Former paint manufacturing building may get restaurant

The former Connors Paint building at 669 River Street.

The owners of The Local Pub and Teahouse in Saratoga Springs are working on a redevelopment project in Troy that may include a restaurant.

The Times Union reports today on its website that Mike Phinney and Jon Haynes "recently purchased a large, brick industrial building at 669 River Street in Troy" along with partner Brian McCandless from the city for $30,000. "Phinney, an architect who owns Phinney Design Group in Saratoga, [said] 'We’re strongly considering' a bar or restaurant for the ground level of the three-story, 40,000-square-foot building, with apartments upstairs. ... 'We think the location would be great for it. We’re very excited about what’s happening in North Central Troy'."

Back in 2006, plans were floated by a group calling itself 669 River Street Properties, with headquarters in Albany, to convert the derelict building to a commercial spot including office space, warehouse and trailer storage.

The new owners obviously have their work cut out for them since the condition of the structure has gotten only worse since 2006. The seller of the building, located between North Street and Middleburgh, cautioned in an online ad: "This building is without heat, electric, plumbing and in need of serious repair and rehabilitation. It is not a property for an inexperienced builder/developer/user."

The hulking brick building, formerly home to the William Connors Paint Manufacturing Co., makers of American Seal paint, is one of numerous large former manufacturing and/or warehousing facilities in the area of North Central that slowly is coming back to life. The first such major resuscitation was the Hedley Park Place office complex that now houses, among other tenants, City Hall.

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