ELLENVILLE – According to Auction America Realty's Marvin Neuman on Monday, the planned public auction of the Nevele Grande Resort on September 1 was called off, and contracts for a sale of the resort have been signed.

"I have secured an amazing individual who is looking to completely renovate the Nevele and make it into a five-star hotel," he said. "The contracts are all signed; both sides are in agreement, the Nevele will close within a few weeks."

Neuman said he couldn't yet reveal information about just who the buyer is, but it's presumed that the purchase price came to at least $15.5 million, the starting bid posted on the resort's online listing. When asked about the buyer's identity, Neuman said that he has chosen to remain unknown for the time being.

"When you're dealing with this type of financial capability, I don't think that the purchaser wants a massive explosion to go around the county. I think that they want to think about how they're going to handle the Nevele," said Neuman.

Neuman did confirm, however, that the buyer is based overseas and plans on turning the Nevele Grande into a four or five star resort.

"The golf course is going to be more spectacular than it has ever been," he added.

The subject of what staff, if any, would be brought back on when and if the Nevele is reopened was also discussed by Neuman.

"The purchaser was extremely upset with some of the negativity from former staff, and I guess people should always remember that they are responsible for what they say. So we should always be taught to think before we speak," he said.

"I believe they are going to discern what to do, but I don't think that they are looking highly on those that were negative on the Nevele. That's definitive. I think they are going to be very supportive of those that were supportive."

The first news of the deal came only hours before Ulster County sent out a press release stating that they had filed suit against the Nevele and the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency for unpaid tax money through a Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement.

The county is seeking "$290,959.16, plus penalties, interest and attorneys' fees," according to the press release. The release states that the action was done to ensure that the debt was satisfied before the final sale or auction of the property.

Neuman said that the suit would not affect the sale, however.

"We're going to pay everybody off; he [the seller] has more than adequate funds to pay everything. Nobody's going to stop this," he said. "The financial stability of this buyer is tremendous."

The press release also states that naming the Ulster County IDA in the suit is only a formality, since it was the agency that established the PILOT agreement, and that it will not be seeking any damages from the IDA.

Neuman and members of Auction America Realty's staff were present at the Nevele Resort on Tuesday, just in case there were any backup offers made. The company's auctioneer, Bill Mannion, also put in appearance, despite the fact that no auction took place.

"I have [seller Joel] Hoffman very happy that he is going to be able to pay everybody," said Neuman of the resort's current owner. "He doesn't like walking down the street feeling the way he does…. He's in total shock right now."

Lance Matteson, the CEO of the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency, wasn't able to provide any more details as to the identity of the buyer, nor the price of the sale, but he did say that debts would be paid back.

"I can say that all indications are that it is a price that should cover the known debts against the property, both public and private," he said.

When asked what kinds of incentives the IDA might be able to work out with the purchaser, Matteson said that it was too early to know just yet.

"I'm sure we'll be talking to the buyers and having a conversation, but we need to know a lot more about what their plans are before that would be ripe," he said.

"In terms of the overall picture, we're certainly delighted at a fresh start and getting some jobs back in the Nevele and a facelift on the place of some kind…. We're going to do everything we can to support and encourage getting jobs back in there and getting serious investments that's needed forwarded to the place, and also that we have the tools to enforce the terms of the PILOT — which we feel we do. Given the history there, we'll obviously be looking very carefully, as I'm sure will the village and the county will all be looking very carefully also."