Schenectady's old 'Y' could become new apartments for seniors
Oct 7, 2014, 11:09am EDT

Michael DeMasi Reporter- Albany Business Review

Norstar Development USA, a real estate developer building upscale apartments in downtown Albany, New York, is pursuing a different kind of project in Schenectady: converting an old YMCA into 60 apartments for senior citizens.
Norstar is seeking site plan approval from the Schenectady Planning Commission to convert the four-story building at 13 State St. into apartments, said Christine Primiano, principal planner for the city.
Norstar is scheduled to make an initial presentation at the commission’s Oct. 15 meeting.
It’s unclear whether the apartments would be market-rate or subsidized by the government.
Norstar, based in Ontario, Canada, is the 15th-largest builder of affordable housing in the U.S., according to the company website.
The YMCA closed its gym four years ago and moved to a new branch several blocks away. An attached residence for indigent men, with 188 units, shut down in June. The men now live in a renovated building across town at 845 Broadway.
The old Y is in a prominent location downtown, kitty-corner from Schenectady County Community College.
Norstart Vice President Lori Harris said the company is negotiating site control with the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority, which has been actively marketing the property as part of its effort to improve lower State Street.
“We need that to have standing to appear in front of the Planning Commission,” Harris said.
Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen said: “If 13 State were to be developed for senior housing, residents would be able to access college programs, including culinary arts and music programs, shows at Proctors, movies, [and] fitness with both the new YMCA and YWCA located nearby and many other amenities.”
Norstar is one of the largest developers in Canada, with more than 4 million square feet of commercial, residential, retail and industrial space in its portfolio.
In the U.S., Norstar owns more than 3,500 residential units. The company is in the midst of renovating a former warehouse in downtown Albany into 29 apartments, office and retail space.

with the up and coming boomers....this is clearly an opportunity for developers.
from what we hear....there ain't enough for them NOW!!

This appears like a good use for an old building.  An old building that could be very attractive once it is spruced up.  
Bringing young people (SCCC dorms) and older people (this proposal) into the neighborhood suggests some interesting possibilities for potential new businesses to serve this diverse population.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

This appears like a good use for an old building.  An old building that could be very attractive once it is spruced up.  
Bringing young people (SCCC dorms) and older people (this proposal) into the neighborhood suggests some interesting possibilities for potential new businesses to serve this diverse population.

I don't know if it is good use for this particular building.....I just know that with all of the boomers ..... they will need something....if they can't either afford or no longer can take care of their home.

personally....I honestly can't imagine myself living downtown WITH college kids and bars! but i'm sure some will.
personal preference.

Quoted from firefox

Norstar will be getting tons of tax exemptions from Plex and city, state, feds grants to do this propject. ANOTHER CORPORATE WELFARE PROJECT THAT IS A DRAIN ON THE ALREADY STRUGGLING PROPERTY TAX PAYERS OF SCHENECTADY. THESE ARE THE PROJECTS CAUSING TAXES TO GO UP YEAR AFTER YEAR MCCARTHY! #VOTEDEMOCRATSOUT

that's a no brainer, huh?

Oh, more copy and paste.     He can NEVER speak of his OWN words except to write fairy tales, he can NEVER address the TRUTHS, he can never address the FACTS.

He won't put his pinky toe IN the city.  

Are you going to persuade your two mommies to move there?  

Are you EVER going to grow up and become a NORMAL adult man, leave the nest, live in your own place and support yourself?



Guess DV is too chicken to address the tax increases that will result from this and the next reduction of the city's tax base.  Right DV????   You are too chicken to address the never ending falling of the city's tax base???????

Quoted from bumblethru

I don't know if it is good use for this particular building.....I just know that with all of the boomers ..... they will need something....if they can't either afford or no longer can take care of their home.

personally....I honestly can't imagine myself living downtown WITH college kids and bars! but i'm sure some will.
personal preference.

There is a trend across the country of "Baby Boomers" choosing to locate in communities with colleges and, therefore, college-age students.  

So I think, this project may be the first of a number of projects to bring baby-boomers, young professionals and college students into the very heart of the City-County that we all love.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

There is a trend across the country of "Baby Boomers" choosing to locate in communities with colleges and, therefore, college-age students.  

EVIDENCE?    Obviously DV does not know how to read because boomers are leaving the city and the state in droves.  

And I do you think they prefer walking in a crime infested downtown.   Do they prefer to be surrounded by concrete?

And there is enough parking for two cars each couple?   You are saying they will be wiling to go out in heavy snow, frigid temps, pouring rain, to go to various activities that those who live in senior apartments have without having to go outside?     Are they going to be carrying 20 bags of groceries on a bus?  

Where is the nice relaxing place to sit down there on a nice day, in lounge chairs, under the trees?

Are you and your two mommies going to move there, guess you can't leave the childhood nest and need two mommies to protect you from the monsters under your bed?

And yet another metroplex project means yet another drop in the city's tax base, but you won't address the TRUTH will you.  

Spew more nonsense babble

Quoted from mikechristine1

Oh, more copy and paste.     He can NEVER speak of his OWN words except to write fairy tales, he can NEVER address the TRUTHS, he can never address the FACTS.

He won't put his pinky toe IN the city.  

Are you going to persuade your two mommies to move there?  

Are you EVER going to grow up and become a NORMAL adult man, leave the nest, live in your own place and support yourself?



Guess DV is too chicken to address the tax increases that will result from this and the next reduction of the city's tax base.  Right DV????   You are too chicken to address the never ending falling of the city's tax base???????

Quoted from mikechristine1

EVIDENCE?    Obviously DV does not know how to read because boomers are leaving the city and the state in droves.  

And I do you think they prefer walking in a crime infested downtown.   Do they prefer to be surrounded by concrete?

And there is enough parking for two cars each couple?   You are saying they will be wiling to go out in heavy snow, frigid temps, pouring rain, to go to various activities that those who live in senior apartments have without having to go outside?     Are they going to be carrying 20 bags of groceries on a bus?  

Where is the nice relaxing place to sit down there on a nice day, in lounge chairs, under the trees?

Are you and your two mommies going to move there, guess you can't leave the childhood nest and need two mommies to protect you from the monsters under your bed?

And yet another metroplex project means yet another drop in the city's tax base, but you won't address the TRUTH will you.  

Spew more nonsense babble

see a pattern here and there?  

Quoted from sanfordy2

see a pattern here and there?  

and everywhere

Quoted from firefox

Norstar will be getting tons of tax exemptions from Plex and city, state, feds grants to do this propject. ANOTHER CORPORATE WELFARE PROJECT THAT IS A DRAIN ON THE ALREADY STRUGGLING PROPERTY TAX PAYERS OF SCHENECTADY. THESE ARE THE PROJECTS CAUSING TAXES TO GO UP YEAR AFTER YEAR MCCARTHY! #VOTEDEMOCRATSOUT

The boomers aren't done sucking the country dry.  Seniors will be receiving their subsidized apartments, while their children and grandchildren foot the bill.   The $17 trillion in national debt wasn't enough.  There is still more to get.

Quoted from CICERO

The boomers aren't done sucking the country dry.  Seniors will be receiving their subsidized apartments, while their children and grandchildren foot the bill.   The $17 trillion in national debt wasn't enough.  There is still more to get.

you can only hope that they die early.
obamacare will make sure that happens.
not to worry.