I do know that there was some concern over the dry cleaners having contaminated soil near that area but I've never heard of anything being done one way or the other to prove it.
Posted on: 07/19/07 Written by: Jessica Harding, Schenectady County Reporter email: hardingj@spotlightnews.com
Town officials are shopping around for proposals to redevelop the town-owned Curry Road Shopping Plaza.
Three different proposals were presented to the town board June 28 and July 2 and 3 by local development firms.
The town acquired the 10-acre land parcel from the Golub Corp. for $1. The parcel still hosts the Golub Corp.’s print shop and Trustco Bank and abuts the Rotterdam District 2 fire station.
Supervisor Steven Tommasone said he wants to get the property back on the tax rolls as quickly as possible and expects to hold a meeting to discuss the town’s options next week. He hopes a final decision will be reached at the board’s meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 8.
“It is imperative that we get this property back on the tax rolls as soon as possible, and more importantly put in place development that will be very attractive as this property is in the center of our town,” Tommasone said.
All three proposals offer different uses for the property, but all three involve relocating the Trustco Bank and renovating — if not relocating — the Golub Corp.’s print shop.
Touhey Associates proposed relocating the Trustco Bank to align the building with Curry Road and build about 5,000 square feet of office or retail space. Touhey Associates would then like to build a 50,000 square-foot storage facility behind the office building. Touhey Associates operates various storage facilities in the Capital District including Spare Room 1 on Central Avenue, Spare Room 2 on Watervliet Shaker Road and Spare Rooms in Green Island and Glenville.
Columbia Development Companies and Polito Homes LLC proposed creating a mixed-use center with 94 condominium units, a portion of which would be reserved for senior housing. In addition, a portion of the land would be used for retail space, which would allow Trustco Bank to relocate and possibly have drive-through services.
Columbia Development Companies proposes to build a 9,000- square-foot professional building for medical uses and retail space. The remaining .27 acres would be subdivided and dedicated to the fire district to allow the firehouse to expand.
Traditional Builders and New York Development Group also proposed a mixed-use center with 2.5 acres dedicated to 30 condominium units, 2.5 acres dedicated to a professional building, 3.5 acres for a commercial building and 1 acre for a passive-use park.
The one dissenting voice on the town board, Robert Godlewski, has many concerns about all three proposals. He still believes the town should consider using the land to consolidate the town’s services by possibly building a new town hall and police station, which, Godlewski said, was the town’s plan four years ago when it purchased the land.
Rotterdam’s current town hall is 70 years old, according to Godlewski, and the town has no long-term facilities plan to manage its aging facilities. Godlewski wants to see a referendum vote on Nov. 8 to let the public decide if the town should give up the land.
“Right now we are a real estate broker and that’s not the position the town should be in,” Godlewski said. “I wish the taxpayers would come to a board meeting so we know how they feel. I have no way of measuring that I don’t want someone to come back and say, why did we get rid of that land?”
Godlewski is also worried that each proposal involves relocating the Trustco Bank and the Golub Corp.’s print shop. He worries that it would cost the town too much in litigation to manage that.
“It’s easy to say we’ve got to put it back on the tax rolls, but what is it going to cost in litigation?” Godlewski said.
Tommasone said getting the Curry Road property back on the tax rolls is evidence that his administration is working to improve the town.
“I am looking forward to getting this project going and see it to completion,” he said. “It will show what our administration is all about, which is providing economic development opportunities and more importantly, redeveloping sites first.”
“Right now we are a real estate broker and that’s not the position the town should be in,” Godlewski said. “I wish the taxpayers would come to a board meeting so we know how they feel. I have no way of measuring that I don’t want someone to come back and say, why did we get rid of that land?”
Hey, Bob (and yes, I'musing that because I'm losing more and more of my consideration for him as a "professional,"), I guess you were too busy at the meetings trying to figure out how to throw inane (an maybe insane) questions to throw back and Mr. Tommasone when I was standing up at the podium stating that this lot has been bare for 20 years? Well, I guess either way, you don't remember it. Please be ready to see my smiling face at the podium again in the very near future. I'll have to find a hardcopy of this that I can enter into the record to make sure that you remember about this when I remind you that I already stood in front of you once.
Rotterdam’s current town hall is 70 years old, according to Godlewski, and the town has no long-term facilities plan to manage its aging facilities. Godlewski wants to see a referendum vote on Nov. 8 to let the public decide if the town should give up the land.
“Right now we are a real estate broker and that’s not the position the town should be in,” Godlewski said. “I wish the taxpayers would come to a board meeting so we know how they feel. I have no way of measuring that I don’t want someone to come back and say, why did we get rid of that land?”
What is this guy talking about? Is he out in left field or what? Isn't that the job of the town to sell off this decaying property and get more taxes in this town to move it forward and maybe...just maybe...get some infrustructure in place? God I'll be glad when he's off the board. Now we have to keep him out of the country legislature as our representative. Cause he ain't doin' such a great job now!!!!
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
What benefit would a storage facility bring to our town....we have one on Altamont Ave...We need something that will bring people that spend money and are part of the town...
What benefit would a storage facility bring to our town....we have one on Altamont Ave...We need something that will bring people that spend money and are part of the town...
I really couldn't agree with you more. That particular area of Curry Road is NOT the right location for a 'storage facility'. There is however, a growing need for them. Most all storage facilities are filled and they do bring in a pretty good buck to the owners.
I myself, find these storage facilities about as attractive as a 'big box store'...even less attractive. They are just these big, boxed, monochromatic, less than interesting, mondane, architecturally void, cold looking facilities.
I guess they do have a need and a place 'somewhere', but clearly not on Curry Road. After looking at the old empty Curry Rd Plaza for a decade or two, the storage facility would just be remenicent of the same.
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
Here's an idea. If they put in the storage facility, if they decide to not keep the bank at this location, they can block the look of the storage facility with a nice high (10 foot tall, maybe) block wall, something like Wal-Mart could use behind it. Put that up and invite all the "artists" who find themselves putting their life at risk climbing and "decorating" buildingsand bridges all across town to a central location to show their artistic ability and profess their love for each other.
Here is my take.....NO CONDOS OR APTS PALLLEEEZZZEE!!! Now the sound of professional office buildings sound like a good choice for that area. You don't want people 'living' right next to a fire station who's sirien would scare the b-Jesus outta ya in the middle of the night. And if the choice was for professional office space, than perhaps a storage facility can be incorporated in BACK of these building. Clearly not in the public eye. THEY ARE UGGGAAALLLLYYY!
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
Here is my take.....NO CONDOS OR APTS PALLLEEEZZZEE!!! Now the sound of professional office buildings sound like a good choice for that area. You don't want people 'living' right next to a fire station who's sirien would scare the b-Jesus outta ya in the middle of the night. And if the choice was for professional office space, than perhaps a storage facility can be incorporated in BACK of these building. Clearly not in the public eye. THEY ARE UGGGAAALLLLYYY!
NO STORAGE......it attracts "flies"..........
...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
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