Blighted building to be razed; site to hold apartments and retail space

PHOTOGRAPHER: Kathleen Moore

What many have considered to be one of the ugliest pieces of blight in the downtown area is finally getting knocked down.

A long wooden building at the corner of Union and Barrett streets, on which half of the siding has fallen off, will be demolished around Dec. 27, its new owner said. Asbestos is being removed now.

In its place, developer Christopher Maddalone will build an upscale eight-unit townhouse building this winter. A year from now, he will add another building with 12 units and a first-floor retail space facing Union Street.

After the demolition, there will be an empty space on Union Street next to the Union Inn for a year until Maddalone builds the second building. But his bank wanted him to start with the apartments and get rid of the blight before adding a commercial space, a more risky venture.

“We want to stabilize the project first. You can’t really have retail without residential living downtown,” he said.

And although there will be a break in the streetscape for a year, he’s enthusiastic about getting rid of the deteriorated and long-vacant building that takes up that space now.

“Most of Union Street is absolutely beautiful,” Maddalone said. “A lot of people are really excited about taking this building down. I’m very excited about it.”

Rents will be in the $1,600 to $1,800 range, he said. He’s aiming for empty-nesters and young professionals, not college students.

“That’s not what we’re looking for,” he said firmly when asked whether groups of Union College students would be allowed to squeeze into the apartments, as they have in other buildings in the area. He believes there is a demand for upscale housing for adults.

“I don’t think there’s much product for them. I absolutely believe there is a demand for it,” he said. “Near downtown, Proctors, all the restaurants. This is the stage for downtown renaissance.”

The first townhouses will face Barrett Street. Each will have its own garage on the ground floor, with living rooms and kitchens on the first floor and two bedrooms above.

The second set of townhouses will face Union Street, above a 3,000-square-foot retail space.

The entire project will cost $3.1 million. Metroplex Development Authority has provided a $150,000 grant and a $200,000 loan at 5 percent interest.