ALBANY -- Huck Finn's Warehouse and More is set to receive $650,000 in grant money to relocate Hoffman's Playland from Newtonville to the furniture store's location in North Albany.

Under a plan to be reviewed by the Albany County Industrial Development Agency at its meeting Wednesday, Huck Finn's would receive three grants: $250,000 from National Grid; $250,000 from Empire State Development, the state's economic development agency; and $150,000 from the IDA itself.

Huck Finn's is not requesting additional tax breaks, according to IDA Chairman Gary Domalewicz.

The total cost of the project is $1.8 million, according to Huck Finn's application with the IDA. That total includes the cost of buying rides and equipment from Hoffman's Playland and the construction of a 1,500-square-foot building near Huck Finn's that would include bathrooms, concessions, a place for ticket sales and more.

Huck Finn's is estimating it will hire 150 seasonal employees to work the amusement park, along with 30 to 35 temporary construction jobs.

"It's going to create jobs for the North End of Albany, a needy part of Albany," Domalewicz said. "That just aren't that many jobs in North Albany that kids can walk to."

The relocated amusement park would be called Huck Finn's Playland, according to the IDA application.

The grants were arranged by Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy, Domalewicz said.

Hoffman's Playland, a much-loved amusement park, closed for good in September, ending a run that began in 1952.

Numerous letters written by local officials in support of the National Grid grant — which is from the utility's "economic development department" — indicate broad support for the move to Huck Finn's.

"The relocation of the original Hoffman's Playland amusement park rides and attractions to 25 Erie Boulevard ... is a monumental step towards the revitalization of an industrial area that has long been blighted and depressed," wrote McCoy, adding that the relocation "underscores the growing community interest in connecting downtown Albany to the neighboring warehouse district. The new Huck Finn's Playland will be the centerpiece of an area on the cusp of major revitalization."

To accommodate the park, Huck Finn's is proposing to lease land at 35 Erie Boulevard that's now owned by the city of Albany's water department. Huck Finn's has placed a $50,000 deposit on the rides, with the purchase conditional on getting necessary approvals from the city of Albany, the IDA application says.

Jeff Sperber, the principal owner of Huck Finn's responded to a request for comment by email.

"Simply put, we are trying desperately to save the Playland for the Capital District," he wrote. "To my knowledge, there are no other options to keep these beloved rides in the area. Because of that and only that reason, we are talking to every agency that we are aware of that is in the business of saving businesses, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.

"The reality is (that) if we are successful in our attempt to save the Playland and revitalize North Albany, the taxpayers will be the beneficiaries."

cchurchill@timesunion.com • 518-454-5442 • @chris_churchill