Category Archives: Construction Planning

By Maureen Werther

Belmonte Builders will begin the installation of roads, water and sewer lines at Sonoma Grove, its newest “affordable luxury” community near Floral Estates, in the fall.

Homes will range in size from 1,500 to 3,000 square feet and will include plans for ranches, two-story homes and two-story designs with master bedroom suites on the first floor, said Mickey Ricciardi, director of sales and marketing for Belmonte.

The project will be on the south side of Louden Road, east of the intersection with Ingersol Road in Wilton.

This Belmonte community has 66 lots, ranging in size from one-third acre up to one acre. In keeping with the company’s goal of making every client’s “dream home” a reality, the upscale homes will offer a full array of amenities and features, he said.

This architect’s rendering shows a building proposed by Bonacio Construction that would include
eight residential units, coinciding with upgrades to Caffè Lena, located just to its left.

BY R.J. DELUKE

“Our goal is that 50 years from now people
will still be flocking to this room,” Caffè
Lena Executive Director Sarah Craig said
at a Jan. 26 news conference, standing on
the stage of the historic folk music venue
on Phila Street in Saratoga Springs.

Those words were spoken at the announcement
of a $500,000 philanthropic
partnership between the venue and Saratoga’s
Bonacio Construction that will further
revitalize not only the 55-year-old Caffè,
but its neighborhood, because as part of
the Campaign for Caffè Lena, Bonacio assumes
the Caffè’s parking lot at Phila and
Henry Streets.

Sonny Bonacio announced from the stage
plans to construct a mixed-use building,
which will feature an elevator and stairwell
shared with the Caffè, at 47 Phila. The apartment
space, with an address of 55 Phila St.,
will have eight residential units.

He said if all goes well, the project could
be started in the spring and completed in a
large part by the end of 2016, with interior
work being finished up into early 2017.

Eagle Crest continues business as usual, but a
housing complex may be in its future.

BY MAUREEN WERTHER

A proposal to build a 170-unit housing development
on the site of the Eagle Crest Golf Course
could take six months or more to be approved by
the Town of Clifton Park Planning Board. But,
that’s OK said owner Bill Paulsen.

He has owned and operated the golf course
since 1991 and he has no plans to close anytime
soon.

According to Paulsen, ultimately, the parcel of
land would be worth more as land for construction
than as a turnkey golf operation. So he is looking
into the housing situation.

“If we are planning for retirement down the
road, this kind of project is a very long process. If I
decide to retire in 10 years or so, I don’t want to wait
five additional years [for the housing project to
take shape] to finally have the project ready to go.”

This rendering shows what the Bonacio Construction project at 130 Excelsior Ave. in Saratoga
Springs will look like when the 65-unit apartment complex is done.

BY R.J. DELUKE

Construction season in the Saratoga County
will be in full swing weeks from now. Area contractors
say work is steady and 2016 is looking
like a solid year.

“Indicators are strong,” said Mike Munter, vice
president of Munter Enterprises in Middle Grove.
“We’re seeing a lot of bidding activity. We sense it’s
going to be another busy year ahead.”.

Bob Fortune of BCI Construction said there is a
lot of activity in the construction field this year, “but
it’s still a very, very competitive business. Margins
are very tight. You can’t afford to make mistakes.”

For Munter, his company is wrapping up work
on a new building for Greenfield Manufacturing
in the Grande Industrial Park in Saratoga Springs.
That is a 35,000-square-foot project on five acres.

The Summit at Saratoga being built off Route
50 will have 110 living units for rent.

In a move designed to provide greater choice
to Capital Region seniors seeking independent
housing, Summit Senior Living LLC is constructing
a 110-unit rental complex called The Summit
at Saratoga on Perry Road off Route 50 in Saratoga
Springs.

The three-story apartment project, already underway,
will be situated on 12 acres and will comprise
one building with an integrated clubhouse
featuring an indoor pool and hot tub, sauna, fitness
center, full-service salon, tavern, movie theater
and a variety of other recreational areas, including
bocce ball and pickle ball courts, according to
Adam DeSantis, principal of Summit Senior Living.

J. Luke Construction Co. Inc. of Schenectady is
the general contractor on the project.

“The Saratoga Springs market is underserved in
terms of luxurious, yet affordable housing options
for those over 55,” said DeSantis. “This community
will give seniors tremendous value for their money
as there are no entrance fees. Included in each
month’s rental fees is access to our Senior Engaged
Life (SEL) program, which allows residents to remain
active in mind, body and spirit as they enjoy
everything from regular speakers and outings to
pilates and cooking classes.”

Completion is expected by this summer.

A portion of this Excelsior Park neighborhood being developed was sold to James Burns and
Peter Rosecrans Jr. of Burns Management, an Albany-based real estate management company.

BY MAUREEN WERTHER

The path of real estate development rarely
runs swiftly or in a straight line, as evidenced
by the changes occurring at the Excelsior Park
development site located just minutes from
downtown Saratoga.

Nearly 10 years ago, John Witt of Witt Construction
originally envisioned the property to
contain more than 200 condominiums. But, as
the market for condominiums lessened, the
project was shut down after the first 30 units
were built and sold.

As the real estate market surged, Witt
resurrected his project, albeit with a different
focus on the types of units being built.
In response to the need for affordable rental
units in and around town, Witt sold a portion
of the Excelsior Park neighborhood to
James Burns and Peter Rosecrans Jr. of Burns
Management, an Albany-based real estate
management company.

The company paid $1.58 million for the
property and plans to invest another $20 million
on construction of the units.