Category Archives: Environment / Development

By Christine GraF

As the LA Group prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary later this year, the company continues to expand its footprint throughout the United States. Established in 1974, the Saratoga Springs-based landscape architecture and civil engineering firm has a staff of 39 employees and small offices in Ithaca and Pittsburgh.  

“We started out as a local shop in Saratoga but have really bolstered our experience nationally,” said Chelsea LaMarco, marketing manager. “We do a lot of federal work with the government—specifically with the Department of Veterans Affairs.”

As part of that work, the LA Group was enlisted as the site designer and landscape architect for a major expansion of the historic Arlington National Cemetery, one that transformed a difficult steeply-sloping and wooded 30-acre parcel into a shrine to honor those who have served our country. 

By Paul Post

A prominent environmental group and the state agency charged with protecting Lake George have partnered for many years on programs designed to kill Eurasian water milfoil, an aquatic invasive species that causes environmental problems and hurts the economy by impacting recreational activities such as boating, fishing, swimming and paddle sports.

But the Lake George Association and Lake George Park Commission are at odds over the recent application of the chemical ProcellaCOR in two bays in northern parts of the lake.

The product, made by Indiana-based SePro Corporation, kills plants with a hormone that plants absorb, causing them to grow too rapidly and die off within a few weeks. The chemical has had positive results in numerous water bodies across America and locally in places such as Minerva, Brant and Saratoga lakes, Lake Luzerne, and Lake Sunnyside and Glen Lake in Queensbury,.

By Susan Elise Campbell

For environmental cleaning, remediation and other specialized services, the Queensbury office of Maviro, Inc. has a growing presence in the North Country down to Albany, west to Syracuse and east to Vermont, said James Vogt, vice president of the East Region for the Houston-based corporation

Vogt started the New York division three years ago in Clifton Park. Since then he has overseen a move to Queensbury Avenue, the purchase of equipment, acquisition of two other companies, and a staff increase from two people to 16, he said.

“The key to industrial services in the region we serve is the environmental services line,” said Vogt. 

Those services range from removing an old residential oil tank to chemical cleaning of a power plant to remediation projects under contract with the DEC, he said.

by Christine Graf

Hilltop Construction is putting the finishing touches on a new office/warehouse headquarters at 21 Casey Road in Queensbury. 

The 10,000-square-foot facility is being built on two lots located in the Airport Industrial Park.

“Our company is growing, and we needed space for expansion,” said co-owner Dan Washburn. 

Warren-Washington Industrial Development Agency sold the two vacant industrial park lots to Hilltop Construction for $40,500.

Washburn’s in-laws, Tom and Cindy Albrecht founded Hilltop Construction in 1975. After the couple retired two years ago, Washburn, along with his wife April Washburn and brother-in-law Tom Albrecht Jr., assumed control of the business. 

Hilltop Construction builds custom homes that range in price from $400,000 to $5 million. The homes are located throughout the Capital Region and the Adirondacks. 

“We’ve done a lot of work in Schroon Lake, Brant Lake and Lake George,” said Washburn. 

By Christine Graf

Developer Peter Hoffman of Glen Street Associates is partnering with the youngest of his four children, daughter Christiana, on what will be his 20th local development project. 

The pair purchased the former Morgan Stanley building at 20 Maple St. in Glens Falls for $275,000. 

Hoffman, a Clifton Park native, was introduced to the world of property development by his father. From the time he was a young boy, he had a hammer in his hand and a nail apron around his waist. 

“I started with my father when I was 11 years old,” he said. “He was an amazing developer and I started by following him around. Along the way we became partners. He taught me the business, and we were partners up until 1983 when I went out on my own and did some other things in my life.”

After spending 20 years in the restaurant, car wash, and real estate industry, Hoffman re-entered the development world in 2001. It was because of his wife, Suzanne, that he chose to work in and around Glens Falls. During her time as a New York state trooper, she had grown to love the city.

By Lisa Balschunat

National Commercial Solar Advisors Inc., with its office in Queensbury, is harnessing energy for businesses and residential properties in New York state, New Jersey and Vermont, and has its sights on Florida next, according to president and founder Brent McDevitt.

Established in 2019, the company has simplified the process of “going solar” for businesses, communities and public organizations by providing customers with a comprehensive proposal and package that makes the process seamless. With nine years of experience in the solar industry and previously aligned with Apex Solar, McDevitt said that he “knew the industry would pop” and wanted to be a part of it.

“When businesses invest in commercial solar energy they can significantly reduce their operating costs and potentially save tens of thousands of dollars over time,” McDevitt said. “This allows businesses to free up cash flow to use in other areas, and of course, utilize a green energy source that is good for the environment.”

Solar panels do not require any additional maintenance to a building or property and McDevitt stated that most systems are guaranteed for up to 25 years. 

“Businesses who invest in solar energy receive a 26 percent federal income tax credit and 100 percent bonus depreciation” he said.  The company offers customers looking to go solar with a total package of upfront services including a comprehensive proposal, site visit, design plans, state and federal application assistance through to a final contract.

“We’ve installed EV charging stations at The Sagamore Resort, The Inn at Erlowest, the Town of Queensbury, and at other hotels, resorts and bed and breakfasts in the Lake George region,” he said. “Right now, we are super proud to be working with our first five-star hotel, Mirror Lake Inn in Lake Placid, to establish commercial solar and EV Charging Stations there.

Stewart’s Shops is adding electric car battery charging statiuons across its many stores..

The company broke ground on its first NYPA EVolve Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Station on July 1 in Schodack. 

Officials said the chargers are powerful enough to provide a full charge to a electric vehicle in just 15 to 30 minutes.

The DC fast chargers have three kind of plugs to make sure an electric vehicle of choice can stop in and get a charge on the go. EVolve New York’s chargers are available to all non-Tesla electric vehicles.

Officials said  some charging stations will have a Tesla adapter. 

Stewart’s Shops currently has three Tesla supercharging stations throughout New York with plans to expand the program by installing two more by the end of 2021.

The Stewart’s Shops charging station in Schodack will be fully operational by September   and is just one of five EV charging stations that Stewart’s Shops plans to open by the end of the year.

The Schodack EV charging station is an extension of Stewart’s Shops current EV Charging program. As part of NYPA’s EVolve New York Clean Energy Initiative, they plan for other charging stations at Stewart’s Shops locations throughout New York state in Moreau, Latham, Keene and Clifton Park.