Saratoga PLAN recently led a community-wide effort to begin removal of an invasive outcropping of water chestnut plants on Fish Creek, the outlet of Saratoga Lake. 

Over 36 volunteers participated. 

Greg Redling, Saratoga PLAN stewardship coordinator, said, “It was great to get so much help protecting this beautiful resource, and everyone agreed we should do it again soon.” 

Prior to the event, Capitol Mohawk Partner provided information about the invasive species, as well as a tutorial on the proper procedures for water chestnut removal. Kayak Shak generously provided boats for those in need.

The Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership has secured incentives to enable Key Capture Energy LLC to build a 20 megawatt (MW), utility-scale battery energy storage facility—said to be the largest of its kind in New York—at the Luther Forest Technology Campus in Malta.

The Mechanicville-Stillwater Industrial Development Agency in July approved tax incentives of nearly $650,000 to advance the Key Capture Energy project, which will interconnect to the adjacent New York State Electric and Gas Corp. (NYSEG) substation. 

The board also approved a PILOT agreement sought by Key Capture Energy, though the company could have used a provision in the state tax code to avoid property taxes altogether, according to the Prosperity Partnership. The PILOT agreement will provide more than $160,000 to local taxing jurisdictions.

By Maureen Werther

The Missouri-based Vecino Group is scheduled to break ground soon on an affordable housing development, named Intrada, just south of the Saratoga Amtrack station on Washington Avenue, adjacent to the U.S. post office.  

According to Rick Manzardo, president of the Vecino Group, it will be the first affordable housing development built in Saratoga Springs in a long time. The company hopes to hope to attract people who work in education, hospitality and other industries with salaries that are not always adequate to afford pricier Saratoga Springs rents. 

The Intrada apartment rents will range from just under $700 per month up to just under $1,300 per month, he said.

Sonny Bonacio and his team at Bonacio Construction celebrated on Aug. 7 the official launch of their latest condominium project, Residences on Union Avenue. 

Bonacio Construction, in conjunction with Norstar Development USA, LP, created the project at 46 Union Ave., in the location of the former Moore Hall, which was a Skidmore College dormitory. 

The main building features an exterior reminiscent of traditional Saratoga charm while the interior affords luxurious living and modern amenities the company said. The five-building property has  a parking garage.