in the Town of Wawarsing are probably unfamiliar with widely known artist and Napanoch resident Tadasuke Kuwayama even though he and his wife, Dr. Patricia Kuwayama have lived in the area for a number of years and own one of Ellenville's most visible pieces of property – the former Ellenville National Bank Building located at the intersection of Canal Street and Route 209.

The Kuwayamas purchased the building at auction for $50,000 in December of 1999 from the Village of Ellenville. Since then, they have paid their taxes, spent a good deal of money renovating the building and have turned it into a space for Mr. Kuwayama to create and exhibit his artwork.

However, a few months ago, the Village of Ellenville began an eminent domain proceeding against the Kuwayamas because the village's current administration feels that the previous administration made a mistake in selling the land adjacent to Resnick Park to the couple. The Village Board, led by Mayor Jeff Kaplan, wishes to reclaim most of the land surrounding the old bank building in order to expand the size of Resnick Park.

"The greening of that corner was supposed to make that area look like a park. Mr. Kuwayama has made that area look like a parking lot", said Kaplan. Mayor Kaplan is referring to the fact that Mr. Kuwayama has, within the past year, blacktopped the area of land right next to his building which happens to be next to the park. But Mr. Kuwayama and his wife argue that the blacktopping was done in an effort to stop drainage problems that were causing water to enter into his building's basement.

In addition to the alleged aesthetic problem that the parking lot creates, the village contends that the Kuwayamas did not follow through with their original stated purpose for the building. In a December 13, 1999 letter from Joseph Tso, who represented the Kuwayamas, to then Village of Ellenville attorney, Jay Zeiger, Tso wrote, "On their behalf I am submitting an offer to purchase the old Ellenville National Bank building for $50,000, in cash, to be converted into an art gallery. Since we have many local talents such as Harold Harris, Sally Berger, Adele Rosenstock, etc., and more in Cragsmoor, I believe it would be a tremendous lift for our local culture."

The village board has taken the letter to mean that the Kuwayama's initially proposed a public art gallery for the old bank building and Mayor Kaplan is quick to point out that since they took ownership, the building's doors have never been open to the public.

Mr. Kuwayama responds, "I never promised to make the space open to the public." Indeed, the Kuwayamas contend that the use of the word "gallery" in the letter is rather loose and that the building is, in fact, a private gallery and exhibition space for Mr. Kuwayama's work.

The major problem for Mr. Kuwayama is that, without the land surrounding the building, he will have no parking space and he will lose easy access to his work space. In addition, he feels that the building will lose a significant portion of its value. The two issues, Kuwayama implied, could be motivation enough for him to sell the building. "It really is the lack of respect that is so galling," said Dr. Patricia Kuwayama. Referring to the village board she continued, "They have an attitude that whatever idea they get into their heads is what should happen."

Dr. Kuwayama also argues that the whole notion of the park is wrongheaded. Dr. Kuwayama cites the park's size (or lack thereof) and proximity to heavy traffic on Route 209 as reasons why the land would never be a viable park area.

With regard to the parking issue, the village board contacted the Town of Wawarsing and was able to negotiate an easement to enter through the Town Hall's parking entrance and park behind and to the other side of the old bank building. The Kuwayamas have said that is unacceptable.

Currently, the village is completing the work on its appraisal of the land in question and the two parties will attend a special meeting on Friday, January 19 to discuss the future of the proceeding.

Village manager Elliott Auerbach said, "It is disappointing that it had to come to this. I am saddened by his [Mr. Kuwayama's] selfishness."

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