Category Archives: Construction

Hattie’s Restaurant has finished construction of its renovated patio and re-opened it on May 3.

Owners Jason and Beth Alexander decided it was time for the back patio to get a face-lift.

“The swamp, as some lovingly call the patio, was in much need of some TLC,” said Beth. The bar was built years ago by former owner Colin MacLean by using banquet tables as a bar top.  “It was a great idea and it has served us well, but it was time for a change”

With construction going on around them—including renovations at the neighboring Caffe Lena and construction of apartments at the corner of Phila and Henry streets—the Alexanders decided that the time was right to upgrade their back yard.

They hired long-time customer Matt Geleta to build the bar, past Hattie’s employee Sue Waldron of Sue Waldron Designs to work on the design and Patrick Coffey of IQ contracting as the contractor.

By Jill Nagy

Witt Construction Inc. in Saratoga Springs is planning a 32-lot housing subdivision on a about 111 acres of land on Saratoga Lake.

Termed a “conservation subdivision” by John Witt, company president, it will be comprised of 31 new houses clustered on 58 acres of the lot.

A pre-existing farmhouse and land for a “gentleman’s farm” will be the 32nd lot. He said. The rest of the land will be undisturbed woodland, open space or wetlands.

Called Cedar Bluff Farm, the subdivision will be accessible from Route 9P via Cedar Bluff Road (County Route 71) and from Trombley Road. Most of the houses will be on Hill Road, which ends in a cul-de-sac, and on Trombley Road, said Witt. 

Cedar Bluff Road connects Route 9P and Trombley Road.

By Susan E. Campbell

The structural steel contracting industry is going so strong that one area professional foresees excellent employment opportunities for skilled ironworkers in the next few years.

Dino B. Benedict is the New York business manager for Midwest Steel. Headquartered in Detroit, the firm also has offices in Muncie, Ind., Orlando, Fla., and Ballston Spa.

In Saratoga County, it’s common to see a bridge, stadium, airport or other structures where Midwest Steel played a role in steel construction, precast concrete, or both.

“It is not typical in the industry for a company that erects the steel skeleton of a building to also form the concrete slabs that enclose that skeleton,” said Benedict. 

Benedict said that some local projects include Samaritan Hospital, Rivers Casino, the ZEN building at SUNY Polytech, and GlobalFoundries. Business growth is so healthy in New York and the New England states that he predicts a shortage of welders, steel workers and other qualified laborers soon. 

“It is a great time for young people out of high school to contact local unions about apprenticeship programs,” he said.

Whenever Midwest Steel takes on a project in the U.S. or Canada, the first step is for the project supervisor to meet with local union officials to discuss the scope of the project and manpower needs. 

Peter Loyola, left, poses with his staff in the new offices of his company, CLA SITE Landscape Architecture, Engineering & Planning PC. The firm moved to Church Street in Saratoga Springs.

Courtesy CLA SITE

By Maureen Werther

CLA SITE Landscape Architecture, Engineering & Planning PC has moved its offices.

CLA SITE recently relocated its offices from 157 Lake Ave. to 58 Church St. in Saratoga Springs.

CLA SITE has been in business for 19 years, starting as a site landscape architectural and planning firm and adding the civil engineering component in 2004.

Peter Loyola, RLA, principal landscape architect, said that the timing was right and the company needed more space to accommodate a growing staff. The firm has grown from two employees to seven.

The team performs work throughout the state and recent projects include upgrading the infrastructure and construction of a main lodge and amphitheater at Camp Walden in Diamond Point. The company also completed a waterfront improvement project there.

The move also coincides with its recent designation as a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) in August 2015.

“There is a huge need for MBE firms in engineering and planning,” said Loyola. “One of the main questions we were asked during the final interview phase of the certification application was, ‘Why have you waited so long to do it?'”

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), state Department of Public Service (DPS), EnterSolar and Clean Energy Collective (CEC) began a collaborative project in April involving construction of the first Shared Renewables community solar project in New York state.

The project is taking place in Halfmoon.

State officials said the project advances the goals of the state’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) strategy to build a clean, resilient and affordable energy system by helping to make clean energy a possible choice for more residents.

The success of REV depends on communities taking charge of their own energy as New York increases the growth of electricity generation at customer sites to supplement power generated at central power plants, NYSERDA officials said.

The announcement was made at the groundbreaking for the project April 27 in Halfmoon.

The Halfmoon Community Solar Project will feed solar energy to the grid operated by New York State Electric & Gas Corp. (NYSEG) and will allow more than 100 residential customers in NYSEG’s Capital Region territory (parts of Columbia, Essex, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Washington counties), including low-income residents, to participate in local clean power generation and save money on their electricity bills.

This bridge from Rexford in Saratoga County to Niskayuna is being replaced.

Courtesy NYS Department of Transportation

Construction of a new Rexford Bridge carrying Route 146 over the Mohawk River between Rexford in Clifton Park to the town of Niskayuna began in April.

The project is expected to cost $33 million, state officials said.

“The Rexford Bridge is a vital link between these communities that thousands of Capital Region residents depend on every day,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “This project will ensure this bridge remains viable for years to come and is yet another example of our commitment to improving the safety and strength of our transportation infrastructure across this state.”

Work will begin first on constructing a new roundabout at the intersection of Aqueduct Road and Route 146 in Niskayuna and intersection improvements at Riverview Road in Rexford, the governor said. Motorists should allow additional time in their travels, particularly during commuting times, during construction of the intersections.

This rendering shows a new design concept used by the La Quinta hotel chain, called Del Sol. It is the style of the new hotel being built on Route 9 in Clifton Park that is near completion.

Courtesy Anthony Casale

By R.J. DeLuke

Construction of a new La Quinta hotel is nearing completion on Route 9 in Clifton Park and should be open some time in June, its owner said.

Anthony Casale, who owns Casale Rent-All in Clifton Park, is the sole principal for the four-story, 104-room hotel. It is located at 1749 Route 9, near Northway Exit 9. It sits on a 4.5-acre lot.

Bette & Cring in Latham is the general contractor for the project. The company has done projects in the area including the Hampton Inn in downtown Saratoga Springs, Saratoga National Golf Club and Hyatt Place in Malta.

Casale said construction crews are working on the stucco exterior and also doing some interior sheetrock work. But it could be open as early as June 20.

Construction began in November.