According to results from a homeownership poll conducted by the Siena Research Institute, 84 percent of New York voters supported the NY First Home proposal that would create a tax-free savings account to help New Yorkers save for a first home. Support for the program was bi-partisan and spread across the entire state, according...
Project Will Renovate, Modernize Caffè Lena, Plus Add Mixed-Use Structure On Phila Street
This architect’s rendering shows a building proposed by Bonacio Construction that would include
eight residential units, coinciding with upgrades to Caffè Lena, located just to its left.
BY R.J. DELUKE
“Our goal is that 50 years from now people
will still be flocking to this room,” Caffè
Lena Executive Director Sarah Craig said
at a Jan. 26 news conference, standing on
the stage of the historic folk music venue
on Phila Street in Saratoga Springs.
Those words were spoken at the announcement
of a $500,000 philanthropic
partnership between the venue and Saratoga’s
Bonacio Construction that will further
revitalize not only the 55-year-old Caffè,
but its neighborhood, because as part of
the Campaign for Caffè Lena, Bonacio assumes
the Caffè’s parking lot at Phila and
Henry Streets.
Sonny Bonacio announced from the stage
plans to construct a mixed-use building,
which will feature an elevator and stairwell
shared with the Caffè, at 47 Phila. The apartment
space, with an address of 55 Phila St.,
will have eight residential units.
He said if all goes well, the project could
be started in the spring and completed in a
large part by the end of 2016, with interior
work being finished up into early 2017.
Eagle Crest Makes Changes To Food Services; Housing Development May Be In Its Future
Eagle Crest continues business as usual, but a
housing complex may be in its future.
housing complex may be in its future.
BY MAUREEN WERTHER
A proposal to build a 170-unit housing development
on the site of the Eagle Crest Golf Course
could take six months or more to be approved by
the Town of Clifton Park Planning Board. But,
that’s OK said owner Bill Paulsen.
He has owned and operated the golf course
since 1991 and he has no plans to close anytime
soon.
According to Paulsen, ultimately, the parcel of
land would be worth more as land for construction
than as a turnkey golf operation. So he is looking
into the housing situation.
“If we are planning for retirement down the
road, this kind of project is a very long process. If I
decide to retire in 10 years or so, I don’t want to wait
five additional years [for the housing project to
take shape] to finally have the project ready to go.”
Construction Projects Abound In Region As Contractors Are Hopeful For A Busy 2016
This rendering shows what the Bonacio Construction project at 130 Excelsior Ave. in Saratoga
Springs will look like when the 65-unit apartment complex is done.
BY R.J. DELUKE
Construction season in the Saratoga County
will be in full swing weeks from now. Area contractors
say work is steady and 2016 is looking
like a solid year.
“Indicators are strong,” said Mike Munter, vice
president of Munter Enterprises in Middle Grove.
“We’re seeing a lot of bidding activity. We sense it’s
going to be another busy year ahead.”.
Bob Fortune of BCI Construction said there is a
lot of activity in the construction field this year, “but
it’s still a very, very competitive business. Margins
are very tight. You can’t afford to make mistakes.”
For Munter, his company is wrapping up work
on a new building for Greenfield Manufacturing
in the Grande Industrial Park in Saratoga Springs.
That is a 35,000-square-foot project on five acres.
110-Unit Rental Complex Being Constructed In Saratoga Springs For People Age 55 And Up
The Summit at Saratoga being built off Route
50 will have 110 living units for rent.
50 will have 110 living units for rent.
In a move designed to provide greater choice
to Capital Region seniors seeking independent
housing, Summit Senior Living LLC is constructing
a 110-unit rental complex called The Summit
at Saratoga on Perry Road off Route 50 in Saratoga
Springs.
The three-story apartment project, already underway,
will be situated on 12 acres and will comprise
one building with an integrated clubhouse
featuring an indoor pool and hot tub, sauna, fitness
center, full-service salon, tavern, movie theater
and a variety of other recreational areas, including
bocce ball and pickle ball courts, according to
Adam DeSantis, principal of Summit Senior Living.
J. Luke Construction Co. Inc. of Schenectady is
the general contractor on the project.
“The Saratoga Springs market is underserved in
terms of luxurious, yet affordable housing options
for those over 55,” said DeSantis. “This community
will give seniors tremendous value for their money
as there are no entrance fees. Included in each
month’s rental fees is access to our Senior Engaged
Life (SEL) program, which allows residents to remain
active in mind, body and spirit as they enjoy
everything from regular speakers and outings to
pilates and cooking classes.”
Completion is expected by this summer.
Firm Eyes Mixed-Use Buildings On Malta Land
BY LIZ WITBECK
Two new mixed-used retail and office
buildings are being planned on Route 9 in
Malta. The parcels are behind the CAP COM
Federal Credit Union building.
The buildings are being designed by Lansing
Engineering.
“There was a need for additional retail in
Malta,” said Yates Scott Lansing, owner of
Lansing Engineering. “People needed more
office space.”
Currently the project is in the conceptualization
phase.
“We hope to get through the process fairly
quickly. The Town of Malta has always been
pretty good about moving things forward.
We hope to break ground by the end of summer”
he said.”It’s still early in the project.”
Wesley Community Eyes More Senior Housing On Malta Medical Site Off Northway Exit 12
BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH
Seniors will one day have another option for
community living, thanks to a project underway
through the Wesley Community.
Wesley Community CEO Brian Nealon said
the new project will offer high-end luxury
apartments, along with some more affordable
options, located in Malta, west of Northway Exit
12 and off Route 67.
Wesley is partnering with Saratoga Hospital
on the project, which will be located on property
behind the hospital’s Malta Med Emergent Care
building, 6 Medical Park Drive.
Nealon said the area is owned by Saratoga
Hospital, who Wesley has partnered with before.
He said they are excited to once again join forces
and offer living options to the senior population.
Re-Designed Excelsior Park Development Continues Under Burns Management Auspices
A portion of this Excelsior Park neighborhood being developed was sold to James Burns and
Peter Rosecrans Jr. of Burns Management, an Albany-based real estate management company.
BY MAUREEN WERTHER
The path of real estate development rarely
runs swiftly or in a straight line, as evidenced
by the changes occurring at the Excelsior Park
development site located just minutes from
downtown Saratoga.
Nearly 10 years ago, John Witt of Witt Construction
originally envisioned the property to
contain more than 200 condominiums. But, as
the market for condominiums lessened, the
project was shut down after the first 30 units
were built and sold.
As the real estate market surged, Witt
resurrected his project, albeit with a different
focus on the types of units being built.
In response to the need for affordable rental
units in and around town, Witt sold a portion
of the Excelsior Park neighborhood to
James Burns and Peter Rosecrans Jr. of Burns
Management, an Albany-based real estate
management company.
The company paid $1.58 million for the
property and plans to invest another $20 million
on construction of the units.
Family-Owned Development Company Plans To Build Homes And More In Luther Forest
BY JILL NAGY
A proposed development on 200 acres in
Luther Forest– if approved by the Stillwater
Town Board–could result in of 40 “rural
residences” and commercial space designed to
meet the needs of GlobalFoundries.
It would include single-family homes on
lots ranging in size from three-quarters of
an acre to 12 acres, and some commercial
development.
The project is being proposed by the Luther/
Mackay family, which owns the land. The fifth
generation of the Luther/Mackay family, four
siblings and a cousin, took over the reins of
the Luther Forest Corp. when Alec Mackay
(father of the siblings) retired and moved to
New Hampshire last July.
According to Marissa Mackay who, with her
brother Cailean is responsible for the day-today
management of the company, the development
would help grow the business community
around the Global Foundries manufacturing
plant. It may include an extended-stay hotel
and will probably have office and warehouse
space but probably no retail tenants.
Work On Warehouse Expansion Is Started At Ace Hardware's Location In Northumberland
BY MAUREEN WERTHER
Ace Hardware Corp. has begun work on
a 400,000-square-foot addition to its existing
warehouse at 55 Northern Pines Road in
Northumberland.
The company said the new space will be devoted
exclusively to warehousing inventory and providing
order fulfillment to the more than 500 Ace
locations throughout the northeast.
“This facility is part of Ace Hardware’s supply
chain network of Retail Support Centers strategically
located across the globe,” said a statement
from the office of Frank Nesbitt, Wilton Retail
Support Manager for Ace Hardware Corp. “These
warehouses supply merchandise to the more than
4,800 Ace retail stores worldwide,” and the new
space at the Northumberland facility “will support
current and future inventory levels and sales. In
addition, much of the space will have pallet racking
installed to house greater quantities of inventory.”
The Northumberland location is strategic to
the company’s mission of serving its retail stores
with service and prompt order fulfillment so it can
“provide the best possible products to customers,”
said Nesbitt.