The Adirondack Park Agency is studying the feasibility of moving its headquarters to the historic Paul Smith’s Power and Light building at 3 Main St. in Saranac Lake, said APA spokesman Keith McKeever.
The state’s 2022 budget included $29 million “to build a state of the art, energy efficient headquarters,” McKeever said. “The downtown location would be a unique opportunity to partner with local government, support a Downtown Revitalization Initiative community, increase accessibility to the public, and restore an existing historic building.”
“We will continue to work closely with Mayor Jimmy Williams and the village board on this exciting opportunity,” McKeever added.
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office referred to the APA’s statement after the Explorer’s inquiries. The statement confirmed rumors circulating in the village about the APA’s interest in moving away from its current headquarters in Ray Brook, about four miles from Saranac Lake.
Mayor Williams responded to the Adirondack Explorer after the story was published online, and six days after the Adirondack Explorer first contacted his office.
“We have been discussing the possibility of a new APA headquarters in downtown Saranac Lake located at 1 & 3 Main St.,” Williams wrote. “The Village is excited to explore the potential for a mutually beneficial outcome.”
Jim Connolly, retired planning director of the APA, mentioned the rumor at a March 28 meeting about the village’s plans to build a public safety complex on Petrova Avenue. Connolly left the agency in September 2013. Village officials at the meeting did not respond to his comments, he said. Others who contacted the Explorer about the rumor also wondered why the APA has kept its plans and ideas for the $29 million secret.
The Explorer has inquired about the new headquarters repeatedly at…
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