PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
GBJ 9 Broad Street Glens Falls, NY 12801
VOL. 35 NO. 05
PAID
GLENS FALLS, NY 12801 PERMIT #600
HH The Business Newspaper of Warren and Washington Counties HH
www.glensfallsbusinessjournal.com
JULY 2023
Green Harbour Mansion Is Purchased For Bidders Lining Up For Construction Of New $6.5M; Owners Plan To Restore The Facility Market Center Pavilion On South Street
The Green Harbour Mansion, situated at the tip of Cooper Point on Lake George, was sold in June to investors for $6.5 million. Restoration of the home is planned. BY CHRISTINE GRAF Green Harbour Mansion, situated at the tip of Cooper Point on Lake George, was sold in June for $6.5 million. Buyers Joe Russell and John LaSalandra of Bolton Landing have plans to restore the property. The mansion is situated on Millionaire’s Row, a 10-mile stretch of road between Lake George Village and Bolton Landing. The palatial homes that were built there during the early 1900s served as summer residences for wealthy businessmen. Frederick Peabody, partner in Troy shirt factory
Courtesy Spencer Bray
Cluett, Peabody & Co., was the original owner of Green Harbour Mansion. Built in 1913, the threestory 11,579-square-foot residence sits on 3.3 acres of property. The waterfront compound includes a 14-bedroom home, a four-bedroom guest cottage, and 33 income-producing rental boat slips. Nic Ketter and Spencer Bray of Realize Brokers were the listing agents for the property. They represented the estate of Ken Ermiger, a local businessman who passed away in 2021. One of Ermiger’s other properties, the Depe Dene Resort, Continued On Page 15
The proposed 6000-squre-foot oval building in this rendering is planned to be built as the new Market Center in Glens Falls. Bidders are lining up for the project with quotes due end of July. BY PAUL POST Some 30 firms have requested construction packets as potential bidders for a proposed new Market Center on South Street in Glens Falls. The 6,000-square-foot building would be at a currently vacant lot at 51-63 South St. where an Off Track Betting outlet was previously located. Plans for the project, estimated to cost $4 million, call for a pavilion-type structure with numerous exterior doors that would house Glens Falls Farmer’s Market, and host many
Courtesy City of Glens Falls
other events throughout the year. Quotes are due by the end of July and it’s hoped that a contractor will be selected in early August. “We’d love to have shovels in the ground by late summer and have it completed by next summer,” said Jeff Flagg, Glens Fall economic development director. “It’s not strictly a lowbid contract.” The building will be funded in part with money from a $10 million Downtown RevitalContinued On Page 11
Pallets Inc. In Fort Edward Acquired By Former CEO Of Girl Scouts Of Western New Firm In Quebec; Workers Will Stay On York Is Named New CEO At Double H Ranch BY CHRISTINE GRAF Pallets Inc. in Fort Edward, a third-generation family owned business, was recently acquired by Damabois, a Canadian company that operates nine factories in Quebec and the Maritime provinces of Eastern Canada. A leader in the transformation of wood and wood derivatives, Damabois was founded in 1986. The company harvests its own timber to manufacture pallets and uses milling by-products such as shavings and sawdust to make eco-friendly, slow-burning energy logs. Damabois’ first U.S. acquisition was Essex Box and Pallet (renamed D Pallet Shop) in Keeseville, N.Y. After acquiring Pallets Inc., the company consolidated its U.S. operations in Fort Edward. According to Jean-Philippe Bertrand, director of operations for Damabois, the company is seeking to grow its business in the United States. “On the north side of the border in the province in Quebec, we are a key player in the pallet manufacturing business. We reached a point where our market shares were maxed out, and we needed to go into a larger market. We chose the northeast of the United States,” he said. Pallets Inc. was founded in 1942 by Arthur Binley, Jr. During the company’s 80 years in business, it has been operated by members of the Binley family. It was third-generation owner, Clint Binley, who made the decision to sell the company. Binley will remain with the company during the transition, and Damabois has retained the company’s approximately 35 employees. They have also hired several additional administrative staff members.
Pallets Inc. in Fort Edward has been acquired by Damabois, a Canadian company. Courtesy Pallets Inc.
“We wanted this company because of the people. We needed people that knew the business and knew the market in the US,” said Bertrand. “We acquired teachers.” The employees at Pallets Inc. have an average of more than 13 years of experience. Their part-time mill manager has been with the company for more than 45 years. “There’s a lot of knowledge here which is one of the reasons Damabois was really interest in us,” said Marvin Horowitz, controller at Pallets Inc. Continued On Page 13
The Double H Ranch, a nonprofit organization providing specialized programs and year-round support for children dealing with life-threatening illnesses announced the hiring of Alison Wilcox as CEO. Wilcox will be following in the footsteps of Max Yurenda, who retired after 30 years leading the organization founded by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman and businessman and philanthropist Charley Wood. “Alison has a wonderful passion for the mission of the Double H Ranch and a respect for our culture. Her experience developing leadership skills for young girls; financial management; and organizational development will inspire the Double H Ranch to grow upon its reputation of excellence as one of the premier non-profits in the Capital District and North Country. By working with our great Double H Ranch team, I am confident Alison will bring great enthusiasm, energy, and engagement in her new role,” said Charlie Crew, the facility’s board chairman. Wilcox has over 20 years of global experience in nonprofit leadership and board governance and has been the CEO of Girl Scouts of Western New York for the past four years, and she was COO for three years. Prior to that, she was a senior strategy advisor to Girl Scouts of USA, lead development specialist at Delaware North Companies and the senior vice president of program and membership of Girls Scouts of Western New York. Double H’s board of directors retained the executive search firm Lindauer to conduct a
Alison Wilcox is the new CEO at Double H Ranch, replacing Max Yurenda. Courtesy Double H Ranch
nationwide search following the announcement of Yurenda’s retirement in June of 2022. “I am so excited to join the team at Double H Ranch. The mission of Double H is near and dear to my heart because of my own family background, and I am inspired by the powerful impact Double H has on children and their families,” said Wilcox. “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the next CEO for this wonderful organization, which has such Continued On Page 9