Luckey Platt, considered by Poughkeepsie Mayor John Tkazyik to be the missing link to the city”™s downtown revitalization, is nearing the finish line.
The century-old building was once a bustling department store and magnet for shoppers from across the region. Competition from the glut of malls that flooded the area eventually left Lucky bereft of customers. It ceased operations in 1981 and stood vacant for more than two decades until Queens-based Alma Realty bought the property from the city for $1 in 2006. To date, says Tkazyik, the developers have invested more than $15 million into its restoration and interior renovation.
Everything was a go until the building was slapped with a stop-work order in March 2007, which Tazyik lifted after he took office in January 2008. Since then, owners and the city have been working out kinks to allow Luckey Platt to receive its final certificate of occupancy. Revisions to the site plan and some outstanding issues blocked the builder from opening on schedule, said Tkazyik, but “I”™ve met with developers and set a timeline for success to get the project back on track. We are going to meet it.”
Tkazyik said Alma Realty has received the green light from the planning board; if all goes according to schedule, the historic building will open its doors this month. The newly renovated building will offer 138 one- and two-bedroom apartments and 32 loft-type studios designed with artists”™ needs in mind. Commercial and retail space on its first floor will be complemented by more retail on the mezzanine below, part of the project”™s build-out plans from the outset.
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Tkazyik said the city spent $1 million to shore up the roof when it still owned the building. “We obviously want this building to be preserved. We feel it”™s integral to the downtown area and hoped a buyer would come along and rescue it,” said Tkayzik, who was a member of the city”™s Common Council at the time of the roof renovation. “We”™ve highlighted Luckey Platt as the key to rejuvenate the Main Street corridor.”
The city is working on its southern waterfront development plan to help attract business to downtown Poughkeepsie, where new upscale townhouses by Ginsberg Development Co., a new catering hall the Grandview, and restaurant Shadows on the Hudson are part of what Tkazyik hopes will continue to revitalize not just the waterfront but the entire city.
The city just received a $600,000 Restore New York grant, which Tkazyik said will go toward helping bring a supermarket to Poughkeepsie.
“We have 32,000 residents in this city, and not a single supermarket,” he said. “Hopefully, with this ”¦ grant, we”™ll be able to convince one of the major chains to come into our community ”¦ and be a further plus to our revitalization efforts.”
The property is being marketed by Dagar Group in Fishkill.
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