Ex-Planned Parenthood site sold in Schenectady

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Lamendola

A local manufacturing company has acquired the former Planned Parenthood building on Union Street and plans to convert it into a corporate headquarters and an incubator for startup businesses.

DHA Holdings Inc., which controls two industrial machining and fabrication businesses in Schenectady County, purchased 414 Union St. for $110,000.

City assessment records show the 11,000-square-foot structure has a fair market value of $300,000. Planned Parenthood Mohawk Hudson vacated the building in 2007 when it opened a $2 million, 19,000-square-foot facility at 1040 State St. It had occupied the site since 1996.

DHA will put the formerly tax-exempt property on the tax rolls, said Ray Gillen, chairman of the Metroplex Development Authority. “The building goes on the tax rolls from date of sale. The sale was just closed,” he said.

There are no payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements with DHA, Gillen said. “They are paying full taxes on the building,” he said.

Metroplex is providing the company with a $30,000 grant toward the cost of facade renovations. “They are taking the old, closed and in poor condition former Planned Parenthood building and investing in a major upgrade to create office space for the company,” Gillen said.

In addition, Metroplex plans to lease 25 parking spaces from DHA to expand the authority’s downtown parking system. The parking spaces are on Yates Street adjacent to an existing Metroplex parking lot. Metroplex operates 10 lots and a parking garage in downtown Schenectady.

Metroplex will pay $30 per space per month, or $9,000 per year, Gillen said. “We will in turn lease the spaces for $35 to $40. We need more spaces for monthly parking,” he said.

DHA will convert part of 414 Union St. into a corporate headquarters and lease the remaining space to growing technology firms specializing in clean energy products, according to David W. Dussault, CEO of DHA Holdings. “The purchase of 414 Union Street allows our business to further its economic stake in downtown Schenectady,” he said.

DHA was founded in Schenectady five years ago. It employs 61 people with plans to add 35 to 40 employees locally in the next five years. It operates a manufacturing company on Mohawk Avenue in Schenectady and a large machining and fabrication plant at the Glenville Business and Technology Park. Both facilities support large-scale power generation and green energy manufacturing projects, Gillen said.

Ryan Baum, senior vice president for DHA Holdings, is coordinating the renovation of 414 Union St. in conjunction with Pigliavento Builders of Rotterdam.

Acting Mayor Gary McCarthy said: “The city welcomes DHA’s plans to renovate 414 Union Street as its new home as well as a center for growing green energy businesses. We are pleased to see this building get an extensive makeover.”

Gary Hughes, chairman of the Schenectady County Legislature’s Economic Development and Planning Committee, said: “We are very proud that DHA continues to grow right here in Schenectady County. This is another example of how by working together we can help companies expand their business, add new jobs, and help to expand the commercial tax base in Schenectady County.”