County moves to lease 1 Broadway Center, citing space, parking and revenue benefits; parking deal secured with Metroplex

Schenectady County officials presented and moved forward a lease framework to relocate many county functions to 1 Broadway Center, a 158,000-square-foot office building, and approved a companion parking agreement with Metroplex Development Authority.

Ray Gillen, chair of Metroplex, and County Manager Rory Fluman described the proposal as a strategic consolidation to replace the county—9s aging courthouse-adjacent county building. Gillen said the RFP process produced 1 Broadway Center as the selected site because it offers substantially more space than the current county building (about 158,000 square feet versus roughly 60,000) and large adjacent parking assets. "You are able to keep and grow the office of court administration lease which now pays $322,000 a year," Gillen said, and he added the Social Security office at 1 Broadway currently pays about $437,000 in rent that, under the proposed deal, would accrue to the county.

Officials said renovating the existing county building in place would be disruptive and expensive; Gillen reported a rough renovation estimate of about $40 million and temporary relocation costs of about $4 million. The proposed structure uses a county-supported community development corporation (CIDC) and tax-exempt bonding through the CRC to finance renovation and acquisition; the CIDC would own the building for 30 years with a five-member board (three seats appointed by the county).

Fluman said a 14-month construction schedule is planned for build-out, during which there would be no lease payments and no parking costs for county occupants. "Facilities can move in an occupied space for free which frees up space in the courthouse," he said, describing an early move-in for facilities staff so they can oversee construction and relieve immediate space pressures.

The committee discussion covered accessibility and public benefit points. Legislator Jasinski asked whether the county could exercise an option to purchase the building at the end of the lease; officials said the CIDC board would decide whether to transfer the property to the county for a nominal fee or pursue other plans at the end of the 30-year term. Legislator Hess raised concerns about stairs and winter access at the Broadway entrance; officials said alternate entrances and signage would be improved.

The committee also approved a parking agreement with Metroplex. Under the negotiated terms the county will receive 250 spaces at $35 per month per space to start (a 2% annual increase is included for the lease term) and jury parking will remain $3 per day. Metroplex officials said the garage and surrounding surface lots total about 1,500 spaces, offering covered winter parking options and surface alternatives.

Committee members moved the lease resolution to the full legislative agenda and also moved the parking agreement forward. Officials said they will return to the Legislature in October seeking approval for CRC bond issuance and the CIDC board appointments; those subsequent steps would finalize financing and governance.