Schenectady, N.Y., August 2, 2006 – Metroplex today joined with City and County officials to announce plans to try and save and redevelop the former Robinson Furniture Building on lower State Street. The goal of the project is to convert the 40,000 square foot former furniture store into a mixed use facility featuring first floor retail space, offices, on-site parking, a new courtyard and upscale loft apartments. If the project is successful, the Robinson Building, now owned by the City, will be placed back on the tax rolls and will be renovated as an anchor project for redevelopment of lower State Street.
Gary Hughes, Chair of the County Legislature’s Committee on Economic Development and Planning said, “This a prudent and responsible way for the public and private sectors to assess the feasibility of restoring and redeveloping a building with one of the most distinctive facades in Schenectady County. If our initial assessment signals that this building can be saved and redeveloped, we will be able to restore a building that helps to define State Street between Erie Boulevard and Ferry Street. If our initial assessment reveals that too much damage has been to the building, we will seek State funding to help with demolition costs.”
Mayor Brian U. Stratton said, “This is exactly the kind of dynamic project we have been working hard to bring to downtown Schenectady. The potential to convert the Robinson Building into upscale loft residences would act as a catalyst for continued and sustained economic growth, expanding the tax base and renewing confidence in Schenectady’s bright future.”
Vincent M. DiCerbo, Vice-Chair of the County Legislature’s Economic Development Committee said, “This project has the potential to preserve a key building downtown while helping our efforts to create a 24 hour downtown by bringing residents to the heart of our new and fast growing State Street corridor.”
City Council President Mark W. Blanchfield said, “We are hopeful of adding yet another building to the tax rolls with a great mixed-use project. It also saves City taxpayers money that would have been spent on demolition and focuses our energy on the resurgence of lower State Street.”
The Robinson Building is located at 238-248 State Street. The complex has been vacant for many years and was taken by the City in a tax foreclosure. The building’s condition is seriously deteriorated with a partially collapsed roof and other signs of decay. The building’s condition is a drag on efforts to move the rapid development now occurring on the Proctors Block to lower State Street.
To move the project forward, the City Council and the Mayor will be asked to transfer ownership of the building to a development team headed by Mark S. Boss.
Mr. Boss is representing a group of investors who have established Schenectady Renaissance LLC to manage redevelopment of the Robinson complex. The investors represented by Boss currently own and manage over 4,000 apartments, six shopping centers and numerous office buildings. The project team also has a strong track record in preserving and rehabilitating older buildings.
Mark S. Boss said, “Schenectady Renaissance looks forward to playing a part in the revitalization of downtown Schenectady. Everyone involved in this project recognizes that a revitalized City requires people to be living downtown. Our intent is to rehabilitate and preserve this important building and provide attractive upscale housing. In addition, the construction of terraces, sidewalk and courtyard cafes will provide an attractive natural setting further enhancing the residential units while also serving to attract more pedestrians and shoppers to the downtown area.”
Schenectady Renaissance plans a four phase restoration of the Robinson Complex. In Phase I, the developer and Metroplex will study the feasibility of preserving the building given its current state of disrepair. If the study phase finds that the building can be saved, the developer will repair the roof and the interior of the building will be gutted. In Phase II, the front façade facing State Street will be renovated. In Phase III, new mechanical systems will be installed, new retail space will be created on the first floor and an interior courtyard will be completed. In the fourth and final phase, up to 20 luxury apartments will be created on the second, third and fourth floors including balconies that face the new courtyard. The project will be completed over a two and a half year period with work scheduled to commence this fall.
Boss added “Schenectady Renaissance is investing in Schenectady because we recognize that the County, City and Metroplex are all committed to returning Schenectady to a thriving vibrant City.”
The developers are prepared to invest over $3 million in the Robinson complex. The City would turn title over to the development team and the team would work with Metroplex to complete feasibility work that is already underway to determine the viability of preserving the current structure in place. Metroplex is prepared to fund up to $300,000 of initial work at the site to be matched dollar for dollar by the developer.
The City faced the prospect of funding demolition at the Robinson site as a cost of almost $1 million if a plan for the renovation of the complex could not be developed.
If further study indicates that the building can be saved, then roof repair work will be completed before winter. If it is determined that the building cannot be saved, then ownership will revert back to the City and the City will work with Metroplex to access funding contained in the new State budget to help upstate cities demolish buildings in key commercial corridors that no longer have a useful life.
If the project moves forward, Metroplex will commit additional resources for building improvements and an improved façade.
Renovating the building accomplishes a number of important goals for downtown development including sparking additional residential development, preservation of an important building and façade, preserving the connected streetscape wall on lower State Street and serving as a catalyst project for redevelopment of lower State Street.
Ray Gillen, Chair of Metroplex said, “Metroplex is committed to historic preservation and views demolition as a last resort. We look forward to working with Mark Boss and his team to do everything possible to save and renovate the Robinson complex as this project would provide a major boost to our efforts to redevelop lower State Street.”