Historic Schenectady building eyed by owner of boutiques

The woman behind successful Piper Boutique stores in Saratoga Springs, Philadelphia and Chicago is planning to open a showroom in downtown Schenectady.

Alessandra Bange-Hall is partnering with Sequence Development of Troy to open a number of retail operations at mixed-use sites throughout the region, starting with the long-vacant, historic Foster complex at 508 State St.

The Schenectady showroom will be its own store with its own name, separate from the Piper Boutique concept, Hall said. More details on the concept will be announced next month, she said.

“Downtown Schenectady’s revitalization is a movement I am excited to become a part of, as I consider it the perfect environment for a mixed-use marketplace we crave,” she said. “The groundwork is in place for a full-circle resurgence, and Sequence Development plays a key role in bringing these ideas to life. We are excited to be a part of the Foster revitalization and so much more.”

Sequence Development, led by Jeff Buell, is planning a $2.6 million rehabilitation of the six-story Foster complex in Schenectady that includes Hall’s showroom on the ground floor, office space on the second floor and a dozen loft apartments on the top four floors. The complex of four buildings comprises more than 47,000 square feet and features a courtyard in the middle, which is also slated for renovation.

The site is on the federal Register of Historic Places and gets its name from the Hotel Foster, which opened in the building in 1907. The facade is unique, done in a neoclassical architectural style called Beaux Arts, and is being preserved as part of the transformation.

After sitting vacant and in disrepair for nearly two decades, the Foster complex is finally ready for construction to begin early next month, Buell said. The project will be done in two phases. The first phase will rehabilitate 20,000 square feet of the old hotel and should wrap up this summer. The second phase will rehabilitate an additional 25,000 square feet.

“We’re looking at a summer opening for the retail,” he said.

Sequence Development is buying the building for $475,000 from the Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority, which has been marketing it since taking over the property in 2010. Contractors removed 596,000 pounds of debris that had collected in the building over years of neglect.

“This is exactly the type of development we were hoping to see at the historic Foster building,” said Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen. “We appreciate Jeff Buell’s exciting plans for the building restoration, and we welcome Alessandra and her exciting new retail concepts to Schenectady.”

Hall is a native of Lake Luzerne, but now lives in Schenectady. She opened the first Piper Boutique on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs in 2011, followed by another in Philadelphia later that year and one in Chicago the next year. The Saratoga store has seen sales skyrocket each year, she said.

She also owns an accessory showroom that supplies large-volume retailers and recently partnered with Kleinfeld Bridal in New York City.

Hall said she met with Buell about five months ago to discuss opening a retail component in the Foster building. The space will measure 2,600 square feet.

“We got to talking and decided to do a couple other projects together at his other sites in the Capital Region,” she said.

They both declined further comment on the other Capital Region projects, though Buell said they will include Albany and Troy.

“It’s a relationship that will keep moving forward at future space we decide to develop,” he said.

Retail is downtown Schenectady’s sore spot. As the area experienced revitalization over the past decade — adding coffee shops and restaurants, high-tech jobs and upscale residential space — business owners and residents have complained about the lack of retail shops. There are plenty of small shops along the Jay Street Pedestrian Mall and State Street, but not many clothing retailers.

In its heyday, Schenectady’s downtown had no shortage of clothing and department stores, from Barney’s, Woolworth’s and the Carl Co. to the Imperial, Goldstock’s and Fox and Murphy’s. Today there is only a handful of clothing retailers downtown. Downtown Designs on Jay Street sells vintage and custom clothing, accessories and gifts. Lee’s Four Seasons on State Street sells casual clothing and shoes. A few other places — Lennon’s Irish Shop, Paisa Mizer and Proctors Gift Shop — sell some clothing items.

Hall has watched as the downtown area has picked up in recent years and said she’s encouraged to get in on the action.

“I feel passionately about Schenectady,” she said. “I feel the revitalization will really continue to be incredible.”

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