Former Grand Union on Hamburg Street to Receive $2 Million Renovation
For Immediate Release:
Contact: Joe McQueen|
(518) 388-4772
July 16, 2014
Former Grand Union on Hamburg Street to Receive $2 Million Renovation
Superior Business Products to Occupy 25,000 Square Feet
Project is Another Major Boost Following Recent $5 Million
Grant to Improve Hamburg Street Corridor
(Schenectady County, NY) Schenectady County officials today announced that the long vacant former Grand Union at 2696 Hamburg Street in Rotterdam will receive a $2 million upgrade by Highbridge Development, new owners of the building. Superior Business Products has signed a lease to occupy 25,000 square feet of space in the renovated building. The Hamburg Street corridor recently received news that NYS DOT will improve the streetscape in this commercial corridor using a new $5 million federal grant.
Anthony Jasenski, Chairman of the Schenectady County Legislature said, “The redevelopment of Hamburg Street has long been a priority of our County unified economic development team and improvements to the former Grand Union is a major part of our plan. Combining this much awaited project with the $5 million federal streetscape grant and our Unified Communications Center project will breathe new life into this important business corridor and allow us to build upon this success as we move forward. We thank John Roth of Highbridge Construction and Ray Seefeld of Superior Business Products for their commitment to this project. This is great news for Rotterdam and for Schenectady County.”
Harry Buffardi, Rotterdam Town Supervisor said, “The former Grand Union sat idle for many years. This is a great opportunity and we are grateful to the County for working with the Town to build the new Unified Communications Center on Hamburg Street and now the terrific news that the former Grand Union building will be upgraded for a major new tenant in Superior Business Products. This is momentum for Hamburg Street.”
Schenectady County opened a new Unified Communications Center (UCC) in the parking lot of the vacant Grand Union with the goal of consolidating police dispatch calls saving the County and participating municipalities money. In addition, the County hoped that the project would spur additional investment on the Hamburg Street corridor. The State recently announced that it has received $5 million in federal funding to upgrade Hamburg Street.
Superior Business Products, Inc., has been in business for 30 years. The company sells more than 40,000 offices products, cleaning and break room supplies, coffee and beverage services for offices as well as a full line of business, educational and medical office furniture.
Ray Seefeld, President of Superior Business Products said, “We are pleased to support this major transformation of a vacant building into modern office, showroom and warehouse space that will help us continue to grow our company. We thank Highbridge Development and Schenectady County’s Metroplex Development Authority for working with us to undertake a project that is good for our company and for the community.”
Highbridge Development has developed many commercial real estate projects since 1999. The company operates its own construction company called Plank Construction Services. Highbridge developed much of the commercial property along Broadway in downtown Schenectady, SEFCU Square on the Proctors Block in downtown Schenectady, Mansion Square in Niskayuna, the new Ingersoll Home in Niskayuna, Time Warner Cable in Rotterdam and many other commercial real estate projects.
John Roth, President of Highbridge Development said, “I was born and raised in Rotterdam and for many years the community has wanted to see the former Grand Union successfully redeveloped. The County’s commitment to build the UCC started the redevelopment process and now with this commitment from Superior Business Products we can get started with the next phase of this project. I am grateful to the County Legislature, Town officials and Metroplex for their commitment to improving this important commercial corridor in Rotterdam.”
After renovations are completed, Superior Business Products will occupy 25,000 square feet with an additional 7,600 square feet available for lease. CBRE Albany helped Superior Business Products with the site search. The company considered numerous locations in the Capital Region before selecting the Hamburg Street location. Superior Business Products also owns an office furniture company in Guilderland that will be eventually consolidated into the Hamburg Street location.
The Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority is providing a $95,000 grant toward building renovation costs.
Ray Gillen, Metroplex Chair said, “We are pleased to be working with two great companies, Superior Business Products and Highbridge Development, to bring new life to this vacant building achieving in the process one of our top goals for Rotterdam.”
In recent years, Metroplex as part of Schenectady County’s unified economic development team, has achieved success in upgrading a number of vacant or mostly vacant commercial retail centers including the former Kmart Plaza in Glenville (Target), the former St. James Square in Niskayuna (Shop Rite Square), the former Capitol Plaza in Rotterdam (Recovery Sports Grill and Berkshire Bank) and the Crosstown Plaza in Schenectady (Ocean State Job Lot). Metroplex is currently working to fill the vacant Curry Road Plaza in Rotterdam.
The Chamber of Schenectady County assisted in linking up Superior Business Products with Metroplex.
Chuck Steiner, President of the Chamber of Schenectady County said, “The Chamber strives to be a catalyst for economic growth. This project demonstrates that providing connections and building partnerships can result in significant outcomes.”
Renovation work will begin immediately following local approvals with a project completion date of late 2014.
For more information, see www.superiorbponline.com.
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