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SCHENECTADY
Plans for old YMCA, hotel advance
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter


    The Metroplex Development Authority board took action Wednesday night to move two major downtown building projects along the redevelopment track.
    In one action, the board started an environmental review of the former YMCA facility at 13 State St. Metroplex plans to buy the building for $2 million in 2013 from the Capital District YMCA.
    In the second action, the Metroplex board approved a contract to remove asbestos from the former Foster Hotel at 508 State St. Abatement is required before contractors can make repairs to the historic building, which has deteriorated badly.
    Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen said an environmental review of the former YMCA is a prerequisite to redeveloping the 104,000-square-foot structure.
    “It is one of the largest buildings downtown. Creating a new future for this building is critical to our redevelopment work in the lower State Street portion of downtown,” he said. “It will be a catalyst project.”
    The YMCA relocated its fi tness center in March to Center City in downtown Schenectady, where it has witnessed an 80 percent increase in membership, Gillen said.
    “The new Y is on track to attract 100,000 people a year to downtown, creating another important people generator downtown along with Proctors, the cinema and other venues,” he said.
    The YMCA used Metroplex’s $2 million purchase pledge as a guarantee to obtain fi nancing for the $3.7 million build-out of the Center City site, Gillen said.
    “They borrowed against our commitment and put the money into the new YMCA. It is innovative financing,” he said.
    Gillen said Metroplex hopes to recoup the $2 million through the sale of the building. “We get site control of one of the largest buildings downtown with time to develop plans for the space and to market the project, as we have until 2013 to close on the purchase,” he said.
    Gillen said Metroplex will use a private developer and will work with Schenectady County Community College to find a use for the structure. ................................>>>>........................................>>>>........................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01102&AppName=1

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review of the former YMCA facility at 13 State St. Metroplex plans to buy the building for $2 million in 2013 from the Capital District YMCA.

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    Op-ed column: Gillette House is legally barred from becoming a bagel shop
    Monday, November 15, 2010
    BY Joyce C. Wachala

    In recent Gazette articles regarding the owner of the Gillette House (in the Stockade Historic District) requesting a variance to change the residence into a bagel shop, there has been plenty of cheerleading for this project.

    What has been omitted are the facts. One only has to look in the Schenectady city zoning laws to know that this type of commercial project is absolutely NOT PERMITTED in any residential neighborhood.

    Combine that with the Stockade District’s strict adherence to preservation of the neighborhood, one is hard-pressed to know why this variance request can even be entertained.

    In 1962, the Stockade Historic District was established and it was the first of its kind in all of New York state. As the many brochures and Websites quote, the Stockade remains on the Historic Register due to the strict zoning laws that are in place to preserve and maintain its residential nature. Over the years, many Stockade property owners have invested significant amounts of money rehabilitating their homes in order to preserve the nostalgia and rich history of the area.
    Bargain purchase

    Back in 2009, the Gazette reported that Mr. McDonald purchased both the Gillette House and neighboring Millington House for $88,000 from the Schenectady County Chamber Foundation. Not only was this purchase price quite a bargain, but the county had recently spent $90,000 to clean the lead paint and asbestos from the Gillette House, as well as $303,000 to completely restore the exterior. Also, the Gillette House has become a unique location with its dual usage as either rental units or as office space. It was never, nor should it ever become, a commercial location.

    There are many restrictions placed upon Stockade property owners. To paint one’s front door takes a lengthy application and review by the City Historic Commission. But in this instance, the Gillette House application is in front of the zoning board. According to the tax records, the Gillette House is actually a residential three-family home. Page 39 of the City of Schenectady Zoning Code specifically states that within all residential districts, commercial use is absolutely not permitted by any homeowner.

    Combine that law with the historic restraints that have been in force in the Stockade for over hundreds of years, and the bagel shop variance is in complete defiance of all that has preceded it.

    Review of past zoning board decisions will show that many people have been denied commercial variance applications in the Stockade District. Not because those commercial endeavors would be profitable or unprofitable, but because preservation and adherence to strict zoning laws are the primary factors of consideration in the Stockade.
    Opening the gates

    If one exception is made by the zoning board, then the floodgates open for others. All commercial projects would then have a point of reference and a valid example for their variance request. In the future, the once-historic Stockade District will most likely become non-existent as a neighborhood. This will solely be due to one bad decision made back in 2010.

    Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen has also denied requests to help other deli/coffee shop endeavors in the Stockade Historic District. As he has stated in an e-mail to a potential coffee shop buyer: “When Metroplex was created by statute via the State legislature, a specific exemption/prohibition was put in place with regards to doing projects in the Stockade. [I guess] the concern was that Metroplex might try to do something that would not be helpful to the Stockade.” Even the state Legislature was aware that commercial endeavors had no place in the Stockade District and, therefore, Metroplex has declined to become involved as well.

    With this said, the Gillette House has other options: Either become rental property, office space, or be sold.

    Essentially, it all comes down to this: The Historic Stockade District is a residential neighborhood. Commercial variances have been denied time and time again.

    If a commercial location is needed, the Stockade Historic District is not where one should buy property.

    Before the zoning board decides to allow a home in a historic neighborhood to become a commercial location, let’s first try to fill up and use the current empty locations which plague Schenectady (a block away is the empty former Frank Gallo building and Grossmans on Erie Boulevard — a drive-thru might even pass there!).



http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2010/nov/15/1114_wachala/

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

While most of the Stockade is residential -- there are a number of commercial properties -- such as
the Van Dyke, The Stockade Inn, Burger King, and  most of the buildings on the north side of State Street.

As for the YMCA building,  I wonder what kind of hotel they are planning there.   There is very little parking
available.   Maybe they plan to tie it is with the Stockade Inn ??  

Quoted from 147

I'd really like to know which side of the story is true

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Metroplex was involved in both the Van Dyke and Stockade Inn projects  .. and I believe with the renovation
of the old Barney's warehouse projects.      All worthwhile projects and - as far as I can tell - legal.

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Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen has also denied requests to help other deli/coffee shop endeavors in the Stockade Historic District. As he has stated in an e-mail to a potential coffee shop buyer: “When Metroplex was created by statute via the State legislature, a specific exemption/prohibition was put in place with regards to doing projects in the Stockade.

Quoted from 147

Then you agree, Gillen lied?