Rotterdam

The revitalization along the Hamburg Street business corridor is ramping up, with a $2 million renovation project and $5 million in streetscape work in the Carman section of Rotterdam.

The former Grand Union store, vacant for more than a decade, will receive a $2 million in upgrades by Highbridge Development of Schenectady, the new owners of the building, according to county officials.

The Schenectady County Metroplex Development Authority, a taxpayer-funded agency, is providing a $95,000 grant toward building renovation costs.

Additionally, the state Department of Transportation plans to use a $5 million federal grant for streetscape improvements, which typically includes repairs to roads and adjoining buildings, planting trees and creating open spaces.

Superior Building Products, which is on nearby Carman Road, has already signed a lease to rent 25,000 square feet of the building, leaving an additional 7,600 square feet of space available for lease. Renovation work will begin immediately following local approvals with the project expected to be completed later this year.

The announcement Wednesday comes two months after the county opened its new 4,320-square-foot central dispatch system.

Ray Gillen, Metroplex chairman, said that one of the agency's "top goals" in Rotterdam was to get tenants into the vacant old Grand Union building.

Metroplex is currently working to fill the vacant Curry Road Plaza in Rotterdam, Gillen added.

The company, which also owns an office furniture company in Guilderland that it will eventually consolidate into its Hamburg Street site, considered numerous locations in the Capital Region before selecting the Rotterdam location.

Rotterdam Town Supervisor Harry Buffardi said in a statement that he is optimistic the renovations to the Grand Union at 2696 Hamburg St. will spur other building projects.

"This is momentum for Hamburg Street," added Buffardi.

John Roth, Highbridge president and a Rotterdam native, agreed with Buffardi.

"That area has seen many years of decay and vacancy signs put on the window," Roth added, noting that the dispatch center and the Grand Union will signal the "turning point to the road."

Highbridge Development has developed a wide array of commercial real estate projects.

Superior sells more than 40,000 office products, cleaning and break room supplies, plus coffee and beverage services for offices, as well as a full line of business, educational and medical office furniture.

"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," stated Ray Seefeld, president of Superior. "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."

pnelson@timesunion.com • 518-454-5347 • @apaulnelson