Category Archives: Construction

Quality Design & Remodel, recently opened its state-of-the-art design center in Clifton Park. The 6,000-square-foot facility represents a significant evolution from what people expect from a typical home remodeler. This new design center is their next step in changing how homeowners feel about the remodeling experience by streamlining many of the more cumbersome aspects of home renovations and providing a hands-on design experience that homeowners will love, all under one roof.

 Quality Design & Remodel’s Clifton Park Design Center enables direct collaboration between clients and expert designers. It eliminates the previously time-consuming, multi-location process of selecting cabinets, flooring, countertops, and more with its interactive design areas, multiple kitchens (including a fully operable gourmet kitchen), functional bathroom displays, and hundreds of premium product options showcasing the firm’s expansive selection. The Quality Design & Remodel Team built and installed everything in the design center so homeowners can see firsthand the craftsmanship they’ll get for their projects.

By Rod Bacon

The skilled craftsmen at Munter Enterprises have plenty to keep them busy for quite some time. The Middle Grove-based construction company is in the midst of several projects, is finishing up others, and has still others in the planning stages.

According to Vice President Mike Munter, one of the more interesting projects for which they hope to break ground soon is a new branch for the Hudson River Community Credit Union. The 2,500-square-foot building in Greenwich will include a drive-thru and state-of-the-art Interactive Teller Machines (ITMs). Munter worked with Paone Architecture of Saratoga Springs for the building’s design and Verity Engineering, D.P.C. of Troy for site design. All approvals are in place and a June ground breaking is planned.

“This project is very interesting because of the demographic in the area,” said Munter. “For the Amish community there will be a hitching post and water hydrant in the parking lot for the horses.”

Another local project is for a firm relocating from Albany to a 15,000-square-foot building on Pierce Road off Northway Exit 10 in Clifton Park. Munter Enterprises is renovating the building for Kinsley Power, a company that supplies a variety of backup generator systems. They carry industrial and residential generators as well as cogeneration and battery storage systems. That project is underway and will be completed in June.

By Susan Elise Campbell

F.H. Alexander, Inc., the Schaghticoke based commercial construction company, has a full docket for the summer.

Owner Frank Alessandrini said that over the course of business since 1991, his company has become known for building restaurants, convenience stores, and retail spaces, and for renovating hospitals, schools, libraries, and other business and medical spaces.

“But this year is a little bit unusual for us,” Alessandrini said. “We are doing more and smaller projects than in past few years.”

“This trend is not an overall indication of the general economy or the business,” he said. “It’s just what we have landed.”

Starting mid-May, there are two projects for COARC, the Columbia County chapter of The ARC NewYork. One is an addition and a renovation and the other is a smaller renovation, he said.

Also starting soon are some interior renovations for Greenwich Library.

By Susan Elise Campbell

That the final 10 townhouses in the Thompson Farms development are expected to sell soon is one indicator of a healthy residential real estate market in Malta, as well as all of Saratoga County, according to Cindy Quade, owner of Signature ONE Realty Group.  

The twin townhomes were built by Michaels Group Homes, with whom Quade has collaborated for more than 35 years, she said. Michaels Group is a third generation, quality homebuilder.

The last street developed in the complex is a cul-du-sac with 12 townhomes.  Fifty percent of those homes sold within two weeks of coming to market, she said.

“Some clients waited for the cul-du-sac to open, but all the lots are great,” Quade said, 

The land was a working farm on East High Street in Malta, where the Thompson Farms silo still stands.

“Townhomes are maintenance free and appeal to a wide market, not just empty nesters,” said Quade. 

With a starting price around $450,000, Quade said first-timers and other buyers find they have the flexibility to get into a new, affordable home and to upscale some of the plans and features if they so choose.

By Paul Post

A new service station in Rexford, a Stewart’s Shop in Plattsburgh and dining hall at the Luzerne Music Center.

These are among the many commercial projects on Hilltop Construction Company’s work schedule as it tries to navigate uncertain economic times of rising prices and potential supply chain issues related to the current tariff situation.

“We’re very diversified in what we do and what we can do to help deal with that situation,” co-owner and Vice President Dan Washburn said. “If one sector pulls back the other might not. We get a good mix to help deal with that.”

Commercial work, which accounts for half the company’s revenue stream, is primarily focused on an area from Albany to Lake George, although Hilltop is one of the main firms Stewart’s calls on for remodelling and new store construction projects throughout the region.

It’s nearing completion of a new Stewart’s Shop at the corner of Glen Street and Sherman Avenue in Glens Falls, and is also renovating and expanding a store at the north end of Saratoga Lake, just over the Fish Creek bridge, on Route 9P.

By Paul Post

Nearly three dozen area contractors turn to Local 773 whenever they land a big job and need to bring on highly-qualified plumbers, steamfitters, pipefitters and HVAC technicians.

The 500-member, Queensbury-based union supplies skilled workers for a wide variety of projects from GlobalFoundries in Malta to recently-completed refrigeration upgrades at Lake Placid’s Olympic facilities.

A five-year apprenticeship includes hands-on work plus September to April classes, each year, at Local 773’s headquarters and training facility at 37 Luzerne Road.

“It’s an earn and learn program,” Business Manager Mike Jarvis said. “When an apprentice comes in they sign up with the union, work during the day for a contractor and go to school at night three times per week.”

Applications are accepted one day each month. When enough applications come in, the union sets up an aptitude test. Candidates are also interviewed by an eight-person Joint

By Christine Graf

Soleno, a Canadian company that specializes in manufacturing recycled high-density polyethylene pipes, has chosen Saratoga Springs as the location for it’s first U.S. plant. Construction is underway on the $22 million facility, located at 66 Duplainville Road in the W.J. Grande Industrial Park. Munter Enterprises Inc is the General Contractor.

Soleno manufactures storm water management products for the infrastructure, residential, natural resource, and agricultural development sectors. Products include pipes, drains, culverts, catch basins, treatment systems, fittings, and drainage accessories

According to J. Gregory Connors, CEO of Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), his agency was “very much involved” in working to bring Soleno to Saratoga County. 

“We prepared an application on Soleno’s behalf for consideration by the county IDA based on a $22 million capital investment in the City of Saratoga Springs. There has been a promise to create 22 full-time jobs in its first year of operation. There will be an additional 35 jobs in the second year, and there will also be 20 +/- construction jobs to build the site.”

By Christine Graf

In the Capital Region real estate market and beyond, a shortage of inventory has made it difficult for buyers to find reasonably priced homes. The Center for American Progress, an independent policy institute, believes modular homes may be the answer to the American housing crisis. According to a report issued by the institute in February 2024, “Modular building, if brought to scale, has the potential to reduce construction costs and make building new homes more affordable, especially in areas experiencing severe affordable housing shortages.”

Modular homes are often confused with mobile homes, but the two are distinctly different. While modular home components are fabricated in factories, the homes themselves are assembled on-site and attached to permanent foundations. 

When it comes to the construction process, there is virtually no difference between a modular home and a site-built home. Both are built with the same materials and are subject to the same regulations. 

Saratoga Modular Homes is a leader in the local modular home market, offering opportunities for customers in the Capital Region, Adirondacks, and the Mohawk Valley to build energy efficient custom modular homes with upgraded finishes. Owner Cecil Provost is on the board of directors for the National Modular Home Builder’s Association, and he also owns Saratoga Construction, Saratoga Log Homes, and ProRealty New York Inc,  

“We’re slammed with business. I’ve never seen it so busy,” he said. “What has happened is that everyone refinanced their homes three or four years ago at 2.5 or 3 percent, so there’s no resale inventory on the market. So, demand for new construction is very strong.”

Harbor Freight Tools has announced that it will be opening a new store in Saratoga Springs. The new store will be located at 3064 Route 50 and is expected to open this spring. An official opening date will be announced closer to opening.

Construction has already begun at the location, using local workers and companies from the surrounding Saratoga Springs area.

“We’ve been looking to open a location in Saratoga Springs for a number of years so that we can provide the tools and equipment at tremendous values to the community,” said Trey Feiler, senior vice president, Real Estate and Construction for Harbor Freight Tools. “In addition to finding a great location, we were attracted by the availability of great Associates in the Saratoga Springs area, and we look forward to having them join the Harbor Freight team.”

The store is expected to bring between 25 and 30 new jobs to the community, including Sales and Logistic Supervisors, Senior Associates, Sales Associates, and seasonal opportunities as well. Harbor Freight Tools offers a competitive starting rate along with a best-in-class retail benefits package that includes robust health coverage, and Thanksgiving and Christmas off. Harbor Freight has over 28,000 Associates and more than 1,500 locations nationwide.

Interested applicants can apply online at www.harborfreightjobs.com/retail and search “Saratoga Springs, NY”.

Harbor Freight Tools, a family-owned company, started in Southern California in 1977. The first store opened in 1980, and the company has grown to over 1,500 stores nationwide. With two-three new locations opening every week, Harbor Freight is one of America’s fastest growing retailers.

By Paul Post

A Spa City builder hopes to break ground late this summer on the first of 31 custom homes, priced at $1 million and up, on the east side of Saratoga Lake.

Witt Construction owner John Witt says Phyllian’s Bluff, a 111-acre conservation subdivision with a unique agriculture component, will “be the nicest project in the county by keeping the rural character of the town of Saratoga’s farmland.”

He said more than 61 acres will be kept as green space in perpetuity, with no new buildings allowed. Nearby Old Tavern Farm will use most of this to expand its thoroughbred breeding operation in addition to planting a new vineyard to go along with its existing cut flower business.

“We have 2,000 vines on order that will be planted in May and will grow our winery operations to meet the capacity of the additional vines,” said Nicole Borisenok, Old Tavern Farm Winery owner. “This site is also home to our 24,000 cut flowers that we plant each season to supply local farmers markets and businesses in our community. By the time we are done, it will be a beautiful farm and agricultural site.”

The property was previously home to a farm and been vacant for about 80 years, Witt said. There is an old farmhouse and historic barn on site, surrounded by fields of rye and flowers. So Witt and Old Tavern together are in effect bringing an old farm back to life.