This winter’s mild weather has been “both a curse and a blessing” for construction crews at the Vista Technology Campus.
Although this season’s warm temperatures and lack of snow has helped with the installation of the sewer system and laying of foundations, the soft ground led to issues with mud, according to Jon DeForest, vice president of BBL Construction Services.
“Because of the schedule we always knew we would be working in the winter, and we planned on doing things less weather dependent,” said DeForest, mentioning construction of the street. “In a lot of ways we’re doing well, but we anticipated for frozen ground. It’s challenging sometimes because it’s hard to get around the site and not muck things up.”
Bethlehem Assistant Engineer Terry Ritz said the crews like the temperatures, but it is sometimes difficult to get supplies such as pipe, stone and sand to all parts of the site because of the mud.
So far, about 80 percent of the cuts and fills are done, 65 percent of the storm drainage system is complete, 75 percent of the sanitary sewer system is installed and 35 percent of the pump station is finished, according to Ritz.
“With the winter, things are progressing nicely,” said DeForest. “We’re on schedule, maybe a little bit more but not by an earth shattering amount. It might have been even more difficult, but the weather is fortunate.”
The project’s formal groundbreaking was held in December of 2011 after years of negotiations, planning and debate. So far, ShopRite, SEFCU and Berkshire Bank have all signed on as tenants, but the name of a technology firm for the technology park has yet to be released.
Bethlehem Industrial Development Chairman Frank Venezia said it’s up to the developer to find companies willing to invest in the park and bring them to the attention of the IDA.
Joe Nicolla, president of Columbia Development Companies, said the company is deciding what steps to take next with the project and will have more information in the coming weeks.
Before the project could begin, Albany County, the Bethlehem Central School District and Bethlehem town leaders signed off on an agreement to use PILOT payments, or payments in lieu of taxes, for construction of the main roadway into the campus. Albany County has previously promised $1 million to Vista development.
The first three tenants were also granted PILOT agreements from the Bethlehem IDA that will eventually amount to $200,000 in tax breaks.
Venezia said so far the IDA is happy with the pace of the project.
“Everything moving along just as we thought it would,” he said.
Ritz said the street into the Vista Campus and the utilities are scheduled for completion in August. They are now waiting on designs from National Grid, Verizon and Time Warner and the permits to begin utility installations underground.
“In that area of the project, we are behind,” he said.
DeForest said the foundation for ShopRite’s building is already complete and the store should open around the time the road does in August or September.
“Very soon we will see things go vertical,” he said.
He said the sub base of the road will begin to take shape in the spring along with work done by National Grid, and paving of the road should begin by summer.
When the ShopRite building is complete, DeForest said BBL will move on to the two banks and an office buildings, all of which are slated for 2012 openings.
“For now, we’re in good shape,” he said.
