The Future Of Dougherty’s Corner – A Million Dollar Project
by Bea Peterson
If enthusiasm could get a project completed in a flash, then Jeff Buell’s concept for Parsons Corner, formerly known as Dougherty’s corner, would be finished tomorrow. However, enthusiasm alone won’t get it done. On Wednesday evening Buell, President and CEO of Sequence Development, brought his concept for the small lot at the corner of John and Main Streets to the Hoosick Falls Planning Board. [private]The Board approved the design, contingent on the approval of the Hoosick Falls Village Board, which controls the $650,000 NYS Main Street grant to be used for the project. Buell is also purchasing the adjoining Monahan building on John Street. That building, he said, needs a new heating system and some renovation as it will be tied into the new building.
The design for the corner lot, Buell said, is to keep with the historic fabric of the community. His concept, compared to the design submitted by the previous lot owner Alex Koks, has more glass. “We’re not trying to mimic history,” said Buell. “We want a building that works, that fits in, that looks like it belongs.” The first floor will be retail space with a mezzanine into the Monahan building. On the John Street side the large glass doors will be open with tables outside from April through October.
Teaming Up With HAYC3
Buell is teaming up with HAYC3 to operate the 4,000 square foot retail space to create a general market. Buell noted the spot had previously been a restaurant and bar. “Restaurants don’t last,” he said. In talking with restaurateurs, Buell concluded that having a successful one was not impossible, but he was not overconfident he could succeed at it. At the moment he is building a permanent home for the Farmers Market in Troy and his plan for the Parsons Corner retail space is for it to function as a market and crafts space with some prepared foods from local farmers and entrepreneurs. “It’s risky, but we want it to work,” he said, adding that this building affects the entire community. “I’m the new guy, and I know people have heard the story before, but we’re here to do it.” He added that he is Chairman of one not-for-profit and is on the Boards of three others. Any profits from the market endeavor would go to HAYC3.
Buell said the second floor of the new building will have two small apartments, one of 614 square feet and another of 571 square feet. The third floor will contain a 1,500 square foot open concept apartment. The roof will have a greenhouse and a roof top garden. This million dollar project, he said, has the potential for us to think so far outside the box that he thought, let’s do something crazy, like rooftop gardens, which have been popular in New York City for years now. “This is a cutting edge pilot program,” he said, “a sustainable roofline.” A contingent of the HAYC3 Board, including Director Aelish Nealon, accompanied Buell to the meeting. All of them had nothing but praise for the other and in what this new building has to offer.
Finding Hoosick Falls
Buell said the Troy Proctor’s Theater project that he is currently working on was also a delayed Main Street Grant project. When he asked if there were any other grants like that around he was told, yes, there was one in Hoosick Falls. He said his family had traveled from Troy to Vermont over Route 7 for years and never made the left into Hoosick Falls. He added that when he drove through the Village he fell in love. “It has a small town feel with an urban fabric.” His cousin Alex Buell, who has spent a considerable amount of time in the Village, will be overseeing the project, which will start in November. He noted a tough winter will determine construction time for the corner. He added he already has the million dollar construction loan commitment. He expects the improvements to the Monahan building to cost an additional $80,000.
He said there is already so much good stuff happening in the Village and Town between events in Wood Park, HAYC3 events, the Barn Quilts, that he is very happy and very excited to be part of the community’s future. “My goal,” he said, “is to have the building finished by the Memorial Day parade.”
Why Parsons Corner
In a salute to Hoosick Falls history, the name Parsons Corners was selected to honor prominent Hoosick Falls businessman Seth Parsons who was responsible for the Village’s incorporation in 1827 and was elected the first Village President.
St. Mary’s Building
As if that wasn’t enough good news for one evening, before Buell presented his proposal, Jasen Von Guinness, another Troy contractor, approached the Board about turning the old St. Mary’s Building into seven one bedroom 1,600 square foot apartments, with the basement of the building being his living quarters. He said there will be no structural changes to the building itself. He added that he has worked on several buildings that were at least 100 years old.
Planning Board Member Gale Leva recused herself from the discussion as she is the agent involved in the sale of the property. The $135,000 sale is contingent on Board approval of the project. It was noted that change of use for the property won’t be an issue because the building will be owner occupied.
Leva noted there is plenty of parking space for the building as there is almost three quarters of an acre of property that goes with the building that runs between the back of three homes on Classic Street and one home on Parsons Avenue.
A Public Hearing will be held on the project on October 1 at which time the Board hopes to make a decision.
Saint Gobain Expansion
Saint Gobain is preparing to make a large investment to its plant by building a 450,000 square foot addition. The addition will move flammable materials from a wooden roof area and create more manufacturing space. Beaumont said they will be working with CT Male Associates on an environmental study and may do a SEQR environmental impact assessment as well. They expect to break ground in April 2015.[/private]