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SCCC to build student housing
Complex planned on county land
BY MICHAEL LAMENDOLA Gazette Reporter

    The United Group of Companies will build an $11.6 million apartment complex for 264 students attending Schenectady County Community College, according to offi cials with the company and Schenectady County.
    The project should help SCCC attract and retain students, help lower Schenectady County’s sponsorship costs and provide another economic boost to lower State Street, local offi cials said.
    Jeffrey Buell, development executive with United Group, said the company will build the four-story, 112,000-square-foot facility on county-owned land at 117 Washington Ave. The Troy-based company will break ground later this year and open the building for occupancy by the fall 2012 college semester, he said.
    “This is a high priority for us,” Buell said.
    The company may later build a second apartment complex for approximately 150 to 200 students, depending on market conditions and the availability of a suitable location, Buell said.
    Ray Gillen, commissioner of economic development and planning for Schenectady County and a member of the SCCC board, said United Group will use private financing for the project. The company, however, will be eligible for sales tax exemptions applied to construction materials and will receive a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement, both through the Schenectady County Industrial Development Agency, Gillen said.
    “The site [a parking lot] pays no taxes now,” he said.
    SCCC President Dr. Quintin Bullock said the apartment complex will support enrollment growth at the college and help recruite athletes. “SCCC is very excited to move forward with student housing to support the growth of our long-standing, signature programs … We want to have students from outside of the county to have access to affordable housing and be engaged in structured activities, which add to the college experience,” Bullock said.
    A major revamping of the community college’s academic programming is designed to make the college the first choice for county residents seeking higher education, college officials said. The college and county hope that by making SCCC the fi rst choice for county residents, the county will reduce how much it pays in chargebacks. Chargebacks are tuition fees the county must pay for residents who attend a community college in New York state outside of Schenectady County. Chargebacks cost the county approximately $2 million annually.
    Gillen said the college’s increase in enrollment is helping drive the need for the student housing. SCCC’s enrollment increased 9.5 percent for the 2011-2012 academic year and is expected to increase another 10 percent next year.
    Buell said SCCC’s admission growth and SCCC-conducted market studies factored into the company’s decision to proceed with the project. “We build student housing for a living. We have a number of different projects across New York state. We believe in the community college concept of having student housing. Students want a live-learn environment, and we love the growth at SCCC. It is a fast-paced community and we are thrilled with the leadership of Dr. Bullock,” he said.
    United Groups will own the apartment complex, which will be called College Suites at Washington Square, and lease the land from the county. The company will pay the county $250,000 for a 40-year lease, with an extension option. The land encompasses portions of the former Van Curler Hotel parking lot and a vacant service station at 101 Washington Ave., which the county bought for $140,000, with the state paying half.
    Buell said the complex will contain 69 apartments, most of them with four private bedrooms and two baths, with some two-bedroom suites. Each suite will have shared living and kitchen space. The rooms will come fully furnished. The company will provide supervision 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Rent, which includes utilities, will be in the range of $600 per month.
    Gillen said private financing is key to making the project happen. The college has for years wanted student housing but could not fi - nance the project for various reasons, he said. “Despite the need for housing at SCCC and the success experienced by many other community colleges in supporting student housing projects, the state has not enacted legislation needed to allow community colleges to directly own and operate student housing facilities. As a result, most colleges utilize a foundation or affiliated entity of the college to get student housing built on or near their campus,” he said. “While the foundation does an excellent job in raising funds for scholarships and other programs, it does not have the required assets needed to secure financing for such a large project.”
    An attempt to issue bonds through a local development corporation, established by the Schenectady County Legislature in 2008, was stymied by the nation’s financial crisis, Gillen said. ......................>>>>............................................>>>>.................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00903&AppName=1

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Dorm proposed for community college
$11.6 million dormitory would house community college students
By SCOTT WALDMAN Staff writer
Published 12:03 a.m., Tuesday, July 12, 2011

SCHENECTADY -- Downtown could soon get its first college dormitory.

A new privately developed housing project for Schenectady County Community College students would bring an $11.6 million dormitory to lower State Street. The building, which would be next to the campus, is expected to have 264 beds and could bring a residential experience to the school for the first time in its 41-year history.

The building, which would be constructed on the site of a parking lot now owned by the county at 117 Washington Ave., would allow students from outside the area to take advantage of the school's popular new programs in battery science, nanoscale materials and air traffic control, President Quintin Bullock said.

The school's enrollment expanded by 9.5 percent last year, and the availability of student housing would support long-term growth.

By law, community colleges are not allowed to construct dormitories on campus, though State University of New York Chancellor Nancy Zimpher has pushed to change that. Schenectady County would join about 18 other community colleges across the state, including Hudson Valley Community College, that have student housing next to campus.

The Schenectady housing project was more than five years in the making, said Denise Murphy McGraw, chairwoman of the college's board of trustees. While it was delayed by the economy, she said, the amount of time it took to get the project off the ground represents the challenge community colleges face to attract students from outside the region.

"We really need for the legislature and the governor's office to understand it would be transformative to community colleges," McGraw said.

The Schenectady dormitory would be 112,000 square feet, said Ray Gillen, chairman of the Metroplex Development Authority, and could bring new businesses to lower State Street. It is being developed by the United Group of Companies, which is working on a similar project on Sixth Avenue in Troy. The builder is BBL. Gillen said another 100-bed project could follow. The current project will be taken up by the Schenectady County Legislature on Tuesday and faces other approvals as well.........................>>>>................>>>>..................Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/busi.....07.php#ixzz1RtC7dy8r

With the 'green markets', 'recyclelution', why does the City keep allowing new building to be built when the vacancy rate is so high? ALCO, this new housing..both unneeded.

A moritorium should be placed City wide on new construction. SCCC should either be using the Armory or the old YMCA for housing. Put millions in vacant buildings with this tax free exemption on building materials and upgrades. The City does not need another building, it needs to use the empty ones which litter every street and neighborhood.

  $250,000 for a 40 YEAR LEASE! That's a lousy $6,250 a year to the oppressed County taxpayer. Another County give away from "Commissioner" Death Ray for a connected millionaire developer.  Another 100% tax give away? This does absolutely nothing about the charge back problem. County resident are still going to go to HVCC which has excellent engineering and science courses. Not cooking and "arts". Hey Death Ray what happened with Mexican Radio, Wolf's 1-11 and that crepe place? Keep spreading the manure in a wind storm.

This is a great project and will do much to ensure that the Renaissance in Schenectady continues  -- more importantly it will begin "filling in the gap" between the tremendously successful  SCCC-rich with beauty and economic potential Mohawk riverfront  ..and .. the   Downtown Area (State- Broadway-Nott Terrace).

Another HOME RUN for Ray Gillen and the Democrats on the County Legistlature

You are correct, Rachel, about reusing some of the glorious buildings we already have instead of letting them fall into disuse and disrepair. But that would only benefit Schenectady as a whole, and maybe the Stockade especially, which is a neighborhood on the verge of ruin due to government neglect. When you see a lot of new construction next to empty real estate, that is a sign that somebody connected is getting their hands on some of that free government money. The politicians which enable them aren't always corrupt, sometimes they are just ignorant and easily flattered into thinking of themselves as empire buliders or something. They want to play with the big boys.
The fact that these politicians are just now discovering what was going on vis-a-vis "bonuses" and the like suggests that they really don't understand what is going on and are easily led.

They have to build to grease more plans. Keep the 3 card monty going. Death Ray has no experience in either planning nor rehabs. Every time he says "rehab" he really means another knock down. The armory cannot be sold. 3 restaurants bail in one day. Others sit unsold for years. What this really does is take away the prospect of any rental income for dozens of Downtown/Stockade property owners.

     Lower State is a neutron bomb site. DVR proves once again how out of touch he is with reality. This is another strike out for Metrograft/Death Ray/DEMS. A single would be if he brought in his first national retailer after lying for 6 years. A home run for the developer and a balk for the taxpayers.

Quoted from Madam X

You are correct, Rachel, about reusing some of the glorious buildings we already have instead of letting them fall into disuse and disrepair. But that would only benefit Schenectady as a whole, and maybe the Stockade especially, which is a neighborhood on the verge of ruin due to government neglect. When you see a lot of new construction next to empty real estate, that is a sign that somebody connected is getting their hands on some of that free government money. The politicians which enable them aren't always corrupt, sometimes they are just ignorant and easily flattered into thinking of themselves as empire buliders or something. They want to play with the big boys.
The fact that these politicians are just now discovering what was going on vis-a-vis "bonuses" and the like suggests that they really don't understand what is going on and are easily led.

You are 'spot on ' Madam! What I don't understand is how the metroplex is even remotely involved in the housing of a community college! That is not in the charter nor the role of the plex.....no?

Quoted from bumblethru

You are 'spot on ' Madam! What I don't understand is how the metroplex is even remotely involved in the housing of a community college! That is not in the charter nor the role of the plex.....no?

It's because Death Ray is on the SCCC bored. What are his education qualifications? He's a DEM like Quick Draw McGraw. Student housing does not create jobs. Student housing does not increase tax revenues. Metrograft is a complete joke. The sheeple finally realize they are being ripped off by these horrible working together gonifs.

Student housing will create jobs .. shops and other services will be needed by the students -- the shops and services will need employees  ... and college-aged students and their parents will spend money --- it will ensure the ongoing Renaissance of Schenectady.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

This is a great project and will do much to ensure that the Renaissance in Schenectady continues  -- more importantly it will begin "filling in the gap" between the tremendously successful  SCCC-rich with beauty and economic potential Mohawk riverfront  ..and .. the   Downtown Area (State- Broadway-Nott Terrace).

Another HOME RUN for Ray Gillen and the Democrats on the County Legistlature

DV, HOW can you be so STUPID?????

DV, the city has an OVER ABUNDANCE of EXISTING VACANT housing.   So HOW can you justify tax dollars on NEW housing?  

Secondly, the purpose of community colleges NEVER was to provide education to kids from all over the place with the same bells and whistles of full four year colleges.  Community colleges had the purpose of providing a lower cost alternative (than even state colleges) for students in the COMMUNITY, i.e., the community being IN SCHENECTADY..

Yes, I know non-residents do pay higher tuition, however, it is NOT the responsibility of the homeowners/taxpayers to be footing the bill for kids to come from all over the place.

The bottom line DV, is this:
1.    ALL LEVELS of government are in current FISCAL CRISIS, IN DEEP DEEP DEBT and unable to pay for NECESSARY services to their respective populations,
2.    There is a HUGE HUGE HUGE surplus of EXISTING VACANT housing in the city where students can move into at NO COST TO THE TAXPYAER
3.    Taxpayers alredy are taxed beyond their ability to pay.

So, tell us DV, WHERE is the money supposed to come from?????    
Do you prefer that medical coverage for the poor be stopped and let the people rot just so this dorm can be built?
DO you prefe that bridges are ignored so there are more bridges that fall down and more people are killed like on the Thruway?
Do you prefer homeowners lose their homes and wind up homeless because they can't afford the taxes?

Well, you NEVER explain your comments.  So tell us why CAN'T students live in one of the HUGE NUMBERS OF EXISTING VACANT houses in the city, huh????    Huh?????

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

This is a great project and will do much to ensure that the Renaissance in Schenectady continues  -- more importantly it will begin "filling in the gap" between the tremendously successful  SCCC-rich with beauty and economic potential Mohawk riverfront  ..and .. the   Downtown Area (State- Broadway-Nott Terrace).

Another HOME RUN for Ray Gillen and the Democrats on the County Legistlature

Hey DV, did you even bother to read that "praise McCarthy" story about Eastern Ave????

Here is the quote:

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That’s double the vacancy rate in many other city neighborhoods and far above the 5 percent rate considered “healthy,” according to city consultant Margaret Irwin.

Uh, DV, Eastern ave is within walking distance for these kids, on a bus line, and not too far to drive.   So explain WHY financially struggling homeonwers should robbed of even more money to built new housing when there is a neighborhood within walking distance that has a vacany rate that is way above that which is "healthy"

Can you tell. us WHY the kids can't or should not live in the EXISTING vacant houses?????    Why not DV?????    Why not???????    Huh???????

Metrograft was created to increase sales tax revenues and increase employment. It has totally failed at both missions. It was not created to build student housing. SCCC students should be commuters living at home. It's a good place to start and then finish at a 4 year college.

     All this will do is dry up the existing rental market Downtown and in the Stockade. The same thing happened in College Park when Union College built a new dorm. College students left-replaced with DSS "clients". The neighborhood has not yet recovered. This is a handout to a developer who is paying the County virtually nothing.

I dunno guys - onsite housing to me isn't a bad idea...

If it is financially reasonable to do so.

(I haven't studied the details to be honest - and yes, Metroplex is an abysmal failure...  My comment is just that I don't think onsite housing is a bad idea, especially if enrollment is up)

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

Student housing will create jobs .. shops and other services will be needed by the students -- the shops and services will need employees  ... and college-aged students and their parents will spend money --- it will ensure the ongoing Renaissance of Schenectady.

This is called....'government creating a false sense of economic security'..........while the rest of the city burns!!!