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SCHENECTADY
MVP expanding into space downtown at Center City
Move will boost recently begun rehab of complex
BY JAMES SCHLETT Gazette Reporter

    Cramped in its six-year-old downtown headquarters, MVP is sending 200 employees down State Street to the Center City Complex.
    The Schenectady health insurer announced Thursday it has signed a lease for 46,000 square feet at Center City.
    It also re-signed the lease for its 175,000-square-foot headquarters at State Street and Nott Terrace through at least 2021.
    The two lease agreements are with the Rotterdam-based Galesi Group, which recently purchased the 180,000-square-foot Center City. MVP will also lease parking spaces from the Metroplex Development Authority at the Broadway Center parking garage.
    “It starts the revitalization of Center City the same way they helped the revitalization of downtown,” Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen said of MVP.
    MVP will occupy the second and third floors of office space in Center City, which had long been plagued with problems but is emerging as an economic engine under Galesi’s stewardship.
    Galesi over the summer started a $12 million rehabilitation project at the State Street complex, gutting its third floor and asking tenants along the building’s Jay Street side to relocate.
    MVP Chief Executive Officer David Oliker said he is pleased to “help kick off the renovation of Center City.” Galesi CEO David Buicko did not immediately re- turn a call seeking comment.
    The insurer’s move leaves open office space available on Center City’s fourth floor along with its indoor sports arena, which the Capital District YMCA has been eyeing for a new city branch.
    Capital District YMCA President and Chief Executive Offi - cer J. David Brown did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
    Sharon Jordan, chief of staff for Schenectady Mayor Brian Stratton, said the Center City YMCA plan is “still up in the air.
    “It’s absolutely wonderful they’re leasing that space and we’re looking forward to having many people in the heart of downtown,” Jordan said.
    JoAnne Sifo, the owner of Chez Daisie crepe restaurant on Jay Street, said she expects the insurer’s move to boost her business.
    Some MVP employees already eat Sifo’s crepes, but they often order takeout because the walk down State and back takes up too much of their lunch break.
    “This way they might be able to sit and eat and enjoy themselves,” Sifo said.
    The move to Center City highlights MVP’s rapid growth since it consolidated its operations into the State Street building in 2002. Since then, its work force has grown from 850 to 1,000.
    During that time, the insurer’s membership has jumped 46 percent to 700,000 from 480,000.
    MVP’s employment ranks received a boost from its 2006 merger with Preferred Care in Rochester, where an additional 600 employees work.
    The insurer is preparing to extend its footprint by moving into Erie and Niagara counties.
    Along with leasing parking spaces at the Broadway garage, MVP will also be able to use a limited number of slots in the Metroplex parking lot behind Center City.
    Gillen said MVP’s move downtown will generate more revenues for its city parking system.
    Metroplex has sold 700 parking passes for the Broadway garage and Gillen expects to sell an additional 200 because of MVP’s move to Center City.
    Gillen said MVP is one of several new tenants lined up for Center City. In 1979, the complex opened with an ice skating rink that was replaced with an Astroturf field 18 years later. The complex has long faced vacancy and profitability problems.
    The Empire Education Corp. three years ago fueled hopes for Center City’s revitalization by announcing plans to expand its Mildred Elley and Austin School of Spa Technology at the complex. However, it later backed out of that plan and centered its vocational schools at the West Mall Office Park on Central Avenue in Albany.
    “We had to come up with a new strategy for Center City, and we’ve done that,” Gillen said.

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YMCA eyes Schenectady's Center City for new branch

By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer
Last updated: 4:18 p.m., Tuesday, November 25, 2008

SCHENECTADY The Schenectady branch of the Capital District YMCA could soon be moving to a refurbished City Center complex on State Street.
     
Capital District President and CEO David Brown confirmed this afternoon that the organization is negotiating with The Galesi Group, the company that owns Center City.

"Our meetings have been very positive," Brown said, stressing the two sides do not yet have a formal deal.

If they're able to reach an accord, the new 30,000 square-foot complex would house a wellness center, teen activity rooms, multi-purpose rooms, gymnasium, day care center and locker rooms, Brown said. It could be open as early as next fall, he said.

David Buicko, Galesi's chief operating officer, said: "it seems like a great opportunity for both organizations, but nothing is finalized."

Galesi owns several downtown buildings as well as industrial complexes in this region.

The Center City is an attractive location because it's on a CDTA bus route that links Schenectady to Albany, Buicko said, adding its also centrally located in a business district that includes the headquarters of MVP Health Care and the regional office of the state Department of Transportation. The Center City complex is undergoing major renovations and new construction as part of the downtown renaissance........................http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=743728

So, MVP _AND_ YMCA are going in there?

Nothing is settled on the Y. This is the third story in the Gazetto looking for anything positive to puff up after Parisi Steakhouse closed on Nov 1st. Moving jobs from MVP on Nott Terrace or a non-profit moving up from 13 State does not create any new jobs.

     We were promised retail and chain stores that bring in new jobs and additional sales tax revenues. Neither is happening. Center City is a white elephant, drain on the taxpayers, where stores used to be. Best idea would be to bring back the ice rink, a minor league Hockey team, youth hockey leagues and skating classes that could bring new folks Downtown. The arts is only one leg of a stool.

I agree with Benny here. This has been on the table for months and months and months. And the discussions have been the same. This was just a fluff story directed to the gazette to print, just to make it 'appear' that there is SOMETHING going on downtown.

And I have the same question as MT.....does this mean that both MVP AND the Y are moving in there? A non-profit across the street from yet another non-profit(Proctors). Now that's building the economy for ya, huh?

This is another example of what passes for journalism here. What's the story? The Y has been looking at Center City for many months. Nothing has been agreed upon. A nonprofit moving a couple of blocks-stop the presses.

    Nothing is happening Downtown. The Christmas parade bombed. Record low attendance. Robinson Square bombed. Jay St is a ghost town after dark. The Silver Diner is on the verge of collapse. Bombers has been delayed again. Parisi's Steakhouse closed and is never re-opening. And no negative reporting on anything related to Downtown.

    MVP is shuffling some jobs from Nott Terrace. What were the tax give aways? The Y might be coming? What's not coming is a real story; the SCCC Music Department, any retail,  a business school.

    

      

The Nov 25th story was written by Paul Nelson of the Times Union.  It was not published by the Gazette.

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The Nov 25th story was written by Paul Nelson of the Times Union.  It was not published by the Gazette.

It was also in the gazette.