Shovels hit the ground on a new senior apartment complex last week in a bustling hamlet center, around a decade after the project was initially proposed.
The United Group, a Troy-based developer, held a formal groundbreaking ceremony Thursday morning, March 19, for the Glenmont Abbey Village construction site in the hamlet of Glenmont. The nearly 15-acre property is located adjacent to Saint Matthews Cemetery, with a long driveway leading to the 148 housing units behind the cemetery. The apartment community is marketed for active, independent adults 55 years and older.
Several amenities will be included at the development’s clubhouse including an indoor heated pool with locker rooms, fitness center, game room, media center, hair salon, and community kitchen. Community gardens and walking paths are also planned for the site.
Sharon Kelley, vice president of Senior Housing at The United Group, said seeing construction kick off was “very exiting,” with the clubhouse and first of two apartment complex buildings to be completed in the fall. The second building would open around two months later.
“We knew this would be a great fit for the town, so we were very anxious to get it started,” said Kelley. “The demographics are very strong for this age group and income level.”
One apartment has already been rented.
Town Supervisor John Clarkson said the development will be a “great addition” for local seniors looking for different housing options.
“We’re really happy to see this development occurring here in Glenmont,” said Clarkson. “It is getting to be a very happening place to be.”
There are nine different room styles available ranging from a one-bedroom, one-bathroom 695 square-foot apartment for $1,215 per month to a two-bedroom, two-bathroom 1,296 square-foot apartment for $1,952 monthly. The housing units are divided evenly between the two, four-story apartment buildings.
Apartments feature central air conditioning, a fully outfitted kitchen with maple cabinets and granite counters, crown molding in the living and dining room, a washer and dryer, large closets and storage areas, and a patio or balcony. Pets will also be welcomed.
The United Group has developed about a dozen other senior living communities and Kelley said most applicants are downsizing from a home or looking to live in a more social atmosphere. Applicants are often looking to stay local, too.
“At our communities that we have in the Capital District, people tend to come from a radius from within 5 to 10 miles of where they are currently living,” said Kelley.
Another feature of the community will be United Group’s SUN (Senior Umbrella Network) program, which offers several services and activities to support and enhance independent living.
The approximately $23 million project went through seven different site plans before receiving final approval last year. Kelley said the final project is not drastically different from the original proposal.
Multiple site plans were needed to address the five acres of wetlands located on the property, along with addressing concerns from neighborhood residents.
Last year, developers unsuccessfully sought a sales tax and mortgage recording exemption worth more than $500,000 from the Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency.
Project Manger Tim Haskins previously said the tax abatements were needed to help offset the additional equity that had to be raised, nearly $4.8 million. Developers were relying on a government program to cover expenses, but it was ended after the recession.
Residential developments have recieved similar exemptions from other IDAs statewide, but town officials said it often occurred in distressed areas like inner cities where a need for such housing had been determined. Clarkson also felt the town IDA’s mission did not fit with the project.
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