by Bea Peterson
The Hoosick Falls Zoning and Planning Boards met on Friday, October 17, for a final hearing on Troy contractor Jasen Von Guinness’ plan to turn the old St. Mary’s Building into seven apartments. [private]The three upper floors will each contain two 1,600 square foot one-bedroom apartments. Each apartment will run the length of one side of the building. Von Guinness and his wife will live in the seventh apartment. It will be an open floor plan and encompass the entire basement. He said there will be no structural changes to the building itself.
The retaining wall on High Street will remain. However, Von Guinness will be excavating some of the property to create 14 parking spaces. The building will also have some green space, with the possibility of a vegetable garden, if the tenants desire. The SEQR has been filed, and the County has approved the plan. The two Boards approved the change of use for the building.
Von Guinness expects to close on the property within the next two weeks. Once that is resolved, he said, within a month he will begin repairing the mansard roof where it leaks, working on the plumbing and heating and cleaning demolition. Two phases will follow that. He expects to renovate his own and the first floor apartments within four to six months. The other four apartments, he said, will be completed in the following six months.
Fence
In other business the Zoning Board approved the placement of a six foot high pressure treated stockade fence, approximately 90 feet long, on the property of Jeramie and Christine Florada on High Street. The fence is to be removed should the family move from the property.[/private]