The Schenectady County Chamber of Commerce, through the Chamber’s Foundation, officially purchased the former home of Dr. Elizabeth Van Rensselear Gillette from the county on Wednesday, Sept. 5.
At a public announcement in front of the building with many local and state officials in attendance, Chamber officials signed contracts with the county to purchase the Gillette house for $1.
The Chamber also purchased the adjacent property at 250 Union St., called the Millington property, and plans to connect the two buildings to form a visitor’s center.
The center is expected to be the home of the Chamber of Commerce and tourism department and include a large conference room and small conference spaces. There will also be museum and exhibit space that will eventually hold the Schenectady Heritage Area exhibits currently housed at the Schenectady Museum.
We are very excited about this project, said Martin Finn, chairman of the Chamber’s board of directors. `It has been a long time coming.`
The entire project is expected to cost about $1.5 million, Finn said. About half project’s cost will be covered by commitments from various government officials through member items and grants and from private donors.
Former Assemblyman Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, secured $5,000 for the project; $10,000 from Assemblyman James Tedisco, R-Schenectady; $75,000 has come from Senator Hugh Farley, R-Niskayuna; $112,000 came from the New York State Canal Corporation; $415,000 from the state Parks Department; and $20,000 from the Wright Family Foundation. Finn said an additional $112,000 is expected from the equity in the Chamber’s existing building at 306 State St.
`The Chamber values partnerships and collaboration. Today we recognized and salute our partners in government ` Schenectady County, the state and city of Schenectady ` for their support, cooperation and leadership to facilitate the Chamber’s ownership of the Gillette House and property,` Finn said.
Dr. Gillette was the first woman physician in Schenectady. She was a suffragette and the first Upstate woman elected to the state Assembly in 1919.
Located at the corner of Union and North College Streets, Dr. Gillette’s home was built in 1850. The home is unique because it is one of the only Italianate style homes in the Stockade and serves as a gateway to the historic district.
The Gillette House has been vacant since 1994 and since then has significantly deteriorated. The County bought the property from an absentee owner in 2001.
Chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature Susan Savage said the Gillette House’s location is perfect for Schenectady’s visitor’s center.
`We have worked to make sure our historic district is well represented, and I want to thank everyone for their efforts to restore this historic building and put it to good use in Schenectady County,` Savage said.
Farley said the newly renovated Gillette House would be an important asset in promoting both the city and county of Schenectady.
`The restoration and reuse of the Gillette House and Millington property is an exciting project, which preserves a historic building and creates an attractive gateway to Schenectady’s historic Stockade neighborhood,` he said.
Mayor Brian Stratton said he lived across the street from the Gillette House when he first moved back to Schenectady.
`I have watched it fall to disrepair over the years and have never understood and appreciated what a wonderful treasure it is,` he said.
Stratton also announced his plans for a $14.5 million redevelopment of the Erie Boulevard corridor, which he said will one day become the Erie Edison Technology Corridor.
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