MERV
06-13-2007, 07:34 AM
By KEVIN GOODWIN, The Saratogian
06/11/2007
MALTA - People in the growing suburb of Malta, the town immediately south of Saratoga Springs, wish they had a downtown.
So they're going to build one.
Ellsworth Commons will include 22 town homes, 73,000 square feet of retail space and 310 residential rental units and lofts.
A workshop about the economic ramifications and planned green-space for the proposed "downtown" is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Malta Town Hall, which is on Route 9, across the street from the first phase of the project.
The four-building mixed-use project received final site plan approval at the end of May. The
proposal took less than a year to get all its approvals from the town.
The developers, a Malta-based company called Albany Partners, LLC, will be moving forward shortly with demolition of the vacant Riviera Motel on Route 9, where the first phase of the project will be built.
Heather Mallozzi, building and planning coordinator for the town, said each building will be four stories high and eventually have parking along Route 9 as well as sub-level parking.
Two buildings will be along Route 9, while the other two will be in the back, with a roundabout in the center.
Mallozzi said the buildings will resemble Saratoga Springs, with outdoor seating, landscaping, bike racks and lighting.
"These are all things the town wanted," Mallozzi said.
In 2000, the town council updated its master plan, which included creation of a downtown district. In 2004, the town came up with zoning to support such a project.
Supervisor Paul J. Sausville likes the way the project looks on paper. He said walkability is an important feature.
The town has been working with CDTA to potentially have bus shelters and a future bus routes on Route 9. Mallozzi said with the anticipated construction of an Advanced Micro Devices microchip plant in the Luther Forest Technology Park, the area is becoming a high density area.
Mallozzi said there are many opportunities for businesses in Ellsworth Commons. Now, the ball is in the developer's court.
"We are done on our end," Mallozzi said of the town.
Mallozzi said there is a project in the works just south of where Ellsworth Commons will be. She said Ellsworth Commons will set precedence for other development, but all will be within the town's zoning guidelines. Buildings need to be at least two stories tall, with businesses on the first floor and residential above.
"We want to line them up with Ellsworth Commons as our base," she said.
While it's taken a while to get to this point, Mallozzi is excited to be here.
Albany Partners, LLC subsidiary, A.P. Construction, will be constructing the project. A.P. Construction have other projects in Malta. It recently completed 234 luxury apartments on Route 9 and is developing St. Ledgers Wood's, a 22-lot custom home subdivision.
The developers think the arrival of AMD will give rise to a demand for housing in and around Malta. Projects like Ellsworth Commons and St. Ledger's Woods will help meet this ever increasing demand.
Donna Barillaro, assistant vice president of development for Albany Partners, LLC, said there is no exact date to begin construction, but demolition of the Riviera Motel is to begin shortly.
"We're marketing the property more aggressively now that we have final approval," Barillaro said. "We're hoping for retail occupants to be in by June 2008."
Barillaro said this is a huge project and they've had a lot of feedback and interest from potential retailers. "This project is the first of its kind in Malta," she said. "We are setting precedence here."
06/11/2007
MALTA - People in the growing suburb of Malta, the town immediately south of Saratoga Springs, wish they had a downtown.
So they're going to build one.
Ellsworth Commons will include 22 town homes, 73,000 square feet of retail space and 310 residential rental units and lofts.
A workshop about the economic ramifications and planned green-space for the proposed "downtown" is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Malta Town Hall, which is on Route 9, across the street from the first phase of the project.
The four-building mixed-use project received final site plan approval at the end of May. The
proposal took less than a year to get all its approvals from the town.
The developers, a Malta-based company called Albany Partners, LLC, will be moving forward shortly with demolition of the vacant Riviera Motel on Route 9, where the first phase of the project will be built.
Heather Mallozzi, building and planning coordinator for the town, said each building will be four stories high and eventually have parking along Route 9 as well as sub-level parking.
Two buildings will be along Route 9, while the other two will be in the back, with a roundabout in the center.
Mallozzi said the buildings will resemble Saratoga Springs, with outdoor seating, landscaping, bike racks and lighting.
"These are all things the town wanted," Mallozzi said.
In 2000, the town council updated its master plan, which included creation of a downtown district. In 2004, the town came up with zoning to support such a project.
Supervisor Paul J. Sausville likes the way the project looks on paper. He said walkability is an important feature.
The town has been working with CDTA to potentially have bus shelters and a future bus routes on Route 9. Mallozzi said with the anticipated construction of an Advanced Micro Devices microchip plant in the Luther Forest Technology Park, the area is becoming a high density area.
Mallozzi said there are many opportunities for businesses in Ellsworth Commons. Now, the ball is in the developer's court.
"We are done on our end," Mallozzi said of the town.
Mallozzi said there is a project in the works just south of where Ellsworth Commons will be. She said Ellsworth Commons will set precedence for other development, but all will be within the town's zoning guidelines. Buildings need to be at least two stories tall, with businesses on the first floor and residential above.
"We want to line them up with Ellsworth Commons as our base," she said.
While it's taken a while to get to this point, Mallozzi is excited to be here.
Albany Partners, LLC subsidiary, A.P. Construction, will be constructing the project. A.P. Construction have other projects in Malta. It recently completed 234 luxury apartments on Route 9 and is developing St. Ledgers Wood's, a 22-lot custom home subdivision.
The developers think the arrival of AMD will give rise to a demand for housing in and around Malta. Projects like Ellsworth Commons and St. Ledger's Woods will help meet this ever increasing demand.
Donna Barillaro, assistant vice president of development for Albany Partners, LLC, said there is no exact date to begin construction, but demolition of the Riviera Motel is to begin shortly.
"We're marketing the property more aggressively now that we have final approval," Barillaro said. "We're hoping for retail occupants to be in by June 2008."
Barillaro said this is a huge project and they've had a lot of feedback and interest from potential retailers. "This project is the first of its kind in Malta," she said. "We are setting precedence here."