After sitting vacant, building reclassified as residential

Photo by Tom Rivers – The former New York State Electric and Gas building at 366 Washington St. had its zoning changed from commercial to residential after the building sat empty for more than a year. The new owner wants the zoning to be changed to allow for business uses.

ALBION – Charles Maloy sees a vacant building on Washington Street as a site with potential for employees and business, all generating economic activity in the village.

Maloy recently purchased the former New York State Electric and Gas building at 366 Washington St. The 4,215-square-foot building is in good shape and Maloy said it would make for an ideal site for businesses that do auto repair, construction, HVAC, roofing/siding, distribution, storage, landscaping as well as other uses.

There is a big obstacle to the site’s reuse: the location’s zoning. It is zoned residential. The site was zoned for commercial use but after it sat vacant for more than a year, the zoning was changed to residential.

Washington Street is considered a residential street. However, Maloy noted the Albion Correctional Facility is down the street and the Village DPW garage is at the corner of King and Washington streets. There are several vacant lots on the street. A new house hasn’t been built on the street since 1992, he told the Village Board last week.

Maloy said there is little chance the NYSEG building would be redeveloped for housing. The site is assessed for $192,000.

“Without a solution this property will be obsolete,” Maloy told the Village Board. “It is well built, very versatile and would lend itself to commercial uses.”

The village doesn’t want to spot zone properties, assigning zoning to sites that don’t match neighboring properties.

Code Enforcement Officer Ron Vendetti sees two viable alternatives that avoid spot zoning. The former NYSEG property backs up to a commercial district on Route 31. The back of the NYSEG property touches the railroad tracks and a district that is zoned commercial. The village could zone the property commercial and there wouldn’t be spot zoning.

Vendetti has also suggested an adaptive overlay district for some of the vacant commercial sites in the village in residential neighborhoods. Many of the sites had their zoning reverted to residential, which makes it difficult for the buildings to be reused, Vendetti told the board.

The adaptive reuse proposal would allow for special permits to be issued from the village for some of the sites. Vendetti said the special permits would require more oversight and control from the village than if the sites were zoned commercial.

He sees the plan as a way to get more vacant structures as a contributing assets to the community. He noted the village has struggled in recent years with a shrinking tax base.

Village Board members said they want to consider the options and will get back to Maloy soon.

“I took a chance on it,” Maloy, a Rochester resident, told the board. “The highest and best use for it is as a commercial building.”

Photo by Tom Rivers – Officials from the Town of Albion at left met with officials from the Village of Albion at right during a joint session this evening at Hoag Library.

ALBION – Officials from the village and town of Albion had a rare joint meeting this evening and they talked about ideas to make local parks and the downtown business district stronger, while also sharing services for highway projects.

The Town Board said it would give $8,000 toward the village parks program. The village currently spends about $50,000 annually on parks. The town officials said they want the village to specify where the town money will go for parks.

Village officials said it was a reasonable request. The attorneys for the town and village will discuss how an agreement should be written for any town funding at the parks.

The town also said it would be interested in helping pay towards an event coordinator. Sid Beaty has been serving in that part-time position. She helped plan a debut downtown concert series on Thursdays last summer, as well as other events.

The village is debating bringing her back at about $10,000 a year. Trustee Stan Farone said the Village Board is pleased with her work, but the village budget is a challenge.

The town would consider helping pay towards Beaty’s position, but Town Supervisor Matt Passarell would like a list of projects Beaty would work on. Town Councilman Jake Olles also would like to have Beaty or whoever serves in the role possibly be available for projects in the town.

The town is also open to helping fund the downtown concert series, but Passarell said he would like to see a plan for promoting the event.

When Olles asked the village how the town could help with the concert series, Farone was quick to respond.

“Money,” Farone said.

Farone and village officials said they want the concerts to return in 2015. The village is open to another venue for the concerts besides a closed off East Bank Street.

Bobby Skrzypek And The Pedestrians performed last July in the Albion concert series.

Farone said the canal bank area is being considered. Town Councilman Todd Sargent said the green space by a village parking on Main Street, between the Presbyterian Church and El Gallo restaurant, also might be a good possibility.

The town and village officials were praised for their service by Carolyn Ricker, owner of Bindings Bookstore and president of the Albion Merchants Association.

Ricker was unable to attend the meeting this evening, but Lisa Stratton, owner of the Hazy Jade Gift Shop, handed each official a letter from Ricker.

Ricker said many of the downtown merchants are struggling as many shoppers are “Walmart-minded.” The Merchants have organized many events and promotions. Ricker asked the elected officials to shop at the locally owned businesses and attend many of the downtown events.

“If the leadership in our town shopped locally and supported the downtown businesses and talked about that, others may follow suit,” Ricker said.

The two boards talked about an idea to have speakers in the downtown playing music and broadcasting announcers at local parades. Wireless speakers could be added to Main Street and the downtown for about $10,000, village officials said.

Olles initially proposed the idea last year. He said he would continue to support the effort with town funds.

The village and town also committed to working out any issues to get the final pieces installed in the downtown from a Streetscape grant. Some concrete planters with trees still need to be introduced to the downtown as part of the grant.

The village and town have stepped up their efforts with shared services for highway projects in recent years. Todd Sargent, a town councilman, also works for the village DPW. He said the village, towns and county have done far more road work and other projects together recently than 20 years ago.

“We’re doing more now than ever before,” he said.

About once a week the municipalities work on a project together. Passarell said the municipalities should document that work to show the state the shared services at the local level.

Passarell said he would be open to more shared services. He would like to discuss the village maintaining town water and sewer lines. The town has nine water districts that the town highway workers maintain. The village provides the water for the districts.

The two boards said they would like to continue the joint meetings, perhaps once every six weeks to two months. They want to identify ways to reduce costs.

“We all have a responsibility to deliver services to taxpayers and try to keep taxes down,” said Town Councilman Richard Remley.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Santa Claus had breakfast in Albion on Saturday at the Masonic Lodge on Platt Street and then posed for photos at the Salih Studio on East Bank Street.

In this photo, Idris Salih, right, takes a picture of Marianne Aarons of Clarendon and her grandchildren from Albion. She is holding grandson Max Hoffman. His sisters, Camille and Celeste, are in the back row.

It was a whirlwind day for Santa, who also appeared at the Hoag Library and Pawlak’s Save-A-Lot as well as several other local spots.

Mrs. Claus visited Knight’s Pride on Main Street and welcomed children, including Maida Cruz-Kelley, 7, of Albion, to sign the magic scroll and also write letters to Santa. Children were told if they weren’t good their names might vanish from the scroll when she gives it to Santa.

Mrs. Claus also made ornaments with children and joined then for cookies.

“I’m worried about Santa,” she told some of the kids. “He has been very busy lately.”

There were many activities in the downtown and on Main Street for the third annual Hometown Holiday sponsored by the Albion Merchants Association. The band, The Fauxtones, also performed in the Pratt Performing Arts Center.

A goodwill offering was taken to benefit the Orleans County United Way. The group of Albionites includes, from left: Sebastian Erakare on lead vocals and guitar; Ben Schell on drums; and Jan-Mikael Erakare on vocals and bass.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The fellowship hall at Holy Family Parish Lyceum was transformed into a stage and performance venue on Saturday for the 5th annual Nicholas Kovaleski Hometown Christmas.

About 50 performers were part of the cast for three shows. About 500 people attended the event, which is a fund-raiser for a memorial scholarship in honor of Nicholas Kovaleski. His sister Michayla (top photo) performs as the Sugar Plum in a dance from The Nutcracker.

Nicholas’s mother Kelly Kovaleski shared reflections about her son, who died from leukemia at age 15 on June 29, 2011. He was a popular student at Albion, excelling at football, swimming and tennis. He would have graduated last June. She said her son wanted to join the military.

She said her Nicholas “lived with purpose.” The scholarship in his memory honors graduating seniors who “Live with Purpose.”

Marcy Downey sings “More Than Wonderful.” She also sang a duet – “How Great Thou Art” – with Joise Waverly.

Several dancers, including Madeline Bilicki (center), perform “Waltz of the Flower.”

Rose Allen sings “A Baby Changes Everything.” Santa Claus is in the background.

These dancers, including Katie Rustay at right and Michayla Kovaleski at left perform “You Wouldn’t Cry.” There were 18 differents acts for the show.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Santa Claus didn’t let some snow and bitter cold keep him from stopping at Albion’s Hometown Holiday event in Albion today. Santa posed for pictures from noon to 3 p.m. at the Salih Studio at 24 East Bank St.

In the top photo, Santa chats with sisters Liana, left, and Alayna Flugel.

Santa bears a striking resemblance to Steven Stauss, a senior at Albion High School and a star lineman on the football team.

In the bottom photo, Santa poses with Johnathan Eibl, 7, of Albion, while Idris Salih, the studio owner, takes the photo.