Village seeks factory demolition

1871 Structure that was part of former Victory Specialty Packaging complex on Gates Avenue is a ‘clear and imminent danger’ to public, lawmakers say

The village is taking legal action to have a deteriorating old factory razed that officials believe poses a threat to public health and safety.

In papers filed March 19 in state Supreme Court Saratoga County, the village says the 1871 structure owned by Albany-based Riverview Realty poses a “clear and imminent danger.”

The building is an old red brick factory, on Gates Avenue, adjacent to the large mill that Riverview owner Uri Kaufman proposed converting to luxury apartments several years ago.

But Kaufman said Monday he believes demolition is the responsibility of property owner Consolidated Hydro New York, a subsidiary of Massachusetts-based Enel

North America Inc.

“It’s a complicated matter,” he said. “We own the bricks and mortar. The land underneath it belong to Enel. It was abandoned. We never used it. We feel like it’s got nothing to do with us.”

The village’s suit seeks a court order to have the old brick factory demolished and for Kaufman to pay the village for such work if he doesn’t have it done first.

Kaufman purchased the former Victory Specialty Packaging complex from Saratoga County in February 2008 for $50,000. The largest building, which dominates Victory’s landscape, was constructed in 1918 and is on The National Register.

Kaufman wanted to convert this structure to luxury apartments, similar to projects he’s done elsewhere such as the former Harmony Mill in Cohoes. He believed the Victory project would attract high-salaried GlobalFoundries employees. But the proposed $24 million venture never materialized.

In November 2011, Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency denied his request for $560,000 worth of tax breaks that would have moved the project forward. As a rule, the IDA doesn’t approve tax breaks for residential projects.

In April 2013, the Saratoga Town Board by a 4-1 vote also refused Kaufman’s request for tax breaks, which appeared to kill the project.

Later that year, however, the IDA reversed course and approved an incentive package, added to in July 2015, reportedly worth $3.4 million over 10 years.

But Kaufman said Monday those numbers were based on an unreasonably high projected assessment for the property. Terms the IDA approved “still left the project not financially viable,” he said. “That’s been the problem since day one.”

Unable to obtain financing, the project has stalled and both buildings -- the large mill and old brick factory -- have sat idle ever since. Ballston Lake-based Longtin Engineering, following a March 8 inspection, said the brick building’s roof is collapsing and that an unsupported wall is expected to meet a similar fate soon.

IDA counsel Michael Toohey said Kaufman had two years to act on the IDA’s incentive package or seek an extension.

“None of those things took place,” he said. “It died of its own volition.”

PAUL POST PHOTO The Village of Victory has filed suit in state Supreme Court Saratoga County, seeking a court order to have an old factory building along Gates Avenue torn down because officials believe it presents a public safety hazard.

PAUL POST PHOTO The roof of an 1871 factory building, at right, has caved in and walls are unsafe as well. The Village of Victory is trying to force the owner to tear it down. The large building at left is on The National Register.