Daniel Mackay had conceded a miracle was likely need to relocate the Hilton barn locally, but a miraculous solution could be closing in.
A month ago, Mackay lamented over the fate of the historic barn, commonly known as the LeVie Barn, to fellow Town Board members. Mackay, who spearheaded preservation efforts to relocate the massive structure, feared finding a new home for the barn was unlikely. The barn’s defining characteristic, its large size, was proving too costly for any interested party to move without financial assistance, which was also lacking. Mackay’s spirits were lifted at the board’s meeting Wednesday, Feb. 11, when he said media coverage spurred a resurgence of interest in relocating the barn. Since the board’s meeting last month, he said there have been “a number of calls and inquires” about relocating it.
“There are several discussions in the works, several variations on a save that would keep the barn here in New Scotland, so I am very pleased with that,” said Mackay. “There are discussions about variations on a save and relocating the barn to property very close by.”
He was optimistic the 60-foot wide, 120-foot long and 60-foot tall barn would be saved, with his concern shifting to whether it remains in town. People with experience relocating similar structures have expressed interest to move it out of town but nearby, along with out of state.
“Seeing the barn come down in ruin, I think we have … some strong possibilities of not having to deal with that outcome,” Mackay said.
“It is a question of whether we can keep the barn close at hand or not.”
During the last couple weeks, he said four different interested parties have toured the barn to assess its structural integrity and “eyeball” how the barn matches their reuse idea.
Country Club Partners is constructing an 18-lot residential subdivision on a 22.4-acre property located in an agricultural district off Maple Road in New Scotland. The barn is located on lot 18, but as part of the sub-division approval the developer is required to the town for preservation and relocation efforts.
Town officials legally have until Feb. 28 to notify the property owner it has received a proposal to relocate the barn to another location.
Once the owner is notified, the town would have until May 31 to deconstruct and relocate the barn.
Some board members have previously lobbied the developer for more time, because construction has not proceeded as initially planned.
If the barn is relocated, there could be a lot more than just local residents watching the process. Mackay said a downstate television show producer contacted him about filming, or even taking part, in relocating the barn.
Securing funds to relocate the barn has been the biggest hurdle, which is estimated to at least cost $500,000.
The “most viable” local scenarios, he said, would involve a non-profit or public ownership of the building, which allows access to grants or a bonding authority to cover costs. One funding option, he said, includes the Albany County Industrial Development Agency providing immediately needed funds for deconstruction expenses.
“Some of what we are looking at now we would have access to some immediate money to move the building out of harm’s way and put it where it will have potential multiple options for reuse,” Mackay said. “We would love to keep it close to the Rail Trail. … If we can keep it close to where it is right now there are some interesting opportunities that are beginning to coalesce.”
