Complex would be adjacent to Slingerlands Price Chopper Plaza
The developer who built the Price Chopper Plaza in Slingerlands is looking to add a residential component to that project in the form of a luxury apartment complex.
The Windsor Companies of Clifton Park plan to submit an application to the Town of Bethlehem to build 50 apartment units adjacent to the offices at the northeast corner of the shopping plaza, along New Scotland Road. The working name for the complex is The Hamlet.
`We’ve decided to continue our development and make it a mixed used project, if you will,` said Windsor President David Sussman at a recent meeting with town planners. `We’re hoping…this might kick off some of the development of New Scotland Road.`
Tentative plans have the complex sitting on around ten acres of land adjacent to the exiting offices. Five buildings would each house 10, 2-bedroom apartments as well as 10 garages. The buildings would be two stories tall. Sussman said more analysis will have to be done before a likely rent point can be discussed.
The land is zoned hamlet, which generally calls for mixed-use residential and commercial space for a self-contained community atmosphere. There would be easy pedestrian access to the shopping plaza next door, said the developer.
Some town planners wondered how the apartments would integrate into the fabric of the surrounding community.
`It’s sort of the first piece of the hamlet area to be proposed, other than Vista [Technology Campus],` said Planning Board member John Smolinsky. `I think when this project comes to the Planning Board it will be useful to know how you think this fits in with the bigger concept.`
Director of Economic Development and Planning Michael Morelli noted there exists a sidewalk and other streetscape elements on the other side of Route 85, but not on the side the apartments would be located.
`The question now is, do we start to implement those improvements on this side of the hamlet zone?` he said.
Sussman indicated he’d like to have an application submitted to the town as soon as possible, with hopes of appearing before the Planning Board at its next meeting on Nov. 16.
Also at a recent meeting with town planners, the Bethlehem YMCA approached the town with plans to construct a pavilion behind its Delaware Avenue facility.
The 40′ by 80′ structure would also house bathrooms, a kitchenette area and offices. The eventual intent would be to make it part of the programming already held in the area, with a formal activity field being established and eventually having cabins built along existing nature trails.
The YMCA’s land extends for about 14 acres to the rear of its main building.“
