COLONIE — According to published reports, Rosetti Properties has purchased the West Shaker Farm on Watervliet Shaker Road.
The land is located next door to George’s Market, which the developer purchased two years ago.
According to the Albany Business Review, Rosetti paid $5 million for the 39.3 acres plot of land.
Rosetti is currently in the process of building a 116-apartment complex at the end of Sand Creek Road between Affrim’s Sports Complex and the newly purchased property.
That project would construct six, new three-story buildings on the 21-plus acres which was owned by David Brizzell for 116 apartments and an additional 10 units would be incorporated into the four existing Shaker-era buildings. The complex will include a pool, a clubhouse, community gardens and space for active and passive recreation.
The doors could open by the end of this year.
Rosetti Properties, according to the Business review, owns and manages more than 1,000 apartment units in Colonie, Guilderland, Saratoga Springs and North Greenbush.
The two properties along Watervliet Shaker Road were once farmed by the West Family of the original Shakers when they flourished in Albany County in the 18thth and 19th centuries.
The iconic Shaker corn brooms were made at the site from start to finish.
As part of the review process for the 116-unit complex, Rosetti agreed to move and restore the barn that is visible from the intersection of Watervliet Shaker and Sand creek roads.
There are other efforts to keep the Shakers’ heritage alive as development happens including interpretative signage along walking paths and access to the Shaker buildings, which now house Rosetti tenants, for occasional guided tours.
