By Kat Fitzpatrick
Fowler Square, a residential-commercial development slated for the corner of Bay and Blind Rock roads in Queensbury, is a mixed-use project developers hope to kick off this year.
Matt Fuller, the Glens Falls attorney representing Queensbury Partners, the developer, said plans call for 56,000 feet of commercial space and 146 residential units on 34 acres.
The project does not yet have all its approvals from the town, Fuller said, but he expects it to move forward.
There will be 10 separate buildings in the project. Some will be two stories. Those will be all apartments, Fuller said. Three-story buildings will be a combination of commercial/office and residential.
The apartments will be one- and two-bedroom units toward the high end, price wise, said Fuller. The target customer is empty nesters, small families and young professionals.
Fuller was not able to identify specific businesses already contracted as tenants but said they would be of interest and benefit to local residents.
“Generally these are service businesses that citizens will have an interest in,” he said. The combination of mixed-use buildings offers residents services close at hand and offer businesses a steady customer base. The first floor will be office, rental and commercial while residential units will be situated above, said Fuller.
“It really makes the project feasible as a whole,” said Fuller. “It makes it a lot more attractive for commercial tenants. It’s just a smart plan.”
Due to citizen concerns over several proposed variances being considered by the town, groundbreaking is in limbo. When the developers first proposed the project there were no variances involved. According to Fuller, the plans conformed to all zoning laws.
“When we went to the town in 2010 it was a project that the town wanted. They actually put together a special committee of zoning, planning and the town board,” said Fuller. “Kudos to the town for taking the initiative and for planning.”
It started as a zoning-compliant project, said Fuller. “The town said we have the opportunity to make this shine, to make it more mixed-use. We tried to make it happen and I think we succeeded.”
In the fall of 2013, some citizens raised objections and filed appeals with the Planning Board. One of the main concerns was traffic in the area, especially concerning the traffic light on the corner of Bay and Blind Rock.
“We looked into it and it quickly came to the surface that there was a really big timing issue,” said Fowler. “We actually fixed the traffic light. It wasn’t timed right.
“I have driven through there numerous times since and is it perfect? No. But there’s no light in town that is,” he said.
“It’s at the end of the appeal process now. The hope to is to break ground this summer. That is the challenge and the hope. We have got the permits and we are ready to go.”
Photo Courtesy Queensbury Partners