NISKAYUNA Developer’s proposal: move Ingersoll mansion BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter
The developer behind the contentious commercial project formerly known as Stanford Crossings now seeks to move the historic Ingersoll Residence a few hundred feet across the property as part of a revamped proposal. Highbridge Development’s original plan called for constructing a half-dozen retail businesses surrounding the former Ingersoll Residence retirement home, located on Balltown Road. The old brick mansion was to be used as a restaurant. Chris Boyea of Bohler Engineering told the Planning Board on Monday that there have not been any tenants interested in using the house as a restaurant, partly because signifi cant upgrades would be required, including constructing an addition to house the kitchen apparatus and gas lines. “It’s a concern that building may just become a building that people drive around,” he said. Instead, the Ingersoll building would be moved 350 feet from its current location so it faces Balltown Road across from Mohawk Commons. “It’s a focal point of the center versus an obstacle. We wanted to see it get used,” Boyea said. ..............>>>>.......................>>>>..................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01500&AppName=1
Regarding new plans by the developer of the Stanford Mansion to move the structure to another part of the site and renovate it: fi ne with us. Nearly anything would be an improvement over that desolate, desecrated landscape, denuded of its once-lovely trees, its graceful paths eliminated and grounds leveled, until all that was left is one historic house sitting there on a rise in splendid isolation. The mansion, once an afterthought to the developer, is now apparently seen as an asset, a way to attract the retailers he once was so sure of getting but hasn’t been able to. Three major acts of omission or commission have brought things to this sorry state of affairs. First, the town of Niskayuna failed to preserve the place — not just the house but the entire property — by recognizing it as the historic treasure it was and protecting it through zoning. Then, the town gave the developer a special-use permit to create a strip mall there. Last, the developer, shortly after beating back a court challenge, brought in the bulldozers and chopped everything down — even though he had no tenants. Whether that was intended as a defi ant “I won,” or to prevent further legal challenges by opponents or contrary actions by the town, it was irresponsible — an act of wanton environmental vandalism that the community now has to live with. .................>>>>................>>>>...........http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00703&AppName=1
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