ROTTERDAM Officials weigh uses for old plaza Curry Road site draws proposals BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Town officials are considering proposals from three companies to redevelop the longdormant Curry Road Shopping Center. Over the past two weeks, Town Board members heard hourlong proposals from Touhey Associates of Albany, Traditional Builders of Rotterdam, and Polito Homes and Columbia Development of Duanesburg for building on the roughly 10 acres of townowned land. Supervisor Steven Tommasone said the board will review the proposals and make a final decision by the end of the month. “This is one of those issues that can’t wait any longer,” he said. The Town Board is not unanimous on the schedule, however. In April, about 80 companies were sent information on the property and issues affecting any project there. Although six companies responded, only three pitched proposals. The property includes two buildings containing 68,000 square feet and 9,600 square feet of space. In the larger building, the Golub Corp. still occupies about 7,700 square feet, which is used to house Price Chopper’s print shop. About half of the smaller building is leased by Trustco Bank through 2011. Golub donated the land to Rotterdam in 2003. Initially the idea was to build a town government complex there, but that was deemed to be too expensive. Now, Polito Homes and Columbia Development are proposing to use the property for 94 two-bedroom condominium units, with some space reserved for buyers over the age of 50. The condominiums would be clustered to the rear of the property in order to provide a buffer with Curry Road; the proposal also includes plans for a clubhouse facility and gazebo. The bank would be moved to street frontage and the print shop building would be moved off-site, according to the proposal. Additionally, a 9,000-square-foot commercial building would be located in the front of the property to house a medical office and a small retail space. Similarly, the proposal pitched by Traditional Builders offers mixed-use development, including both commercial and residential. The company proposes to build 30 high-density residential units on 2.5 acres abutting the southwest corner of the property. Along Curry Road, Traditional proposes to build two free-standing restaurants and a new location for Trustco. Behind this area, the company proposes a building for professional or medical use; the rear portion of the property would be reserved for a small park. The area now housing the print shop would be transformed into commercial space for businesses that would serve the residential component of the development, such a health club, day care center or retail stores, according to the proposal. Unclear, however, is whether the print shop would be relocated or incorporated into the project. The proposal by Touhey Associates also sees the Curry Road frontage as commercial. As with the other two proposals, the company offers a retail building and parking lot along the road, where the bank would be relocated. However the largest component of the proposal is a 50,000-squarefoot climate-controlled self-storage unit instead of the residential elements. The proposal doesn’t outline plans for the print shop. Board member John Mertz said all of the proposals were well thought out. He said the right project will be the one that generates the most tax revenue for the town. “Clearly, projects that are going to rejuvenate or bring a high tax base back are two of my priorities,” he said. Though he found the proposals interesting, board member Robert Godlewski said the final decision should rest with the voters, not the Town Board. Previously, Godlewski advocated a new municipal complex. “Before they have my vote to give that land away, I want a referendum on the November ballot,” he said. “Let the people decide.” How the land would be transferred by the town is among the unresolved issues. But Tommasone dismissed this idea. He said the redevelopment of the property is long overdue and the board is capable of making a decision. “[A referendum] doesn’t make any sense whatsoever,” he said. “This is a piece of property that the town needs to redevelop.”
Just what we need, more MFRH. Then, we can all stand in a circle and sing Kum-Bye-Ya in the parking lotbackyard new town park.
And after all these recommendations that were made, all adding some sort of retail, I thought that there was a stipulation in the contract that when they got the land from Golub that no retail establishments could go on that land. Are we just throwing out the contract???
Then, we can all stand in a circle and sing Kum-Bye-Ya in the parking lot backyard new town park.
You are just too freakin' funny!!
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Though he found the proposals interesting, board member Robert Godlewski said the final decision should rest with the voters, not the Town Board. “Before they have my vote to give that land away, I want a referendum on the November ballot,” he said. “Let the people decide
What is this guy talking about? A REFERENDUM? Well then, let's put Heldeburg Medows up for a referendum too! He doesn't wanna go there......
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I think that Golub put a restriction on any food type of store that would compete with Price Chopper. That's a great idea Bumble lets put Helderberg Meadows up for a vote in November and I'll bet it would get voted down. Unfortunately the Town Board wants the development built because it'll bring in tax revenue and that's all that counts with them. If down the road this development causes problems with flooding the builder and the town will both be responsible.
Mr. Godlewski is always right there to knock any idea down with his critisizms, but never offers an alternative. It's just always..."nope..not that"...."can't vote for that"..."don't like that"...."nope...to expensive"....where are his suggestions?
But ya know what....if he wants a referendum...than by all means, bring it on and make darn sure there is one for Heldeburg Medows as well and every other single deveopment that gets proposed.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Now, Polito Homes and Columbia Development are proposing to use the property for 94 two-bedroom condominium units, with some space reserved for buyers over the age of 50
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Similarly, the proposal pitched by Traditional Builders offers mixed-use development, including both commercial and residential. The company proposes to build 30 high-density residential units
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The area now housing the print shop would be transformed into commercial space for businesses that would serve the residential component of the development, such a health club, day care center or retail stores, according to the proposal
That is the equivalent to a retirement community/nursing home.......would there be sewers involved.....that's right,, there is sewer hook-up there....lucky them
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However the largest component of the proposal is a 50,000-squarefoot climate-controlled self-storage unit instead of the residential elements. The proposal doesn’t outline plans for the print shop.
No freakin' way.....graffiti magnet/crime/hang out/ alarms etc.....UGLY....WASTED SPACE.......
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Board member John Mertz said all of the proposals were well thought out. He said the right project will be the one that generates the most tax revenue for the town. “Clearly, projects that are going to rejuvenate or bring a high tax base back are two of my priorities,” he said
Dont be so short sighted.......there are more than just shadows on the wall......
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“Before they have my vote to give that land away, I want a referendum on the November ballot,” he said. “Let the people decide.”
Dont waste our time......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Anything that is built in the Curry Road Plaza will be better than what's there right now. It's just a run down dump, at least it'll bring in some tax money to Rotterdam. I just hope that whatever is built is a nice looking development, landscaped, some trees and the owners required to keep the development looking like the day it was built.
You are correct.....anything would be better than it is now......I just question all this MFRH going up all over.....is it good???.....I say some shops, few MFRH, restaurants,,,,,,DEFINITELY NO STORAGE---that is just plain ugly........
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
you guys dont seem to want anything....Let the place rot I guess...
Here's the thing...we had that nice little "study" done by Synthesis(located on State Street) for Hamburg street.....wellllllllll, their design ideas were GREAT!....I certainly hope our Comprehensive plan would make this not just $$ getting but for use in our posterity......whom ever is the 'winner' and they will be a winner, will have to be made aware of our standard.....I just hope our standard isn't "something for nothing".......both from the developers end and the residents end........
I do believe a nice tie-in of the patina of the town should be from Hamburg Street all the way to the Junction.....THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE NEW TOWER IN THE JUNCTION TO HAVE 'ROTTERDAM' PAINTED ON IT....ALONG WITH THE TOWER SEEN ON HAMBURG STREET.......
NOW IS THE TIME FOLKS.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
you guys dont seem to want anything....Let the place rot I guess...
I agree with what you are saying. And though it may appear that no one wants anything new here, I think that everyone is just a little skeptical since some past developments have hurt Rotterdam more than help. Also, we are finding that more and more residents are becoming more informed and involved in the town they live in...FINALLY!
For example, let's take the proposed WalGreens....some would say that perhaps that is not the right location...but ya know what?....it'll look better than the old run down Capital Plaza!!! And from what I understand, there is an existing water problem there as well. So even though a walgreens will clearly update and look better than what's presently there.....will there be a water problem there in the future and if so...who will be held responsible/accountable?
We do need to move ahead...but cautiously!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I agree with what you are saying. And though it may appear that no one wants anything new here, I think that everyone is just a little skeptical since some past developments have hurt Rotterdam more than help. Also, we are finding that more and more residents are becoming more informed and involved in the town they live in...FINALLY!
I agree, and many of those "developments" have all been the same thing. Although I can't say how much it really has affected the town lately, I know I have been, at least in here, an opponent of MFRH. I was just thinking sitting here, though, what harm has it done, and if it IS doing harm, what can we do to stop it. The other thing I was thinking is that if it's NOT doing harm, then isn't it just spreading the tax base, so my new assessment is less, compared to the whole of the entire town, each time one of these is built?
For example, let's take the proposed WalGreens....some would say that perhaps that is not the right location...but ya know what?....it'll look better than the old run down Capital Plaza!!! And from what I understand, there is an existing water problem there as well. So even though a walgreens will clearly update and look better than what's presently there.....will there be a water problem there in the future and if so...who will be held responsible/accountable?
Maybe the Walgreens idea should be moved to the Curry Rd Shopping Center. And another question...Can we really call it a "Shopping Center" when all there is there is a bank and other run-down buildings?
Absolutely, and maybe going ahead with something there, and all around town is possible, but we need to make sure that the Town Board is listening to the townspeople before there's an entire revolt. Either that or maybe the revolt would be good, with fresh blood coming on to the town board.
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