SCHENECTADY — The campus of the former St. Clare’s Hospital is on the verge of being sold to two local developers who plan to make the roughly 17-acre McClellan Street property economically viable again.
The sale is pending to Jeff Buell, principal at Redburn Development Partners, and Chris Spraragen, owner of Schenectady Hardware and Electric and a development company, according to a Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority news release Wednesday. Details about the sale price were not included in the announcement.
Schenectady County Legislature Chairman Gary Hughes said in the news release that the property's proximity to Central Park and the Eastern Parkway Market 32 supermarket make it “ideal for housing that appeals to both downsizing seniors and young professionals.”
St. Clare's Hospital served the community from 1949 until 2008 when it merged with Ellis Medicine.
The development team will also solicit input from the community and obtain the required local and state approvals for the project.
Buell and Spraragen say they are excited about the opportunity.
“While we are not blind to the enormous challenge of converting an aging hospital building into a new vibrant use, we have spent the past year looking at this building and at this campus and we see the great potential here,” Buell said. “We are excited to move forward with a community-first mindset and understand the very real mantle we are placing on our shoulders.”
Chris Spraragen and his development partner, Brooke Spraragen, said the property “must be rejuvenated for the betterment of Schenectady, and we intend to redevelop the property for the benefit of the surrounding neighborhoods.”
Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen also weighed in on the plan.
“As we rebuild this campus, we start with a strong foundation of two medical buildings and a nursing school that keep strong, positive activity going at the site while the main building is converted for new use and we connect the site to Central Park and nearby grocery store,” Gillen said.
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