The Glens Falls Common Council gave the mayor of the city permission to purchase the triangle of land at the corner of Bay and Glen streets that has been a point of contention for the city for more than a year. Despite the vote, the contention might not be over.
Last January, the Glens Falls Planning Board gave property owner 333 Glen Associates permission to subdivide that half-acre triangle of lawn from the larger Monument Square property which includes the Traveler’s Insurance office tower and a parking garage.
But the subdivision has not been registered with the county, explained Councilwoman-at-large Jane Reid after the city council meeting Tuesday Nov. 9.
As well, the owner owes taxes, generally due in November, on the entire property, not just the small triangle, since that triangle is still part of the whole, she said.
The council on Tuesday gave the mayor permission to move forward with the $225,000 purchase, but only if the subdivision and tax payments are completed, Reid said.
Attorney Jon Lapper, with Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart and Rhodes of Glens Falls, represents the sellers and said that everyone wants to see this go through.
"It's really just a timing issue,” Lapper said. “I expect it'll all get done by year's end."
The property had been targeted by developer Chris Patten who wanted to build a mixed-use building—residential apartments and office space—at the location. This set off a firestorm that drew individuals to various city meetings to plead for and against construction.
More importantly, the city government, led by Mayor Dan Hall, moved to stop Patten in order to add the sliver of land to the city’s open space. City Park and Crandall Library sit just across Bay Street from the parcel.
[Read more about one potential project here. Read about the next here.]
The city, 333 Glen Associates, and Patten eventually reached a truce in which Patten, who had a contract to buy the parcel, was offered a different parcel on Union Street downtown instead. He is moving forward with a development there.
[Read more about his new apartment building here.]
The resolution approving the purchase says the city may conduct an environmental audit and risk assessment. Closing is set to conclude before the end of the year, the resolution said.
Glens Falls Mayor Dan Hall had just 53 days left on his tenure, he said after the meeting.
“I wanted to get it done before I left office,” he said, sounding a little tired.
“Do you think you will?” this reporter asked.
He answered: “I hope so.”