SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — The Metroplex Board of Directors met this evening and approved three projects in downtown Schenectady.
The first project involves the historic renovation of 3 State Street. The Board approved a $25,000 façade grant and a sales tax exemption on the purchase of building supplies used to renovate the building which was built in 1900. The four-story structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building will undergo a complete top to bottom renovation by J&J Apartments LLC, a development company formed by Joe Johnson who owns an electrical contracting business in Troy and Jeff McDonald, owner of a general contracting company based in Niskayuna. The end result of the renovation will be 17 market rate apartments, adding to the growing residential market downtown.
All local approvals for the project are in place and exterior renovations are already underway.
“Three State Street is the first building you see on State Street as you enter Schenectady from Scotia,” said Ray Gillen, Metroplex Chair. “We thank Joe Johnson and Jeff McDonald for preserving this piece of Schenectady’s history.”
Next up, the Board approved improvements to the roundabout that is in front of Mohawk Harbor and Rivers Casino. A new sculpture and landscaping will be added to the greenspace at the center of the roundabout. The project team includes Armando & Sons Welders, LAnd Art Studios, both based in Schenectady as well as Barton & Loguidice, based in Albany. The new sculpture is part of a series of art installations downtown funded in part by the NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI). A $10,000 donation to the project was made by Rivers Casino & Resort as well as a private gift of $9,000 from Mrs. Roberta Blackmer in honor of her late husband.
“We thank the project team and both Rivers Casino and Mrs. Blackmer for their contributions toward improving this greenspace in front of the very successful and popular Mohawk Harbor development,” said Ray Gillen, Metroplex Chair.
Finally, the board approved the sale of a .02-acre parcel on Van Guysling Avenue that is owned by Metroplex to Highbridge Development, owners of the adjacent .07-acre parcel. The sale will allow Highbridge to expand its parking lot for nearby tenants including Upstate Dermatology and the NYS Lottery. The purchase price is $17,500 based on an appraisal.
Metroplex coordinates economic development activity for Schenectady County by promoting capital projects that create jobs and both property and sales tax revenue which in turn creates more funding for Metroplex to invest as the authority receives sales tax funding from Schenectady County.
