SCHENECTADY $1.2M project to include Persian eatery Developer planning restaurant on State Street rooftop BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter
How often have you craved a heaping plate of sabzi-polo with shrimp, or a side order of mast-o-khiar, or just a tasty kabob koobideh, only to realize the nearest Persian restaurant is more than 50 miles away? Local developer Reza Mahoutchian knows your pain. In early 2009, he will open Schenectady’s — and the Capital Region’s — fi rst Persian restaurant, adding to the city’s growing list of dining spots offering international food. In addition to homemade yogurt with diced cucumbers (mast-o-khair), the restaurant will also offer dishes of broiled chicken with onions and saffron topped with rice as well as grilled shrimp with rice and fresh Persian herbs (sabzi-polo with shrimp). Mahoutchian plans to open the restaurant on the roof of a five-story building at 1 State St., where it will command a view of the Mohawk River, Schenectady County Community College and much of the historic Stockade District. “Our goal is to bring people from outside of Schenectady into Schenectady,” he said. Mahoutchian bought the building several months ago for $100,000 and plans to spend $1.2 million to rehabilitate it. Besides the restaurant, he plans to install an elevator and convert the interior of the former apartment building into either class A office space or rooms for SCCC students. He would like to rent the office space to SCCC as his first option and convert it to dorms as a final resort, Mahoutchian said. If used as dorms, the building would house 38 students, he said. “We are hoping the college wants it for office use. We can provide 10,000 square feet of offi ce space,” Mahoutchian said. “It is a logical choice; the college needs space and is looking to expand, and it is an ideal location.” The restaurant would be part of the building no matter what direction its use takes, Mahoutchian said. He would like to tie the restaurant to the college’s culinary arts program or else put it under independent operation. Another plan is to install a digital message board along one side of the building, which would display announcements and other information to people coming into the city. “The building has great exposure,” sitting as it does opposite SCCC and off the entrances to Interstate 890 and the Western Gateway Bridge, Mahoutchian said. “It is at the gateway to the city,” he said. Mahoutchian is working with the Metroplex Development Authority and its chairman, Ray Gillen. Gillen is also an SCCC trustee and will present the office concept to the college Board of Trustees, Mahoutchian said. Mahoutchian plans to show Mayor Brian U. Stratton the building design soon. Gillen praised Mahoutchian’s work and his commitment to the city. “He recently received an award from the Heritage Foundation for his work in restoring a building on lower Union Street that is now the home to the Winedown Lounge, which is has been a terrific addition to downtown,” he said. Scott Wallant, of Wallant Architects, designed the restaurant and the building’s other features. “It is a modern element on top of a traditional building. It is still in harmony with the building, and it makes a bold statement,” he said. Wallant said the renovated building will become a beacon and landmark, and it makes a strong statement about the city and community. A new entrance will be constructed on grade, and the building will contain new glass and different colors. “It is an eccentric-looking building, but we will calm it down a bit,” Wallant said. Lyn Gordon, president of the Stockade Association, said Mahoutchian has done other development projects in the Stockade without issue. “He has a reputation for doing excellent work. He has never done a project that wasn’t a superior work or top-notch. He pays attention to every detail,” she said. Mahoutchian last year purchased the former MVP Health Care building on Liberty Street. He plans to covert the structure either into luxury apartments or into condominiums. In addition, he will restore the facade of the former courthouse on Union Street. He pegged the project cost at $1.6 million. The building fronts Union Street in the Stockade with a rear entrance on Liberty Street. It contains 43,000 square feet. MVP vacated the building in 2001 when it moved to its new headquarters at State Street and Nott Terrace. Mahoutchian recently restored the old Beyer Fur Co. building on Union Street into the Winedown Lounge. He plans to convert several other buildings he owns along the block into a women’s clothing store, a hair salon, an Internet cafe and a pizzeria. “Each will have a have a function geared to bringing people into Schenectady,” Mahoutchian said. These businesses will open in 2009, he said.
Present: Ray Gillen, Gary McCarthy, Janet Hutchison, Ed Capovani, Neil Golub, Pat Saccocio, Sharon Jordan, Bill Chapman and Bob Wall
Absent: Brad Lewis, Bob Mantello
Others: Neil Levine (Authority Counsel), Jayme Lahut, Jim Callander and audience of 4
Call to Order: Mr. Gillen called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
1. Approval of Minutes: Mr. Golub moved the adoption of the May 23, 2008 meeting minutes; seconded by Ms. Jordan. Mr. Chapman said that his name was inadvertently omitted from the minutes and he asked that the minutes reflect that he attended the meeting. The minutes were approved as revised (Mrs. Hutchison was absent).
2. Treasurer's Report: Ms. Jordan reviewed the Treasurer's Report for the period ending May 31, 2008 noting that income and operating expenses were ahead of budget. Cash on hand is $2.2 million. The Predevelopment Budget is only 23% of the year's total budget. Mr. Wall moved acceptance of the Treasurer's Report; seconded by Mrs. Hutchison. Mr. Gillen added that the County Legislature authorized the bond anticipation notes for the Clinton Square project and will boost the Authority's cash position. The Treasurer's Report was unanimously accepted.
3. Bombers Burrito Project: Resolution 522-08 - Adopt the General Project Plan
The public hearing was held on June 9, 2008 yielding no oral or written comments. The project is a Type II action under SEQRA and no environmental review is necessary. The resolution authorizes the sale of 447 State Street for $500,000, allows for accepting $250,000 payment at closing and holding a mortgage on the balance and authorizes a $40,000 grant for interior fit-up and a $75,000 façade grant. Ms. Jordan moved Resolution 522-08; seconded by Mr. Chapman. Discussion followed regarding Bomber's success at its Albany location and the excitement for opening in downtown Schenectady. Resolution 522-08 was unanimously approved.
4. Operating Policies and Procedures: Resolution 523-08 - Authorize and Amend Employee Handbook / Human Resources Policy (Section D)
Jayme Lahut explained that the Authority's Human Resources Policy was last updated in 2001 and needed to comply with provisions of the Public Authorities Accountability Act by addressing requirements for a whistleblower policy and ethics policy, among other things. The Governance Committee has reviewed and edited the policy and recommended its adoption. Mr. Saccocio moved Resolution 523-08; seconded by Mr. Wall. Brief discussion followed about reimbursement for travel and entertainment expenses. Resolution 523-08 was unanimously approved.
5. Downtown Parking Project: Resolution 524-08 - Amend the General Project Plan and Hold a Public Hearing
Jayme Lahut said the project previously approved in April needed to be changed. In consultation with Clough Harbour (CHA), staff recommended focusing on improving the Clinton South lot immediately and postponing improvements to the Center City lot. CHA's, Mike Miller, explained the scope of work, project timeline, and how rising costs affected the project budget, which is now set at $900,000. Resolution 524-08 authorizes holding a public hearing. Ms. Jordan moved Resolution 524-08; seconded by Mr. Golub. Lengthy discussion followed about the condition of the lot, alternative parking arrangements during construction, and project cost controls. Resolution 524-08 was unanimously approved.
6. Presentation: District Attorney Robert Carney made a presentation on about the nine WiFi cameras located downtown and the 40+ surveillance cameras in use in the City of Schenectady.
Public Comment: None
Board Comment: Mr. Gillen commented on the Union Graduate College groundbreaking, the GE Building 53 project, the proposed Metroplex bond cap increase and plans to make presentations with the Town Boards.
Adjournment: Mr. Golub moved to adjourn; seconded by Mr. McCarthy. The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
So Bombers really only paid $135,000 for the property AFTER the grants, right? And what actually is the 'whistle blower' policy? And lastly who is Jayme B. Lahut?
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
A whole board meeting, no mention of the van dyck, big house, center city, jay street, clothing store, what areas to consider for future development, etc.
Friday, May 16, 1997 Friction wears down development director The Business Review (Albany) - by Michael Farrell
After four years of putting out fires as the chief economic developer in Columbia County, Jayme Lahut, executive director of the Columbia Hudson Partnership, may have been undone by a little old-fashioned political maneuvering.
Lahut, who was head of the county's Columbia Economic Development Corp. until it merged with the city's Hudson Development Corp. in 1995 to form the city/county economic development partnership, tendered his resignation May 8. It becomes effective June 1.
Although Lahut said his decision was made strictly for personal reasons, he did give a hint of the political controversy that has surrounded his tenure recently.
"Things have been getting a little hairy around here," he said. "It was time to move on."
Lahut declined to say where he would go, but said he had "another job offer in hand." The position is in the private sector.
The Columbia Hudson Partnership scored several major successes under Lahut--most notably the retention of Kaz Inc., a Hudson firm that had contemplated moving its 500 jobs out of state. But controversy also punctuated his term.
Lahut's main critic has been Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera, who has lambasted the executive director for failing to support the city's bid for aid under the federal Canal Corridor Initiative, a Department of Housing and Urban Development grant and loan program to use New York's waterways to spur economic growth. The mayor also blamed Lahut for problems surrounding the Hudson Development Corp.'s plan to construct a new Department of Motor Vehicles building for the county.
Scalera voiced his displeasure with Lahut in the press, and newspapers in Columbia County had been speculating for months on Lahut's future with the Columbia Hudson Partnership.
Scalera was said to be out of town and could not be reached for comment.
Bruce Finn, president of the Hudson Development Corp., said that while Lahut and the mayor have had their differences, the executive director has done a good job.
Scalera had been at odds with Lahut over the amount of attention allocated to the city by the Columbia Hudson Partnership. In the past, he claimed, the group concentrated more on developing business in the county rather than in Hudson.
But Finn said that is not entirely true, pointing to several partnership-initiated projects in the city, including the renovation of the St. Charles Hotel on Warren Street.
Finn said Hudson is hampered somewhat by its size--2 1/2 square miles--but despite that, the service industry is thriving. The total number of businesses in Hudson is around 240, close to the level seen in the 1950s and 1960s, which many consider to be Hudson's heyday, he said.
"I don't fault Jayme [Lahut] for not doing development in Hudson," Finn said. "There was a huge lack of communication between Jayme and the city administration.
"If he [Lahut] made a mistake, it was that he put himself at the front of the organization," Finn added. "When you do that, there is no insulation. When the flak starts coming, it hits you first."
Gerald Simons, chairman of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors and a long-time backer of Lahut, said the complaints about the executive director, although unwarranted, may have played a role in his departure.
"I can't speak for him [Lahut], but if I were to guess, he just couldn't seem to please the HDC [Hudson Development Corp.]," Simons said.
"I'm very sorry to see him go," he added. "Our numbers in this county show he has gone a long way. ... I was very pleased with him."
James Callander, deputy director of the Columbia Hudson Partnership, will take Lahut's place for the time being until a permanent replacement can be found.
Simons had expressed concern in the past that there might not be a partnership without Lahut. But he now seems confident that the organization will remain intact.
"That [the partnership's future] is up to a lot of people that will have to mutually agree," Simons said. "We both [the board of supervisors and the Hudson Development Corp.] have boards of directors."
Lahut would not speculate about the future of the partnership, but said it is a vital part of the economic growth of the county. And he said his track record speaks for itself.
"Economic development is a lightning-rod issue," Lahut said. "Columbia County has various constituencies concerned about our community and the quality of life. Our job is to get everyone working on the same page.
"Two years ago, when the partnership was formed, we created a countywide economic development strategy," he added. "We have implemented many aspects of that plan--the micro-enterprise loan program, other loan programs, business attractions and the Main Street initiative. I'm pretty happy with the implementation of that plan, the cornerstone of which has been the growth and retention of existing businesses."
Lahut said statistics on the county, compiled by Marist College of Poughkeepsie and Mid-Hudson Pattern for Progress in Newburgh, show that manufacturing employment in Columbia County over the past five years has grown 11 percent and has outpaced all other employment growth in the county. In addition, manufacturing employment in Columbia County is at its highest level since 1986, and the number of county residents working in the county is at a record high.
"The strategy is paying off," Lahut said.
Lahut also was instrumental in creating new programs for the partnership, including the CEO Roundtable, a group of chief executives from companies within the county that meets regularly to discuss problems and share ideas.
Although that doesn't sound like much, Kevin O'Connor, president of the Center for Economic Growth Inc., a private economic development group in Albany, said programs like the CEO Roundtable can be extremely effective.
"These are the things that your detractors say, `So what?' " O'Connor said. "But what that does is elevate the top-of-mind awareness of issues of economic importance. ... When we started the [Capital Region] Legislative Delegation, it was a bunch of local assemblymen and senators just sitting around talking. But what came out of that was $4 million for SPAC and $10 million to buy the Sterling Drug facility [in East Greenbush]. When you bring people together, ideas and action come out of it."
O'Connor, who was surprised to hear of Lahut's resignation, said his departure will be a blow for the region, not just Columbia County.
"We have to realize, whereas we are all competitive--which is good and healthy in a way--there is an underlying economic interdependency we have to recognize if this region is going to be all that it absolutely has the potential to be," O'Connor said. "It's as important for Columbia County to have Albany Airport redone as it is to [Albany] County; it's as important to have the jobs retained at Garden Way [in Troy] to them as it is to Rensselaer County."
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
Lahut's main critic has been Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera, who has lambasted the executive director for failing to support the city's bid for aid under the federal Canal Corridor Initiative, a Department of Housing and Urban Development grant and loan program to use New York's waterways to spur economic growth. The mayor also blamed Lahut for problems surrounding the Hudson Development Corp.'s plan to construct a new Department of Motor Vehicles building for the county
...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
New facades making a big difference in downtown Sch’dy
Metroplex isn’t just paying attention to how downtown Schenectady is doing economically these days, but how it looks. And it shows, as new businesses and many existing ones have put up handsome facades, helped by Metroplex grants. It’s money well spent, because aesthetics and economics are related. Attractive buildings and design standards create an environment that attracts visitors, shoppers and investors. State Street between Proctor’s and Erie Boulevard is looking particularly good. It started with the new Department of Transportation building and the streetscape project that covered up the ugly railroad bridge with attractive panels and made the area more pedestrianfriendly. And it has continued with building after building project where thought and care were taken to create a facade that is distinguished, tasteful and fits with the historic buildings around it. In some cases the result could have been better, but for the most part it all works and is a huge improvement over the derelict buildings and aluminum facades that were there before. For an overview of all the good work that has been done and is to come, such as the multistory buildings to be constructed on the site of the former Pizza King at Clinton and State, go downtown and check out the photos and architect’s drawings in the windows of Center City — which is now being gutted by its new owner, the Galesi Group, and will itself get a new facade. (Unfortunately, the company also plans to eliminate a nice little piazza out front that was created at considerable public cost during the streetscape, and is used for such things as musical performances, chess tournaments and just plain sitting. Such spaces are important to a downtown — they add to the ambience, bring people together and attract customers for retailers. This one should be kept.) One step backward, from the standpoint of economic development and facades, was the loss of the former Robinson’s facade and building last fall. This led to the abandonment of a major redevelopment project there (the developer was apparently only interested in renovation, not reconstruction), a situation that “no good news is no news” Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen has known about for a long time but chose to downplay or conceal (similar to the Big House). Successes and victories are nice, and Gillen has had more than his share of them these last few years. But he also needs to be more forthright about the occasional failure or setback, or risk his credibility.
Yes - downtown LOOKS beautiful (in the 3 block area of Proctors) ... but what the "opnion" (aka Fluff) from the editor fails to mention is that OUR TAX DOLLARS are paying for these businesses to have pretty fronts - while our homes are looking worse and worse (in the city) because nobody can afford the taxes on their homes - nor is there any viable retail in downtown Schenectady. There's not even a grocery store within the downtown area - the nearest ones are PriceRite in Crosstown Plaza, Price Chopper on Eastern Avenue, Aldi's (when they're open) in Woodlawn ... nothing up near Ellis, Union College area, Union Triangle, nothing downtown, nothing in Bellevue, nothing in Hamilton Hill.
Sure, the buildings look pretty, but our own residents have to save every penny just to make ends meet - what good is urban development/improvement if the "urban" people can't even enjoy the area and get the basic services they need?
Metroplex isn’t just paying attention to how downtown Schenectady is doing economically these days, but how it looks.
It has always been about how 'it looks', cause there are clearly no businesses that amount to much down there. Meanwhile, the people through out the city are drowning in high taxes and riddled with out of control crime....but the 2 blocks of state street look good! nonsense!
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
A little tidbit, tucked away in a news story about a city council/DSIC meeting on 8/25 - is more relevant here.
Quoted Text
ROBINSON SITE In other business, the council unanimously voted to sell the vacant Robinson’s Furniture property to Metroplex Development Authority for $1. In return, the city will receive half of the net proceeds when Metroplex sells the lower State Street lot to a developer. The Robinson’s Furniture buildings were demolished last year when they began to collapse.
So, when Metroplex sells this to Galesi for $1 - the city get's 50 cents??
Opinion: Still being deceived by Metroplex - Still no Big House - Still no audit results September 8, 2008 11:27 am – 11:27 am Regarding an earlier story here (Metroplex and the Big House Blunder - Deceit and Dining Out) we’ve decided it’s time for an update.
In a statement by Ray Gillen on May 1, 2008 to the Daily Gazette, the Chairman of the Schenectady Metroplex Development Agency said:
One bright note amid the disappointing news is the response from other business owners. Retailers — not restaurateurs — are eager to move into the building, according to Gillen.
“We’ve had tremendous interest from other retailers,” said Gillen, who thinks a retail establishment would be far better for downtown than yet another restaurant.
“We love restaurants, but we need other kinds of retailers. We want to diversify the retail mix,” he said.
… The response has been promising. One prospective tenant even brought in a construction crew last weekend to determine how much it would cost to install the counters and other furniture needed for his store, Gillen said. He added that Waite has set a reasonable rate — $12 to $15 per square foot — and has finished the interiorwork.
Now, six months later, there’s still newspaper covering the windows and there’s no signs of activity on the media forgotten project that has cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars
The Financial Report of Metroplex, for December 31, 2006 and 2005 indicate that through December 31, 2006, the Authority had approved $350,000 in grants, a loan of $1,100,000 at 0% interest and “related expense” of $100,000 for the project. The loan is repayable over a 15-year period (25-year amortization) due in monthly installments of $3,667, matures 15 years from completion of the project, with a ballon payment for the remaining balance.
Stephen Waite and Ray Gillen have missed countless “grand opening” anticipated dates for 411 State Street - and it appears that we’ll be closing out the year without so much as a peep from local media about this fleecing of taxpayer monies. The last report by major media in this area was from Greg Floyd on WRGB on April 25th - not a followup peep from that network either. When I contacted Floyd I was told it wasn’t “newsworthy right now”. The Gazette has refused to address this issue, in fact no major media outlet is touching this political hot bed.
The taxpayers of Schenectady have been deceived - our tax dollars have been used to finance a project that has no indications of making any progress - and when contacted for a comment, nobody at Metroplex would respond, nor apparently provide any tours of the “nearly completed” building (as Gillen/Waite describe it).
The Audit of Metroplex was supposed to have been completed, and results released. That has not happened yet - according to the New York State Comptroller’s Website even though it was announced on April 3, 2008.
The comptroller plans to examine Metroplex’s operations from Jan. 1, 2006, to Dec. 31, 2007. The period covers some of Metroplex’s major investments when it distributed millions in loans and grants toward the construction of the Hampton Inn and the Bowtie Cinema, as well as provided grants to the Downtown Schenectady Improvement District and the Upper Union Street Business Improvement District. Spokesman Bill Reynolds of the State Comptroller’s Office said the audit could take several months.
No audit results. No “Big House” opening. Why is there no transparency in this progress? Why is there no media outrage? Where’s the general public knocking on the doors of their county legislators and state representatives?
I am encouraged by the appearance of this editorial that other county residents continue to demand answers re: the investments and decisions by the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority. While the media has abandoned stories like the Big House, the Van Dyke, etc., the people continue to demand accountability.
Discouraging to say the least. I guess taxpayers (aka Sheeple) in this city are content with no answers - or expect there to be no resolution. If it's not talked about, maybe people will forget it?
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