IDA approves five-year pilot for 178 Maple Street redevelopment after school district raises funding concerns

Glens Falls — The Glens Falls Industrial Development Agency on Nov. 13 approved an IDA pilot and related benefits for the redevelopment of 178 Maple Street, a historic warehouse the applicant proposes to convert into 19 residential units and a single commercial unit.

Judy Caligero, who opened the IDA meeting, told the board the item required a procedural fix: “I want to repeal resolution number 41 that we adopted on October 28, 2025. There was an error in our submission about which school district the project had fallen into,” she said, and the board voted to repeal that earlier resolution before proceeding with the public hearing and final vote.

Tom Morelli, the project attorney (representing owner/developer Brian Green), summarized the proposal as an adaptive reuse of the building with 4 studios, 14 one-bedroom units and 1 two-bedroom unit, plus a repurchased parking area and a storm-water management plan. The IDA staff presented a pilot estimate included in the board packet and said the body recommended a five-year pilot to bridge early financing needs.

Brian George, identified himself as superintendent of the Glens Falls City School District, told the board the district’s principal concern was that a pilot agreement reduces near-term property tax revenue without covering the full educational cost new students create. "The only concern that the school district has is just, with the pilot program ... these housing units will more than likely probably house students, which then will require education, which there's a cost associated with that," he said, citing per-student cost figures discussed during the hearing.

One board member disclosed a conflict and recused themself because their company is currently a tenant in the building's basement; the member said the tenancy will end as a result of the redevelopment and would not participate in the vote.

After discussion of pilot length, historic tax-credit opportunities and financing hurdles, the board moved and approved the resolution granting the pilot and related benefits. Staff said documents would be signed and provided to the owner, Brian Green, later in the week. The board kept a public hearing record open earlier in the meeting to allow any additional online or in-person comments before formally closing the hearing and voting.

The IDA plans to return signed documents to the developer and monitor implementation; the board's next meeting is scheduled for Dec. 11 at 8 a.m.