Category Archives: Summer Construction

By Rod Bacon

A 76-year-old construction firm who’s principals fully intend that it continue well beyond the 100-year mark is experiencing a very busy summer building season.

Malta-based MLB Construction Services has 10 large projects underway in the region. 

According to company President Jim Dawsey,  the largest is an $80 million renovation and expansion of the Albany International Airport, which is scheduled for completion in September 2025. The company is doing the demolition, micropiles, concrete, the new bridge between the parking garage and the terminal, and raising the third floor on part of the terminal next to the TSA area. In addition they are installing new finishes on the inside of the terminal, new glass, and a new front on the existing terminal. 

Project managers on this job are Jeff Lino and Craig Dittl.

The company is also finishing a job that has to be completed by September 2024 at the Olana Historic Site in Hudson. Olana was the 19th century home, studio and designed landscape of Hudson River School artist Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900), his wife Isabel and their four children. 

By Rod Bacon

Two highly respected Saratoga County builders, Abele Builders, Inc., and Belmonte Builders, have teamed up to create a charming, family-oriented community in Halfmoon. Phase One of Juniper Ridge, a 201-lot development, is well underway.

Chris Abele, president of Clifton Park-based Abele Builders, Inc., envisions Juniper Ridge as an ideal spot for both families and empty-nesters. For Phase I, Abele Builders is constructing homeson the exterior lots, while Belmonte Builders is building on the 35 interior lots.

“I have had a long-standing relationship with Pete Belmonte over the years,” said Abele. “When my brother and I decided to partner with a complementary, high-end builder, Pete was a natural choice. Together, we can appeal to both markets. At Abele, we offer more of an empty nest product and Belmonte Builders offers more options for families.”

“Chris and I have been good friends for a while, and we have exchanged property before, so this is not the first time we’ve worked together,” said Belmonte. “However, it is the first time we’ve built simultaneously in the same neighborhood. It’s going exceptionally well. We work well together.”

Staff Writer

Munter Enterprises, based in Middle Grove, is a leading family-owned general contractor offering commercial, industrial, design-build, and project delivery services throughout the Capital Region.

Several large commercial and industrial projects are underway and progressing toward completion this year. One notable project is for Equal Vision Records, an independent record label based in Albany, New York, and MerchNow, their sister company, which produces wearables and promotional branded merchandise for bands and artists.

The recently purchased building is in Albany’s South End at 400 South Pearl St., where Munter Enterprises is implementing improvements to bring the building into code compliance for storage and racking requirements. The project includes interior modifications to the production and warehouse areas, as well as minor renovations of the office space. A unique aspect of the project is the addition of a 20×40 boiler room designed to house modern steam boilers essential for the production of vinyl records, which have seen a resurgence in popularity over the last decade.  

“I may be dating myself but I didn’t realize how the ‘record’ industry has rebounded and its actually very cool to understand what goes into to physically making a vinyl album,” said Michael Munter, vice president of Munter Enterprises.

“On a larger scale, we’re nearing the finish line on the Soleno project. They’ll be in full production by late August,” said Munter. 

The Soleno project, a new 50,000-square-foot manufacturing building on a 22-acre site in the W.J. Grande Industrial Park in Saratoga Springs, is the first U.S. facility for the Canadian manufacturer of drainage pipes designed for storm water infrastructure management. According to a Soleno spokesperson, the new facility will provide 35-50 new jobs when in full production. 

By Christine Graf

Elements at Saratoga Lake is nearing completion of its second phase of construction. Located at 1 Forest Ridge Blvd. in Saratoga Springs, the 26-building complex is situated on 55 acres, just a short drive away from Saratoga Lake and Global Foundries.

Blue Iron Development, a full-service real estate development company based in Mechanicville, acquired land and development rights for the townhome project for $5 million in 2021. They broke ground in July 2022, and upon completion of phase two, Elements at Saratoga Lake will have a total of 260 luxury apartments available for rent. Construction is expected to wrap up in early fall.

There are six different floor plans from which to choose for the energy efficient one- and two-bedroom units. Although just one model includes an attached garage, separate garages and on-site storage units are available for rent. 

Rents start at around $2,000, a price that includes water, sewer, trash, internet and cable.  All apartments feature high-end finishes, and residents have access to numerous amenities including a 24/7 fitness center, indoor heated lap pool, outdoor pool (under construction), 24/7 indoor basketball/pickleball court, golf simulator, yoga studio, pool table, and fire pits. The clubhouse also features an outdoor three-season space with televisions and a fireplace

By Paul Post

One of the area’s leading contractors is diversifying into the Spa City’s hospitality industry with the acquisition of the former Longfellows , which will be rebranded as the Brookmere hotel, spa and restaurant.

 SpringCity Development, a subsidiary of Saratoga Springs-based Bonacio Construction, plans a $30 million overhaul of the property, which includes its $4.9 million purchase from business partners Steve Sullivan and David Powers. That occurred in January.

 Located at 500 Union Ave., near Saratoga Lake, Longfellows  had been a destination for dining, special events and large-group gatherings for many years.

 “It’s been a wonderful business for its entire history,” Bonacio spokesman Larry Novick said. “We’re looking to continue working with what draws people to the Saratoga region and the wonderful location the current property holds. A portion of the existing building will be demolished and replaced in order to accommodate a larger room count (from 50 to 88 hotel rooms). We’ll also be reconfiguring the restaurant and ballroom components.”

By Christine Graf

Construction is underway on the White Pines Business Suites in the Luther Forest Business Park in Stillwater. 

The suites are located in a 62-acre business park located on Shenandoah Drive, less than one mile from Global Foundries. The park is owned by Forest Ridge Development LLC.

White Pines Business Suites is the first of the seven proposed buildings at the business park where developers have received approval to build 750,000 square feet of customizable co-warehousing, distribution, manufacturing, and office space for small and medium-sized businesses.

The facility will feature 30 boutique suites, each measuring 30×50 feet. Each suite will also have a 14×14 foot overhead door. Franco Construction of Ballston Spa is the contractor for the project. 

“The units are 1,500 square feet, but we do have the flexibility that if someone needed 3,000 square feet, we could make that accommodation for them. So, we are flexible in terms of their size,” said Jeffrey Chouinard, principal at Forest Ridge Development.

By Paul Post

Bonacio Construction Co. in Saratoga Springs  helped transform the Spa City with one large, multi-million-dollar project after another since its founding in 1988.

About a decade ago, the Saratoga Springs-based firm turned its attention to Glens Falls.

Now, in one of its most ambitious ventures ever, Bonacio hopes to rejuvenate South Street with a multi-phase project involving new construction and renovating existing structures such as the once-popular Sandy’s Clam Bar, Hot Shots tavern and a business incubator building behind Hot Shots at 36 Elm Street. 

Elsewhere, Bonacio is still quite busy in Saratoga Springs, currently doing foundation and structural work for a new addition behind the former Rip Van Dam Hotel, connected to the adjacent Adelphi Hotel on Broadway, which was rebuilt four years ago for $28 million. The completed project will comprise one large resort with hotel rooms, studios and apartments.

In Glens Falls, “We saw a town that was once a jewel and had won the All-American City Award, but which like a lot of upstate New York communities had struggled through some down years,” said Larry Novik, company development director. “But it was clearly making a strong comeback. We saw a beautiful downtown with a really nice layout and a lot of quality, attractive buildings. We were just excited by what we were seeing.”

The company’s first project in Glens Falls was a new six-story retail, commercial and residential building at the intersection of Hudson Avenue and School Street, near the city’s new parking garage by Glens Falls Hospital.

Plans also call for a huge new mixed-use building, slated for the current Farmer’s Market lot, with commercial space fronting South Street. The structure would wrap around Sandy’s with more than 65 upscale apartments facing Elm Street

Ground was broken in late June on the construction of a building next to the TEC-SMART facility, close to the GlobalFoundries compound in Malta. 

It will be located at the Hudson Valley Community College North extension center located in New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s Saratoga Technology and Energy Park in Malta. 

Once completed, the new two-story, 14,500-square-foot building will include state-of-the-art labs for anatomy, biology, chemistry, microbiology, and physiology, as well as classrooms, student support space, and offices to serve approximately 1,100 students.

The center is one part of the college’s $12.5 million HVCC North expansion project, which includes New York state investment of approximately $8.5 million. In combination with renovations to the college’s existing Training and Education Center for Semiconductor Manufacturing and Alternative and Renewable Technologies TEC-SMART facility, the new STEM Education Center is a key component of the college’s plans to increase access to education and workforce training opportunities through new facilities, technology, and instruction.

by Christine Graf
The first phase of construction at Cornerstone Condominiums at 55 Cornerstone Drive in Ballston Spa has been completed.
The condominiums were built and are managed by the BDC Group, a real estate development, design, construction, and management firm. The company is comprised of BDC Holdings Inc., BDC Builders Inc., and BDC Management Inc. They have offices in White Plains and Latham.
Two- and three-bedroom condominiums have been available for sale since December, company officials said. To date, 11 units have been sold and three are under contract. Once completed, the complex will include 78 units.

Saratoga Independent School announced an additional $300,000 in contributions toward its $1.5 million Soaring to New Heights capital campaign.
It brings the total funds raised to $1.1 million. The focus of this campaign is to complete the interior of a new 20,000-square-foot academic wing for its middle school expansion.
Also, Head of School Lisa Brown said a generous donor has offered a matching gift of up to $200,000 for all new gifts and pledges made by September. When fully raised, the dollar-for-dollar matching funds will successfully complete the campaign’s $1.5 million goal, and be used for scholarships, programming, equipment, and facilities.