Crossgates

Guilderland Coalition for Responsible Growth, Save the Pine Bush, and Mothers Out Front object to tax abatement and donation of roads through eminent domain for Pyramid Corporation

For Immediate Release: June 27, 2023 For Further Information: Contact Robyn Gray at (518) 727-6841 or Lynne Jackson at (518) 366-7324   Press Advisory – Tuesday, June 27, 6:45 PM  Guilderland Coalition for Responsible Growth, Save the Pine Bush, and Mothers Out Front object to tax abatement and donation of roads through eminent domain for Pyramid Guilderland Coalition for Responsible Growth, Save the Pine Bush, and Mothers Out Front object to tax abatement and donation of roads through eminent domain for Pyramid Corporation

Costco Press Conference, May 31, 2023

Dear All, The press conference by Save the Pine Bush, Mothers Out Front and the Guilderland Coaltion for Responsible Growth was well attended.  Below are links to articles from the Altamont Enterprise, Channel 10 and Channel 6. Today, the Times Union published an article by Chris Churchill, “Guilderland shouldn’t fall for Costco scam”.  Here is Costco Press Conference, May 31, 2023

Press Conference, Public Hearing on Pyramid Crossgates’ request for tax abatement for proposed Costco

Dear All, On Wednesday, May 31, the Guilderland IDA is holding a public hearing on Crossgates Releasco (Pyramid Corporation) request for tax abatement and donation of roads through eminent domain for the proposed Costco. If you wish to comment on the project, here are things you can do: Here is a link to the proposed Press Conference, Public Hearing on Pyramid Crossgates’ request for tax abatement for proposed Costco

Save the Pine Bush Appeal Heard in the NYS Appellate Division, Third Department

by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: On March 23, the Supreme Court, Appellate Division Third Judicial Department heard Save the Pine Bush’s appeal of the dismissal of our case against the Town of Guilderland and Pyramid over the proposed apartments, Costco and office buildings. Todd Ommen, of the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic argued for Save the Pine Save the Pine Bush Appeal Heard in the NYS Appellate Division, Third Department

SPB Newsletters Listed by Date – 2000s

2020s 🦋 2010s 🦋 2000s 🦋 1990s Search Newsletter Archives: 2009 🦋 2008 🦋 2007 🦋 2006 🦋 2005 🦋 2004 🦋 2003 🦋 2002 🦋 2001 🦋 2000 2009 October/November 2009 – Download printable PDF version Bringing Back Sustainable Karner Blue Populations, October/November, 2009 September Biogas Talk, October/November, 2009 Buckmoth Monitoring, October/November, 2009 Neither SPB Newsletters Listed by Date – 2000s

SPB Newsletters Listed by Date – 1990s

2020s 🦋 2010s 🦋 2000s 🦋 1990s Search Newsletter Archives: 1999 🦋 1998 🦋 1997 🦋 1996 🦋 1995 🦋 1994 1999 December 1999, January 2000 Garbage in the Pine Bush – City Proposes Landfill Expansion SPB Files Most Unpopular Suit Yet – Sues the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission The Thruway Authority Comes Across SPB Newsletters Listed by Date – 1990s

Save the Pine Bush Files Appeal

by Lynne Jackson ALBANY, NY: Save the Pine Bush has filed an appeal in January to the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department in the matter of Save the Pine Bush vs. Town of Guilderland and others over Pyramid Corporation’s proposal to build apartments, office buildings and a Costco in the Pine Bush. Originally, Save the Pine Bush Files Appeal

Bill Aylward and Gene Messercola

ALBANY: Bill Aylward and Gene Messercola spoke at the January vegetarian lasagna dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Albany. Both Mr. Aylward and Mr. Messercola spoke bout the one important thing Albany County can do for Pine Bush preservation: donate all tax delinquent properties located in the Pine Bush to the Pine Preserve. Tax Bill Aylward and Gene Messercola

Proposed Developments to Watch

by Lynne Jackson GUILDERLAND, NY: Save the Pine Bush is watching several proposals in the Pine Bush in Guilderland. These include the proposed Pyramid projects, one of which is a Costco with 18 gas pumps. With climate change a critical issue, the Town of Guilderland should not permit the construction of any fossil fuel infrastructure. Proposed Developments to Watch

Research

Here are some helpful tools to help you research development and land use changes in Albany Pine Bush. Properties on the Planning Board Agendas See our Planning Board Agenda Tracker. Search a Property You can search a property here, however it must be in a very specific format to match the tax record, like this Research

Pine Bush Proposed Projects

Pine Bush Proposed Projects html, body, #map-canvas { height: 100%; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; } .lidarBase { filter: brightness(140%) contrast(100%) !important; } .baseLayer, .dblsatBase, .grayscale, .multiplyOverlay, .mapwarp { mix-blend-mode: multiply !important; } .dblsatBase { filter: saturate(150%) contrast(110%) brightness(130%); } .grayscale { filter: grayscale(100%); } .invert { filter: invert(100%) grayscale(100%) contrast(200%) brightness(150%); opacity: 1.0; } .shadow Pine Bush Proposed Projects

Proposed Crossgates Development

GUILDERLAND, NY: Rapp Road Development, a corporate entity of Pyramid/Crossgates, is proposing to build on about 46 acres of land. Originally, the proposal was to build 222 apartments on 20 acres of land adjacent to the Pine Bush preserve. After the Town Planning Board appointed themselves the lead agency, the project was exapanded to include Proposed Crossgates Development

Guilderland and Pyramid look for second suit, filed by Save the Pine Bush, to be dismissed 

Guilderland and Pyramid look for second suit, filed by Save the Pine Bush, to be dismissed  Monday, August 2, 2021 – 19:13 Enterprise file photo — Michael Koff The not-for-profit group Save The Pine Bush, in November 2020, celebrated when Westmere residents won a lawsuit (which was recently overturned) that stopped construction of two Pyramid projects. Guilderland and Pyramid look for second suit, filed by Save the Pine Bush, to be dismissed 

Just Say No to the Bridge!

The Village of Colonie is proposing to build a bridge in the Pine Bush over the Rapp Road/Lincoln Avenue railroad tracks. To allow for high-speed rail, all Òat gradeÓ crossings over railroad tracks are to be eliminated. The Village wants to eliminate the Rapp Road/Lincoln Avenue crossing by building a bridge. Save the Pine Bush Just Say No to the Bridge!

Appeals court in Guilderland-Pyramid lawsuit allows case to cut the line – Altamont Enterprise

Monday, February 15, 2021 – 19:52 – Altamont Enterprise GUILDERLAND — The judge overseeing the town of Guilderland and Pyramid Management Group’s appeal to reverse a lower court’s decision that stopped construction of the company’s Rapp Road and Western Avenue projects has agreed to a request for “an expedited briefing schedule on this appeal.” The Appeals court in Guilderland-Pyramid lawsuit allows case to cut the line – Altamont Enterprise

Rapp Road Costco and Town of Guilderland State Appellate HearingLivestream

Dear All, Please note: Tuesday, May 25, 2021 – 1:00pm Rapp Road Costco and Town of Guilderland State Appellate HearingLivestream: http://wowza.nycourts.gov/ad3/ad3.php Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 25, the oral argument for the case of Hart v Town of Guilderland, will be heard.  This is the case involving the proposed Costco, apartments and office building in the Pine Bush along Rapp Road Costco and Town of Guilderland State Appellate HearingLivestream

PAUSE – Zero Waste

by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission (APBPC or Commission) Conservation Director Neil Gifford spoke at SPB’s June 19 dinner about the ongoing work of the the Com- mission and the proposed Pyramid Crossgates 222-unit apartment development on Rapp Road inGuilderland. He began saying that “in no small part do we [the PAUSE – Zero Waste

Notice of Intent to Sue

PETER HENNER ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW P.O. BOX 326 CLARKSVILLE, NEW YORK 12041-0326 (518) 768-8232 Fax: (518) 768-8235 WEB SITE: peterhenner.com * CERTIFIED MAIL – RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUE October 20, 2003 Mr. Mark Wagner, General Manager Pyramid Crossgates Company 120 Washington Avenue Albany, New York 12203 Dear Mr. Wagner: Notice of Intent to Sue

Divided Highways

Divided Highways Divided Highways by Rezsin Adams The Interstate and Defense Highway System – – the "divided highways" – – was initiated by President Eisenhower in the early 1950’s to connect cities in the U.S. (in the case of enemy bombing, rail lines are more vulnerable than highways). Eisenhower wanted a highway system like the Divided Highways

Save the Pine Bush

It’s a tale that could end up on a milk carton. Tender youngsters are snatched from their cradles and carried off to underground lairs, never to be seen again. “The one thing we know is that the Karner Blue Butterfly eggs are disappearing,” said Dr. Peter Spoor, speaking at the SPB lasagna dinner on May Save the Pine Bush

Guilderland CandidatesNight At SPB

Guilderland CandidatesNight At SPB Guilderland Candidates Night At SPB by Lynne Jackson Candidates for Town Supervisor and Town Board members spoke at the October Save the Pine Bush dinner. Attending were Bill Aylward, Democratic candidate for Town Supervisor; David Bosworth and Cheryl Reul, Democratic candidates for Town Board; and Paul Caputo, Independence Party candidate for Guilderland CandidatesNight At SPB

Neil Breslin Calls For Preservation

Neil Breslin Calls For Preservation Breslin Calls For Preservation Hoblock "Powerless" To Stop Walmart By Daniel Van Riper In the hottest local race of the election season, Neal Breslin, Democratic candidate for State Senate, which includes the Pine Bush and much of the Capital District, squared off with Republican incumbent Michael Hoblock at the Sept. Neil Breslin Calls For Preservation

SPB meets with Bill Aylward

SPB meets with Bill Aylward SPB meets with Bill Aylward by Lynne Jackson Representatives of SPB had the pleasure of meeting with Bill Aylward, Town Supervisor of the Town of Guilderland, in March. Chuck Reilly, Jerry Mueller, John Wolcott, and Lynne Jackson made the expedition to Guilderland to meet with Mr Aylward. We were pleased SPB meets with Bill Aylward

Save the Pine Bush

Karner Blue Butterfly eggs are being cut open and eaten, and still no culprit has been found. The ants, however, have not been ruled out as suspects. Dr. Peter Spoor gave an update on his investigations into the lifestyle and habits of the friendly butterfly at the Sept. 26 dinner at the Unitarian Church. Stunning Save the Pine Bush

Show Down Over Roundup

Show Down Over Roundup Show Down Over Roundup by John Wolcott Invading black locust trees are crowding out and over shadowing native Pine Bush plants including the blue lupine which is essential to the survival of the Karner Blue. Black locust trees, along with bulldozer happy developers, are one of the many threats to the Show Down Over Roundup

Save the Pine Bush

Proposed Hotel in the Pine Bush     Hotel Update: Oral Arguements in the NY Court of Appeals Tuesday, September 15 at 2:00 The Court of Appeals is next door to Albany City Hall. This is an extremely significant case, and could, if we win change who has standing in SEQRA cases. Click here to Save the Pine Bush

Extinction Rebellion Capital Region

ALBANY, NY: Christian Grigoraskos of the Extinction Rebellion Capital Region spoke at the February 19th SPB dinner on the topic of Climate Change: Heading for Extinction (And What to Do About It). Before he began, Lynne Jackson provided an update on the various proposals Crossgates has pending in the Town of Guilderland. Lynne said the Extinction Rebellion Capital Region

Write to the Town of Guilderland Planning Board

Name of the project: Rapp Road Residential/Western Avenue Mixed Use Redevelopment Projects Email comments to: Kenneth Kovalchik, Town Planner, Kovalchikk@togny.org The Town of Guilderland Planning Board should reject the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed development by Pyramid (Crossgates) to build massive apartment complexes, office space and expansive retail on Rapp Road, the Write to the Town of Guilderland Planning Board

Pyramid Submits the Draft Environmental Impact Statement

GUILDERLAND, NY: On Christmas Eve, Pyramid Crossgates submitted the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for their project, “Rapp Road Residential /Western Avenue Mixed Use Redevelopment Projects.” When first brought before the Town of Guilderland Planning Board in late 2018, the project consisted of building 222-unit apartment complex on Rapp Road. The project has morphed into Pyramid Submits the Draft Environmental Impact Statement

Willow Street Again

Willow Street Again   Our Friends Visit FORCE Is Here To Stay By Daniel Van Riper Carl Letson and Donald Csaposs of Guilderland, two of the principle organizers of Friends Organized to Resist Crossgates Expansion (FORCE) spoke to the January Save the Pine Bush vegetarian lasagna dinner at 1st Presbyterian Church in Albany, and neither Willow Street Again

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A Proposal   A Proposal By Daniel W. Van Riper Here’s an idea. All elected officials in Guilderland should sign the following pledge before the voters and taxpayers of the town: “(1) I promise not to accept campaign contributions or any other monetary compensation from the Pyramid Corporation or it’s subsidieries, and I will return 9

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FORCE Fights Pyramid – Guilderland Citizens Organize   FORCE Fights Pyramid Guilderland Citizens Organize By Daniel Van Riper Citizens and taxpayers of Guilderland, courageously opposed to the rape and ruination of their town by the vicious and sleazy Pyramid Corporation, have chosen a name for themselves and gotten down to the task of organizing. Friends 9