Development expected to bring 200 jobs to area
The desolate former Kmart Plaza in Glenville is expected to see some activity in the future.
During Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority’s meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 20, the board passed a resolution to begin the State Environmental Quality Review Act process for the site. Metroplex will coordinate reviews of the project with state, county and town agencies. The former buildings on the site will likely be torn down during redevelopment.
The owner of the property, an affiliate RD Management LLC, has signed a letter of agreement with a major national retailer to build a new store at the location near the corner of Route 50 and Glenridge Road. RD Management is estimating 200 jobs would be created through the major retailer.
`It’s an eyesore now, and it will replace a vacant eyesore with a project that will create new jobs, new sales tax revenue and new property tax revenue,` said Ray Gillen, chairman of Metroplex. `Glenville is a very strong town this is really the blighted site in the town that needed to be cleaned up.`
The plan involves a $17 million investment for a major retailer totaling 134,000 square feet. There will also be a smaller building of 30,000 square feet attached to the building and a `pad site` for future retail development as part of the investment. The smaller building is planned to hold other shops and retail outlets.
`They are very confident they can fill that space, otherwise they wouldn’t be investing in it,` said Joe McQueen, spokesman for the county of the developer’s plans.
The plaza has been vacant since August 2006 and the total size of the site is 13.2 acres. The owner of the property plans to close on the sale of the property with the retailer in the summer of 2011. RD Management would retain ownership of the smaller 30,000 square foot building. Once approvals are granted, the hope is to begin construction in the fall of 2011, with new retailer opening its doors in 2012.
`They need to move along the approval process for this to actually happen, the retailer is ready to go, but there is nothing particularly signed yet,` said McQueen.
Gillen said the Route 50 area in Glenville is getting some good attention and activity lately. Also, the corner by the plaza is an important element to the town, he said.
`It is an important venue in Glenville, and so while we’re working to rebuild the economy in the county we don’t want that particular part of Glenville to be blighted,` said Susan Savage, D-Niskayuna, chairwoman of the Schenectady County Legislature. `Kmart has sat vacant for too long, and I think we will have a great project in its place.`
Savage said she is confident the project will help stimulate economy in the town, and Christopher Koetzle, supervisor for the Town of Glenville, agrees.
`I think that national retailer is going to attract more investment,` said Koetzle. `I think it is an important piece of the redevelopment that is currently going on in Glenville.`
He said there are still some empty lots near the Price Chopper Center and an old transmission oil center building just a few lots over. Also, there are some places on Freemans Bridge Road to look for investment, he said.
`Our focus is to help the small businesses succeed, and that is where we will try to leverage,` said Koetzle. `I believe you could have a chain come in and help small businesses, because it brings more traffic into the town and brings more people into the town.`
He said the town has a Ready Fund, which is a revitalization and economic development initiative that aims to help businesses grow, invest and improve.
Savage said there was a group a couple years ago interested in the site, but that proposal ultimately fell through due to the economic situation.
`I think this is another example of private industry reacting to a market,` said Koetzle. `I think credit goes all around to everybody, but really when it all comes down to it, we just had the good fortune now that the time is right.“
