By Liz Witbeck
A residential complex is being planned for construction at 2621 Route 9 in Malta.
It is the project of Conifer Realty and Development, based in Rochester. The plan is to build 166 new apartments for families and senior citizens.
Brian Donato, senior project director, said the plan is to develop the property as a combination of senior and workforce housing. The rental units will be offered at less than the market rate.
“We want to create an integrated community for families and seniors,” said Donato. “We hope to create a great community feeling. We find that in these types of living situations, seniors appreciate having kids around. It creates a good family feeling.”
Proposed is a three-story building that comprises the senior living space will have a total of 70 units and be approximately 70,000 square feet. The common spaces for the complex will be inside of the senior living tower, where there will be a senior clubhouse and a separate family clubhouse, according to plans submitted to the town.
There will be outdoor seating and playground adjacent to the senior housing/clubhouse building
The 12 three-story buildings for families will each have eight units and be approximately 10,000 square feet each, comprising a total of 96 units, according to the plans.
The complex will be located opposite Cocca’s Motel in Malta at 2624 Route 9.
Conifer Realty only develops residential properties, Donato said. However, they will be setting aside a portion of the land, in the event that some people may want to do commercial development in the future.
Donato said it is a one-of-a-kind property.
“The only other competitor is Eastline Road, where there is the Blue Heron Trail property,” he said, an apartment community which Conifer Realty recently finished and is now leasing.
The development firm has a strategy of designing the projects and also owning them. Once the complex is complete, the company plans to purchase the residential complex from its current owner, which is Malta Crossings LLC.
Town approval of plans is pending. If approved soon, construction could begin next summer, Donato said.
“We’ve been working on this for one year and Malta has been very helpful. We look forward to working with them in the future,” he said.
Since its inception, Conifer has developed and/or acquired over 270 properties and over 20,000 units, the company said. Currently, it owns and manages over 14,500 apartment units throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Ohio.