Steve Thurston (2021)
The Kiley's building at 45 South Street along with the building next door, at 36 Elm Street, were planned for renovation, but may be sold, in the latest iteration of plans for South Street's redevelopment. (File photo.)
The Glens Falls Common Council chose Bonacio Construction of Saratoga to develop the South Street Market Square in a from-the-floor resolution during Tuesday night’s meeting. It was not on the printed agenda. Councilor Jane Reid brought the motion, which was approved unanimously.
The approval moves Bonacio into position to negotiate with the city for purchase and development of three parcels of land on South Street near the intersection with Elm.
[Read our previous coverage of the area here, and here.]
Together, the three parcels are being called the Market Square and should be built in tandem with another development the city pursuing on its own, the South Street Market/Community center, also on South Street.
Only two companies, in April, responded to a Request for Qualifications, a document asking interested developers to prove their ability to design, build and manage the properties. The consortium of MLB Capital Partners of Houston and LaBella Associates of Rochester, N.Y. (along with the Chazen Companies, which LaBella acquired last year) was the other company.
According to the RFQ the development includes a new multistory, mixed-used residential commercial building at 25-33 South St. and a parking structure behind it. This is the current location of the South Street Pavilion.
They will restore 36 Elm St. as a mixed-use building including a test-and-teaching kitchen on the first floor, according to the RFQ.
Finally, they will restore 45 South St. into a building of boutiques and shops. This is the building with the “Kiley’s” sign painted on the brick side at the southwest corner of South and Elm streets.
The project does not include the building at the northwest corner of South and Elm streets, the former Sandy’s Clam Bar. Bonacio already owns that property.
All of this sits just north of the current dirt patch at 49-51 South Street. This is the city’s property and will remain so. The city last month chose Envision Architects to design and act as a consultant on the farmer’s market and community building to be constructed there.
The two projects should “transform” the street and offer plenty of pedestrian access, the RFQ says.
From the RFQ: “When completed, the [Market Square] Project and the new community/market center building will establish a vibrant, destination-style environment consisting of events; festivals; community activities; new dining opportunities; an expanded farmer’s market; new residential dwellings; new offices and new shops and boutiques in a walkable and compact setting.”