Schenectady, NY (September 13, 2017) The Capital Region Land Bank Board of Directors met last evening and approved bids to demolish 11 blighted buildings in the Mont Pleasant neighborhood including two structures that will come down making way for a new $2 million Library to be built by Schenectady County. One of the two buildings to be demolished is the infamous Chubby’s Pizza at 1030 Crane Street that caused hundreds of police calls to the neighborhood.
Richard Ruzzo, Land Bank Chairman and a member of the Schenectady County Legislature said, “We are pleased to award this bid that will restructure the block with the removal of problematic buildings including Chubby’s Pizza along with ten other blighted, unsafe uninhabitable structures and pave the way for a new $2 million dollar investment by Schenectady County in the new Mont Pleasant library branch. This is a proud day for the Land Bank, a proud day for the County and most importantly a proud day for the Neighborhood.”
Holly Vellano, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature’s Committee on Education and Libraries said, “We thank the Land Bank for partnering with Schenectady County and the City IDA to clear this blighted site to make way for our new Mont Pleasant Branch Library. We know the neighborhood is excited for this new branch that will focus on community literacy, and we’re confident that our efforts will have a positive impact on the Crane Street business corridor.”
The County has completed designs for the new library and will seek bids once detailed drawings are complete later this year. Construction will occur in 2018.
The City IDA, administered by The Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority, purchased 1030 Crane and 1036 Crane Street earlier this year launching the new library effort.
The other buildings to be demolished as part of an overall effort to boost the Crane Street/Mont Pleasant neighborhood include:
1402 Sixth Avenue
1313 Sixth Avenue
802 Bridge Street
910 Bridge Street
929-31 Cutler Avenue
1118 Fourth Avenue
1222-24 Third Avenue
856 Crane Street
929 Crane Street
(1030 and 1036 Crane Street for Library site)
The Land Bank is also working with Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County to renovate a home at 906 Pennsylvania Avenue in Mont Pleasant.
A total of four companies submitted demolition bids to the Land Bank. The low bidder is Dan’s Hauling & Demo, Inc. with a bid of $348,000. Demolition work will take place this fall.
The Capital Region Land Bank uses funding provided by New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to revitalize neighborhoods in Schenectady County and in Amsterdam. The grant is administered by Enterprise Community Partners. The funding is being provided from bank settlements won by the Attorney General.
Contact: Joe McQueen (518) 388-4772