Former junkyard may house offices, stores
Once a junkyard and one of Rutland's biggest eyesores, the fenced-in lot at 246 West St. could become a $1 million business incubator.
The two business partners working on the project said the redevelopment of that site is part of a plan that eventually could add up to 125,000 square feet of commercial and office space where fledgling enterprises can grow. When fully developed, the project would cost $10 million to $12 million, they said.
Ernest Smalley, who owns the former junkyard, said he has spent the six years he's owned the property cleaning out more than 50 years of junk.
Now just an empty dirt lot enclosed by a fence, the former junkyard borders a building and property that Smalley owns to the east. Smalley also owns two buildings and vacant land a stone's throw away on the other side of Forest Street, which he also plans to develop into retail and incubator space.
In all, Smalley said he owns about 7 acres near the end of Forest Street that he wants to develop into business incubator space.
Smalley and business partner Chris Fucci said Monday they have the financing they need to start the project, and they are waiting for potential tenants to come forward.
From his experience developing similar incubator spaces in New Hampshire, Fucci said he doesn't expect to wait long.
"The market in Rutland is looking for something like this," Fucci said. "Someone can come in here with the need for office, warehouse and work-floor space and find it all."
Smalley, an engineer and contractor, has come up with a plan that calls for moving a 4,000-square-foot steel building at the south end of his building at 232 West St. onto a foundation in the former junkyard.
A brick façade would cover the steel-framed building, which would sit parallel with the brick building at 232 West St. — a location already home to six incubator spaces. Five of those incubator spaces are occupied.
Smalley and Fucci said there is room for up to three additional incubator spaces in the relocated steel building.
In the future, they hope to develop incubator space in the two buildings on Forest Street that stand empty now, the pair said. There are 16,000 square feet of useable space between those two buildings. In addition, there is room to build new structures on the 7-acre parcel.
In addition to the project's business potential, Fucci said the plan would help enhance Rutland's image by turning a former eyesore into a thriving development located on the edge of the city's downtown.
"This is an important entryway into the city," Fucci said. "In terms of what this project could bring economically and aesthetically, the implications are phenomenal.
"The city's always looking for opportunities for companies to relocate here and close to downtown. This project would give those businesses a place to set up shop."
Smalley said he is working with the Rutland Redevelopment Authority to apply for a state planning grant and he is preparing to apply for local permits. Because the project is less than 10 acres, it would not require Act 250 review in the city.
The two business partners working on the project said the redevelopment of that site is part of a plan that eventually could add up to 125,000 square feet of commercial and office space where fledgling enterprises can grow. When fully developed, the project would cost $10 million to $12 million, they said.
Ernest Smalley, who owns the former junkyard, said he has spent the six years he's owned the property cleaning out more than 50 years of junk.
Now just an empty dirt lot enclosed by a fence, the former junkyard borders a building and property that Smalley owns to the east. Smalley also owns two buildings and vacant land a stone's throw away on the other side of Forest Street, which he also plans to develop into retail and incubator space.
In all, Smalley said he owns about 7 acres near the end of Forest Street that he wants to develop into business incubator space.
Smalley and business partner Chris Fucci said Monday they have the financing they need to start the project, and they are waiting for potential tenants to come forward.
From his experience developing similar incubator spaces in New Hampshire, Fucci said he doesn't expect to wait long.
"The market in Rutland is looking for something like this," Fucci said. "Someone can come in here with the need for office, warehouse and work-floor space and find it all."
Smalley, an engineer and contractor, has come up with a plan that calls for moving a 4,000-square-foot steel building at the south end of his building at 232 West St. onto a foundation in the former junkyard.
A brick façade would cover the steel-framed building, which would sit parallel with the brick building at 232 West St. — a location already home to six incubator spaces. Five of those incubator spaces are occupied.
Smalley and Fucci said there is room for up to three additional incubator spaces in the relocated steel building.
In the future, they hope to develop incubator space in the two buildings on Forest Street that stand empty now, the pair said. There are 16,000 square feet of useable space between those two buildings. In addition, there is room to build new structures on the 7-acre parcel.
In addition to the project's business potential, Fucci said the plan would help enhance Rutland's image by turning a former eyesore into a thriving development located on the edge of the city's downtown.
"This is an important entryway into the city," Fucci said. "In terms of what this project could bring economically and aesthetically, the implications are phenomenal.
"The city's always looking for opportunities for companies to relocate here and close to downtown. This project would give those businesses a place to set up shop."
Smalley said he is working with the Rutland Redevelopment Authority to apply for a state planning grant and he is preparing to apply for local permits. Because the project is less than 10 acres, it would not require Act 250 review in the city.
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11:01 PM
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