Courtesy Foothills Builders
By Susan Elise Campbell
Foothills Builders will begin construction of a 24-unit apartment complex with retail space near Northway Exit 18 in Queensbury this fall .
“We are finishing up our construction drawings now and hope to frame up the building before winter,” said Joe Leuci, who has operated the company with his father, Joe Leuci Sr., for the past 10 years. “This project at 80 Main St. is a new challenge for us.”
The Leucis purchased the land in December 2021 with the intention of developing it for mixed use, he said.
Foothills Builders is primarily a residential construction company and has built 100 homes in the area and has developed and managed some smaller commercial projects.
“The corridor is being developed for that type of construction because it connects the highway with downtown Queensbury,” said Leuci.
He said properties must be developed for mixed use if they are within a certain distance from Main Street.
“The commercial space follows Main Street zoning regulations,” said Leuci. “We will be able to subdivide to do more local shops to suit the tenants. Based on preliminary discussions with potential businesses, the space will fill up quickly,” he added.
The company is not ready to announce any lease agreements at this time.
Plans call for 20 one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units, all higher end and with upscale kitchen finishes, according to Leuci. The two-bedroom units offer a full balcony while the others have a juliette balcony that consists of a handrail in front of a sliding door.
The units will be marketed by Leuci’s wife and sister, Jill and Maria Leuci, respectively, who are real estate agents with Coldwell Banker Prime Properties.
“The family is excited to get started on the building,” said Leuci.
Until there is a formal name for the complex, internally the Leucis are referring to it as 80 Main.
“This is the anchor building for the Exit 18 corridor as the town has envisioned it,” Leuci said. “We are hoping the process goes smoothly.”
The company is also pursuing plans to build 77 townhouses on Ridge Road in Queensbury. The property was the former home of Mead’s Nursery and Garden Center. The garden center closed in 2019 after 70 years in business. Foothills Builders plans to build 18 four-unit buildings and one five-unit building on the land.
Visit Foothill Builders, LLC of Queensbury at foothillsbuildersny.com. The project includes apartments and retail space.