The North Campus, formerly the Grace United Methodist Church, has been dividing the council and residents ever since the city decided to purchase the property in 2002.

Some have called it a white elephant, some see it as an investment for the future.

Last year, in the heat of the election campaign, the issue of the North Campus came up again and again. Now, as the city grapples with an uncertain economic future, it has decided to determine the future of the campus.

Councilman Norman Kline said that he hasn't changed his view on the campus in the last year. He thinks that the city is better off selling it.

"One time money can disappear really quickly," Kline said. "But we can use the money in three or four different ways. If we do decide to sell the property, we have to carefully determine where we will use the money."

North Campus, on Prospect Road, is made up of four buildings spread over 2.6 acres. Only one building is currently usable. The rest need to be renovated and their restrooms need to comply to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"One building is currently used by several nonprofit groups and groups like the Saratoga Museum and the Boy Scouts," said Joan Pisani, director of the recreation department.

She said some religious groups have also used the building for meetings. Nonprofits are required to pay only half the rental fee. "The Sheriff's Department has also used the building for writing reports," Pisani said.

In the last fiscal year, the city spent about $21,000 on maintaining the property and earned about $14,000 in rental fees, according to Pisani.

In 2002, when Saratoga first purchased the property, the city spent $80,000 on maintaining the North Campus. "We had to get the facility painted. We also had to repair all the fences on the property," said Pisani.

Councilman Nick Streit was the mayor when the city purchased the property in 2002. "It was bought for the purpose of keeping the sheriff's department in Saratoga," Streit said.

He said the original plan was to have the senior center move to North Campus while the sheriff's department moved to the civic center.

"But the situation has changed now because the sheriff has moved elsewhere. I will look at the budget carefully and then decide what the best use is for the campus," he said.

At a recent meeting with the city council, the Saratoga seniors indicated that they were open to using the campus for senior activities.

"Our basic concern is that we need more space so that we can serve the seniors better," said Genie Dee, executive director at the center. "We would be delighted to get to use the North Campus. But if the city decided to sell it, we could live with that, too."

"As long as our concern about space is addressed, we will be happy," she said.

Dee said that there was a lot of confusion when the city first bought the campus. "I believe that there was not enough discussion about the possibilities," said Dee.

Streit said that it would be difficult to find more space for anyone at a time when the city is having difficulty in maintaining its existing property. "We have to live with the dollars we have," he said.

Kline said that he would carefully listen to all the arguments on Feb. 16.

"The seniors need around 2,000-square feet more. I am sure we can find some other space for them," he said.

Mayor Kathleen King said that there was no clear idea yet on how the North Campus could be used.

"I am open to ideas. It is always good to have land. But on the other hand we do not have the money to renovate the property," King said.

She said that if sold, the North Campus would fetch the city somewhere between $5­6 million.

The newest member of the Saratoga City Council, Aileen Kao, said that it would be great if the property could be developed for use by the community. "It is a very nice piece of property and it is centrally located. But I am also very concerned about the financial situation of the city," Kao said. "We have to think what is best for the city."

During election season last year, Councilwoman Ann Waltonsmith argued repeatedly that the North Campus was an asset to the city and should not be sold. She hasn't changed her mind.

"The main civic center is already crowded. There are schools all around it. There is a college and a library. The senior population is growing," she said.

Waltonsmith said that the church had sold the property to the city on a promise that the campus would be used as a service center to the community.

She suggested that some of the buildings in the campus be leased out long-term. "We would have to enter into an agreement so that the people renting the buildings would renovate it," Waltonsmith said.

She said that it would be bad economics to sell the North Campus.

The stage seems set for a lively debate on Feb. 16.