GBJ 9 Broad Street #7 Glens Falls, NY 12801
GLENS FALLS BUSINESS JOURNAL
VOL. 37 NO. 09
www.glensfallsbusinessjournal.com
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GLENS FALLS, NY 12801 PERMIT #600
NOVEMBER 2025
Panelists Express Optimism For 2026 As Washington West Mountain, Gore And Whiteface County Tourism And Spending Show Steady Growth Upgrade As North Country Ski Season Nears
From left to right Economic Development Coordinator Laura Oswald, county Administrator Melissa Fitch, Budget Officer Brian Campbell, ARCC President and CEO Tricia Rogers and Board of Supervisors Chairman Robert Henke. BY PAUL POST Slow, steady tourism growth is one of the best options for achieving sustained economic development in Washington County, officials say. Events such as the Greenwich Lighted Tractor Parade on Saturday, Nov. 22, Scottish Games in Argyle and Whitehall’s new Sasquatch Festival attract people from outside the area who support small business that keep small towns and villages vibrant. “Are we going to see the likes of a Micron or
Paul Post
Regeneron in Washington County? Probably not,” said Laura Oswald, county economic development coordinator. “Economic development has pretty much happened under tourism initiatives. What we have out there is phenomenal. To my mind you grow what you have. We have open space, we have natural resources. For somebody living in a city, to have an experience going to a rural area is marketable.” “Heck yeah, people want to come here,” she said. Continued On Page 4
West Mountain’s operations team prepares the slopes and snowmaking systems for the upcoming ski season, including 4000 feet of new snowaking pipeline on Frolic trail. BY LEE COLEMAN West Mountain ski center in Queensbury is preparing to open early this season with a larger variety of trails to offer skiers. “We are really going to try to open early, but it depends on the weather,” said Spencer Montgomery, co-owner and managing member. He said 4,000 feet of new snowmaking pipeline has been added on the Frolic trail to replace older piping that was in disrepair. The goal is to open more terrain on the Northwest Base area along with the Main Base, which traditionally opens first. The
Courtesy West Mountain
mountain also offers a large snow-tubing park for young people. Ski center workers have been running compressors on the snow guns, testing pipelines, checking power and lighting for the popular night skiing, and cutting back the trail edges. All is ready to make snow when the temperature allows. In recent years, West Mountain has offered year-round programming, with adventure courses, mountain-biking trails and scenic rides to promote use of the mountain in spring, summer and fall. Continued On Page 2
Historic Glens Falls Buildings Reborn As Mixed- At Annual Luncheon EDC Warren County Use Living And Businesses On South Street Stakes Future On Water Science Strategy BY PAUL POST Commercial and residential tenants are ready to occupy three newly rehabilitated buildings that are transforming South and Elm streets in downtown Glens Falls. Bonacio Development is putting the finishing touches on the former Sandy’s and Hot Shots taverns and on an adjoining three-story building behind Hot Shots at 36 Elm Street. “They’ll all be ready for occupancy around January 1,” company President Larry Novik said. Each of the three-story buildings will have first-floor commercial space and apartments overhead. Meanwhile, steel beams and girders are rising for a large five-story structure next to and behind the former Sandy’s building, scheduled for completion in early 2027. SUNY Adirondack is slated to lease ground-floor space there for a health care workforce development program, including a mock exam room. The remaining space, and four stories above, will be dedicated to mixedincome affordable housing. The apartments are designed to serve households across a range of income levels— generally between 30 percent and 70 percent of the area median income. “We believe this approach, tying rates to the area median income, is a good way to create a community with a wide mix of residents,” Project Manager Steve Licciardi said. Bonacio, a Saratoga Springs-based firm, is developing this project as well. “We’ve built a number of affordable housing projects, but this is the first where we’re also working as the developer, so it’s been an interesting process,” Novik said. “We’re excited to bring this housing type to Glens Falls.”
Bonacio Development’s Larry Novik and Steve Licciardi stand on South Street. Courtesy Bonacio
The project has been made possible through a partnership with New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The new five-story building, called South Street Apartments, is a $26 million investment. The Sandy’s, Hot Shots, and 36 Elm Street projects represent an additional $7 million. They follow the recent opening of The Ed, a new event space on South Street that now houses the Glens Falls Farmers Market. The entire area has been developed with a sense of connectivity, making it easy for peoContinued On Page 6
The Economic Development Corporation of Warren County (EDC) used its Annual Luncheon on Oct. 27, 2025, to reaffirm its commitment to a place-based economic-development strategy and to announce a significant new initiative: the formation of a steering committee charged with guiding the creation of a national Fresh Water Center. The goal of the center is to harness the expertise developed at Lake George and position the region as a leader in research, education and commercialization of freshwater protection. The event, held before a full house at the Carriage House at the Fort William Henry Hotel, recognized outgoing board chair Dr. Kristine D. Duffy for emphasizing the importance of creating a “long-term sustainable economy.” Incoming chair Melanie Weber also assumed her new role. Moderator Ryan Moore and EDC President Jim Siplon highlighted recent development successes, including the Glens Falls Downtown Revitalization Initiative, which leveraged nearly $50 million from a $10 million state award. Other achievements included expanding Warren County’s broadband access from 75 percent to more than 95 percent and stimulating private development in North Creek through installation of a new wastewater system. The luncheon’s theme of place-based growth was underscored by keynote speaker Greg Tehven, CEO and co-founder of Emerging Prairie and board chair of Grand Farm in Fargo, N.D. Tehven described how Fargo transformed its economy by embracing its local assets and becoming an innovation hub for agricultural
EDC President Jim Siplon addresses attendees at the 2025 annual luncheon in Lake George. Courtesy EDC
technology. A fifth-generation North Dakotan, he urged attendees to be bold and action-oriented, attributing Fargo’s success to its “world-class public education and world-class health care.” Tehven challenged the audience to “declare your major, go public, and invite the world,” and emphasized supporting artists who “drive creativity and ego,” praising the local arts community. Siplon closed the program with the anticipated announcement of the Fresh Water Center Steering Committee. Initial Continued On Page 11