$18 Million Renovation of Former Schenectady YMCA Approved by Historic Commission

Schenectady, N.Y., September 15, 2015 — The Schenectady Historic District Commission last night approved plans to renovate the former YMCA at 13 State Street in downtown Schenectady.

“We thank the Historic Commission for moving forward with this project which will preserve this key building in Schenectady,” said Mayor Gary R. McCarthy.

Built in 1926, the building at 13 State Street is 104,000 square feet.  Norstar Development USA will renovate the historic building located near the Stockade Historic District and Schenectady County Community College (SCCC).

The renovated four-story building will 61 senior apartments including on-site fitness, library, community room and other features.  Active seniors living at 13 State will be able to access college programs, shows at Proctors, movies, fitness with both the new YMCA and YWCA located nearby, downtown restaurants, Riverside Park and many other amenities. The building is located adjacent to the Stockade Historic District.

Metroplex will help work with Norstar to find a tenant for 8,650 square feet of commercial space on the first floor of the building including the former gym which includes a running track. The commercial space will have a separate entrance facing State Street and it has been approved for the State’s Start-Up New York program.

Ray Gillen, Metroplex Chair said, “Approval by the Historic Commission is a major step forward in our efforts to renovate this building and transform it into a new anchor project for the lower State Street area.”

Norstar is a full service development, construction and management company with offices in Albany and Buffalo, New York, Michigan, Texas and Florida.  Currently, the company is developing a mixed use project in downtown Albany that includes 29 market-rate apartments, office and retail space. The company has developed 500 senior apartments since 2009 in Florida and Michigan. Most recently, Norstar completed 153 senior units in Largo, Florida and 166 in Detroit. In the United States, the company owns more than 3,500 residential units.  Norstar’s parent company is one of the largest developers in Canada with over 4 million square feet of commercial, residential, retail and industrial space.

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