A sneak peek inside the new 440-acre Vista Technology Campus site in Slingerlands was revealed to Bethlehem and Capital District community leaders Monday, Oct. 15, by BBL Development Group.
This day is the culmination of many years of work, said Jack Cunningham, Bethlehem town supervisor, who recognized the many individuals and government agencies that assisted in the development of Vista: Albany County, the state Department of Transportation, the Center for Economic Growth and Albany-Colonie and Bethlehem’s chambers of commerce, as well as Theresa Egan, former Bethlehem supervisor.
`This project is not only important to the town of Bethlehem, it is regionally significant,` Cunningham said.
The fourth and newest roundabout leading to the entrance of Vista was revealed. The Vista roundabout is located behind the Price Chopper Plaza. People driving to the new Vista Park off Route 85 will be able to directly access the technology campus from Maher Road.
Retail and tech-based development is expected to replace the formerly bucolic country setting of the 440-acre site off Route 85.
No major site location announcements were made at the press briefing; however, vice-president of development for BBL, William Hebert, said it is just a matter of time before the first business announcement is made.
`We are having confidential discussions with several users and expect an announcement in the near future,` Hebert said.
Developers of Vista said it will add to the Capital District’s nanoelectronics and technology-based facilities, including Luther Forest, RPI and the University at Albany College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering.
`Tech Valley is on a short list of technology locations in New York state and around the world,` said Michael Tucker, director of the Center for Economic Growth. Tucker said Vista provides another shovel-ready tech site.
`We need to have product in the pipeline similar to this project,` Tucker said.
A brochure promoting Vista shows scientists working on new research along with a master plan of the campus and its proximity to nearby roads and airports.
`We knew if we could get the right place, we could do it around here,` said Albany County Executive Michael Breslin, who attended the event, along with Albany County Legislator Herbert Reilly, D-New Scotland.
Albany County supported Vista’s development by giving $1 million in seed money to move the project forward. The Vista Tech Park straddles portions of the towns of Bethlehem and New Scotland.
Much of the current construction is related to the roundabouts being built on Blessing, Maher, and New Scotland roads by the state Department of Transportation to ease traffic congestion for motorists.
`We can make transportation meaningful to communities and meaningful to planned growth,` said Brian Rowback, Region 1 DOT director. `This provides transportation facilities to communities plus provides opportunities for planned growth.`
Several thousand new jobs are expected when the Vista development is complete, along with $50 million in tax revenues over the next 20 years.
`What a great day,` said Marty DeLaney, president of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce.
`It’s about partnership with government, with community, with business,` Delaney said.“