ROTTERDAM — An eyesore in Rotterdam is one big step closer to coming down.
Forum Industries of Clifton Park purchased the 12-acre site of the former Curry Road Shopping Plaza from the town for $375,000 Monday, clearing the way for the demolition of 85,000 square feet of empty retail space.
The demolition would make way for a 180-unit senior housing development to include green space and walking paths, according to Ray Gillen, chairman of the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority. The planned apartment complex is a mix of one- and two-bedroom units and includes a business center, gym, outdoor patio and other amenities.
About 21⁄2 acres will be preserved as a nature area with trails and roughly 1⁄4 acre will be donated to Rotterdam Fire District No. 2 to square off the fire department’s property, which is adjacent to the site.
Forum Industries also plans to build two retail buildings of 2,200 square feet and 4,000 square feet at the front of the site along Curry Road, the larger of which would house a TrustCo Bank branch that is currently the plaza’s only remaining business.
Rotterdam town Supervisor Harry Buffardi said the town has no specific plan for the $375,000 netted through the property’s sale, but said “it’s taxpayer money. We’ll try to spend it efficiently and usefully.”
The Metroplex board voted Wednesday night to provide a matching $350,000 grant for site work and demolition.
“We level the playing field with greenfield development sites by providing this demolition and site work grant to be matched by the developer,” Gillen said. “This project is about smart growth and the removal of blighted buildings.”
The project’s total cost is estimated at $20 million. Forum Industries, which is owned by Andy Sciocchetti, had previous success building a 70-unit senior housing project in Clifton Park, Gillen said. The developer’s plan for a senior housing complex on Curry Road has been discussed for about two years.
“It’s a big, complicated project,” Gillen said. “The site has sat idle for so many years, and there were a number of negotiations that had to be completed before we could move forward. It’s a very complex project that no one has ever been able to get done in the past.”
Buffardi said Rotterdam has an older population than most communities in the Capital Region, and the town needs the senior housing that the project will bring. He also said the new development will certainly be an improvement over the current building, which he said has trees growing out of its roof.
“I found it a bit disturbing that we would try and push code enforcement on properties, and the town of Rotterdam probably owned one of the worst properties in the town,” he said.
The supervisor said he is excited about the building finally coming down after years of adding nothing but blight to a busy section of the town. The plaza, once home to a Kmart, a gift shop and an auto center, among other stores, has been mostly vacant for 25 years. In recent years, it housed a Price Chopper print shop owned by Golub Corp. This past summer, the plaza’s expansive parking lot was used as a watering station when a series of water main breaks left much of the town without drinking water.
“When that building starts to come down, I’ll be the guy standing out there with the big grin on my face,” Buffardi said. “It has been such a long time coming, I don’t even know when that property went into default.”
Renovating the site wasn’t an option because the buildings are in such bad shape from years of deterioration, Gillen said.
“They’re not energy-efficient,” he said. “They’re a mess.”
Gillen said he expects the demolition to take place this year, but said it can’t happen until Forum Industries purchases portions of the site from Golub Corp.
“[Andy Sciocchetti] is buying some of the property still owned by Golub,” he said, “and the plan is already approved by the town.”
He declined to be more specific about when the demolition would take place, but said it would begin as soon as possible. Once the bank moves into the new building, that portion of the site would be demolished, Gillen said.
“It’s going be a great event for the community,” he said.
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
The Metroplex board voted Wednesday night to provide a matching $350,000 grant for site work and demolition.
And where is the matching grant for homeowners to demolish a deck to replace it, demolish a shed to replace it, demolish a garage to replace it, etc?
Oh, homeowners don't get any handouts, not a penny of help, but homeowners have to pay 100% in FULL for any work on their own homes PLUS they are FORCED under threat of having their homes seized in tax foreclosure, to pay for the demolition of properties owned by rich companies. If a company cannot pay it's own bill 100% in FULL, then it should not buy another property.
And we wonder why our taxes are going UP UP UP UP UP (and the lone sole person who claims that taxes are going down has not provided one teeny weeny shred of evidence)
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
And where is the matching grant for homeowners to demolish a deck to replace it, demolish a shed to replace it, demolish a garage to replace it, etc?
Oh, homeowners don't get any handouts, not a penny of help, but homeowners have to pay 100% in FULL for any work on their own homes PLUS they are FORCED under threat of having their homes seized in tax foreclosure, to pay for the demolition of properties owned by rich companies. If a company cannot pay it's own bill 100% in FULL, then it should not buy another property.
And we wonder why our taxes are going UP UP UP UP UP (and the lone sole person who claims that taxes are going down has not provided one teeny weeny shred of evidence)
You're not used to it yet? Get used to it tax slave. Your home is your bondage. There is no place to run and no place to hide homeowner. If you want shelter, accept the fact the government knows you are trapped. And will squeeze every penny out of you that they can. While giving millions of dollars to wealthy businesses that are not trapped by their property. You should be able to incorporate your home like a business, and walk away and file bankruptcy when you don't want to pay taxes anymore, just like a business.
They sold it for $375,000 and gave them a taxpayer funded grant for $350,000.
Of course Buffardi doesn't know what he's going to do with the money from the sale.
We only netted $25,000.
Hell....$25K doesn't even cover one year of a cop's pension!!!!
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
You're not used to it yet? Get used to it tax slave. Your home is your bondage. There is no place to run and no place to hide homeowner. If you want shelter, accept the fact the government knows you are trapped. And will squeeze every penny out of you that they can. While giving millions of dollars to wealthy businesses that are not trapped by their property. You should be able to incorporate your home like a business, and walk away and file bankruptcy when you don't want to pay taxes anymore, just like a business.
Yeah, kind of used to it, fortunately we haven't had as much demo of properties owned by the rich that we had to pay for, not that I'm aware of at least.
And you're write about the rest.
Just must keep message about the corruption of the city, town, co, plex leaders out front. After all, the current government leaders cover-up everything they do, they lie as much as the D Voice Full of Lies.
Can't let the truth be forgotten, can't allow it to be swept under a rug. The FACTS, these TRUTHS, must be told over and over and over again. One of these days people will wake up. Squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
They sold it for $375,000 and gave them a taxpayer funded grant for $350,000.
Of course Buffardi doesn't know what he's going to do with the money from the sale.
We only netted $25,000.
It's the dem party arithmetic.
Oh, and the town has 100% equalization rate and assessment is what?
Optimists close their eyes and pretend problems are non existent. Better to have open eyes, see the truths, acknowledge the negatives, and speak up for the people rather than the politicos and their rich cronies.
Rotterdam town Supervisor Harry Buffardi said the town has no specific plan for the $375,000 netted through the property’s sale, but said “it’s taxpayer money. We’ll try to spend it efficiently and usefully.”
But wait he said he would "try to spend it efficiently and usefully"....We all believe him right????
ormer Curry Road Plaza Buildings to Face Wrecking Ball
Four New Buildings Planned for Vacant Retail Site
$20 Million Investment to Boost Rotterdam and Schenectady County
(Schenectady County, NY) The Town of Rotterdam will move forward today with the selection of a development team for the former Curry Road Plaza, a vacant 12-acre site on a busy corridor in Rotterdam. Plans call for razing the two existing buildings on the site to be replaced by four new buildings with a total new investment of $20 million. This project is a joint effort with Schenectady County and is another example of the progress made through the County’s unified economic development team. Earlier this year, the Town and County worked together to develop an RFP for the property which is owned by the Town.
Town Supervisor Harry Buffardi said, “Curry Road Plaza has been an eyesore in Rotterdam for many years. Today we move ahead with a development team that will bring new life to this site with a mix of retail and senior housing. This will mean new jobs and investment in our community.”
Judy Dagostino, Chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature said, “This is great news for the residents of Rotterdam and Schenectady County. By working together with the Town, we are breathing new life into this long-time eyesore and creating something our residents can take pride in.”
Town officials today announced that a team headed by Forum Industries, Inc. of Clifton Park, NY and Whitney Capital Company LLC of Lake Success, NY has been selected to develop the site. The Forum-Whitney team will pay the Town $375,000 for the property.
The developers will present their project to the Town Board on October 10 with final approval expected on October 24th.
The winning development proposal includes plans for two buildings to be built on Curry Road. The two buildings will feature retail and office users – one building at 2,500 square feet and the other 4,000 square feet.
Behind the two new retail buildings that front on Curry Road, the Forum-Whitney Team plans to build two, three-story buildings totaling 120,000 square feet. The two buildings will feature 180 senior apartments with a mix of one and two bedroom units, business center, gym, outdoor patio and other amenities.
The developers plan to use green building methods to construct the new senior apartments. Approximately 2.5 acres of the 12 acre site will be preserved as a nature area with trails. Another .27 acres will be donated by the development team to the Rotterdam Fire District #2 for future expansions.
Andrew Sciocchetti, CEO and President of Forum Industries said, “We are excited about moving forward with the Town and County to redevelop Curry Road Plaza.”
Forum Industries develops and constructs commercial and multi-family residential units in Upstate New York. The firm most recently completed a 70 unit Affordable Senior Housing project in Clifton Park, and has two other local sites in development for senior housing. Mr. Sciocchetti also owns and operates AJS Masonry, Inc, a major construction subcontractor in the Capital Region.
Tom Granville, Managing Director of Whitney Capital Company LLC said "Our firm is excited about working with Forum Industries, the Town of Rotterdam and Schenectady County to bring new life to this site while also addressing the local need for senior rental housing.”
The principals of Whitney Capital Company LLC, Garry Munson and Tom Granville, have developed and retained an interest in over 5,000 units of multi-family housing nationwide. The firm's management affiliate, Whitney Management Corp, now manages New York senior housing communities in the City of Saratoga Springs, Amherst, Hamburg, Riverhead, Hampton Bays and Farmingdale.
The County’s economic development team has been successful in redeveloping a number of vacant or underutilized shopping plazas in Schenectady County including the former Capitol Plaza in Rotterdam, the former Kmart Plaza in Glenville, the former St. James Square in Niskayuna and the Crosstown Plaza in Schenectady.
Redevelopment of the Curry Road site is a major priority for the County’s economic development team. To make the site shovel ready for the new senior housing and retail project, extensive work has been completed in the last twenty four months to prepare the site for demolition and redevelopment. These activities were implemented by the Rotterdam IDA and later the Schenectady County IDA which is administered by Metroplex as part of the County’s unified economic development team.
The project developers will complete required State and local reviews with plans to begin demolition and site work in 2013.
Developers plan $20 million investment at empty shopping plaza in Rotterdam Oct 11, 2012, 6:38am EDT
Michael DeMasi Reporter- Albany Business Review Email | Google+ | Twitter | LinkedIn A development team has been picked to demolish the former Curry Road Plaza in Rotterdam, New York, and build a $20 million retail/office/senior housing project. Forum Industries Inc. of Clifton Park and Whitney Capital Co. LLC of Lake Success on Long Island submitted the winning proposal to officials in Rotterdam and Schenectady County to redevelop the empty shopping plaza, an eyesore for many years. The developers will demolish two buildings on the 12-acre site next year and replace them with two retail/office buildings totaling 6,500 square feet and two buildings totaling 120,000 square feet with 180 senior apartments, a gym, outdoor patio and other amenities. The development team will pay the town $375,000 for the property. “This will mean new jobs and investment in our community,” Town Supervisor Harry Buffardi said. The town is expected to approve the project later this month. Rotterdam worked with officials at the county and Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority over the past two years to prepare the site for demolition and redevelopment. A request for proposals was issued in June, with no minimum bid price for the property. Forum Industries develops and builds commercial and multi-family units upstate. The firm’s CEO and president, Andrew Sciocchetti, owns AJS Masonry Inc. The principals of Whitney Capital Co., Garry Munson and Tom Granville, have developed and retained an interest in more than 5,000 multi-family units nationwide, according to town and county officials. DeMasi covers real estate, construction, retail and hospitality.
...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
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