The latest addition to the growing number of commercial enterprises along Route 17M in the town of Blooming Grove ”“ Museum Village Plaza ”“ is going up with an eye to its carbon footprint.
Project manager Joel Feinberg of Construction Projects Consultants in Monticello, representing the owner, R.W. Holdings L.L.C., says the 40,000-square-foot office/light industrial property will be as “green” as financing and structural capability allow. In addition to using steel framing, which Feinberg says is considered eco-friendly because it”™s recycled, the building will have a geothermal heating system and passive solar heating: most of the windows will be facing south to catch as much sunlight as possible. Feinberg says they are also looking into photovoltaic panels to increase the building”™s energy efficiency, “but like everything else, cost is a significant factor,” he said.
All interior materials ”“ carpeting, tiles, glues, adhesives and paint will be low emission, something Feinberg says will enhance its appeal to future lessees as well as LEED (leadership in environmental and energy design) certifiers. In addition to making the air inside easier to breathe, Feinberg says a stormwater system will be set up to catch runoff to keep landscaping healthy and ”¦ green. “No pun intended,” says Feinberg.
The contractors are ready to break ground at the end of the month and hope to be done their work by late fall. The site is adjacent to the future I-86.
Feinberg estimates the total cost of construction to be $2.5 million to $3.5 million.
“The building will contain six offices and six warehouse spaces, but if someone wants to lease the entire building, we are open to that,” says Feinberg, who has been marketing the property through Keller Williams Commercial Ventures Group in Central Valley.
“The Orange County Partnership has also been a big help to us during the permit phase and in getting the word out that there is new commercial space available in southern Orange County,” says Feinberg, who said it took approximately 2 ½ years to get through the approval process with the town of Blooming Grove.
“We haven”™t seen much new commercial building going on around the Monroe-Chester area, so we feel we are in a good spot to attract business,” says Feinberg. “Monroe, Blooming Grove and Chester are growing, but the number of new buildings available for commercial users is few and far between. Except for one project in the village of Monroe being built by developer Ziggy Brach, there is no commercial construction going on in the immediate area.”
Feinberg hopes Museum Village will be a welcome addition to the growing number of businesses who have found a home along the Route 17M corridor.
