By Paul Post
An 80-acre former dewatering site for General Electric Company’s Hudson River dredging project is being readied for sale, with hopes of attracting an employer that would provide up to 100 jobs.
“We’re taking a very good site and making it world class,” said Chuck Barton, Warren-Washington Industrial Development Agency CEO. “Our goal is to find one large, well-established company to develop it for commercial activity. I’ll boldly predict that we’re going to sell that site before the end of 2026. It’s the type of site that will generate at least 50 jobs and more likely well over 100.”
Potential uses run the gamut from manufacturing devices for renewable energy components to distribution, storage and warehousing for a wood products firm.
Now called Canalside Energy Park, the property is just off Route 196 on the Champlain Canal in Fort Edward. IDA took over ownership after GE’s dredging was done.
It’s listed for sale with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Blake, Realtors for $8 million.
A large electric substation and transportation by rail, barge or truck are valuable features. “I would call it 75 percent shovel ready,” Barton said. “We’re in the process of expanding water capacity and adding sewer capacity.”
When completed, this could prompt firms previously hesitant about buying the site to make a firm commitment.
“Several companies are doing due diligence,” Barton said. “As we market the property, different buyers come with different needs.”
Funding for infrastructure upgrades come from state and federal sources including a $4.7 million FAST NY grant under Empire State Development, and the Northern Border Regional Commission, a federal-state program to boost economic activity in the most distressed counties of New York, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire.
Two options for sewer service are being explored. One is a possible connection to Washington County Sewer District, about 1,000 yards to the south.
But officials are also considering potential for an on-site treatment plant.
“One of the buildings has all the power needed for an on-site facility,” Barton said.
Two buildings on the property have 40,000 and 25,000 square feet.
For the past two years, the site has been used as a staging area for construction crews building the Champlain Hudson Power Express, a 339-mile buried high-voltage transmission line that will deliver 1,250 megawatts of hydropower from Canada to New York City. The project, developed by Transmission Developers Inc. and owned by Blackstone, is expected to become fully operational next spring.
The 10-member IDA, New York state’s only bi-county IDA, negotiated a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement that will provide $269 million over 30 years to 16 school districts and municipalities in Washington County.
“That’s going to be a huge win for Washington County when the line is activated,” Barton said.
Of the 80 acres at Canalside Energy Park, 30 are within the village of Fort Edward and 50 are in the town. So any firm seeking to buy and develop the site will be fully vetted by the IDA, the town and village, Barton said.
Elsewhere, the IDA is actively marketing remaining property at Airport Industrial Park in Kingsbury, a short distance northeast of Floyd Bennett Memorial Airport.
“There are eight lots that we have combined as one 26-acre site for sale,” Barton said.
Because of wetlands restrictions, only 12 acres are developable, but the site already has a full complement of water, gas, sewer and electric.
“So it’s very attractive,” he said. “We have somebody actively doing due diligence right now. I’m cautiously optimistic that we’ll be selling it within the next year.”