Stewart's Shops Elsewhere Again

In January, Gossips reported on the efforts of Stewart's Shops in 2015 to get the Village of Altamont to change its zoning to enable Stewart's to demolish a house and expand into a residential district: "Stewart's Shops Elsewhere."

Photo: The Enterprise|Michael Koff

Altamont resisted and refused to change its zoning to accommodate Stewart's, but this past Tuesday the Altamont Enterprise reported that Stewart's is back with its proposal for expansion: "Stewart's again looking to expand Altamont store." The article, which is recommended reading, quotes a village resident as saying, "I thought the community spoke on this issue [three] years ago, and the village board listened and voted to deny the expansion into the neighborhood. So I'm wondering why it's even coming up again?" 

Another quote of interest from the article involves what Stewart's is now promising:

Chuck Marshall, who works in land development for Stewart's, said that the new plan submitted to the village will align more closely with Altamont's existing architecture, citing the former train station that now houses the Altamont Free Library as an example.

"So, there's a larger porch," Marshall said. "There's particular elements that were for the village of Altamont, but again, that'll be discussed if the zoning changes are approved."

The Altamont Free Library

The building Stewart's is proposing for Altamont

This reminds me of how Kevin Walker years ago got the Planning Board (then the Planning Commission) to approve the Elks Club building, a metal structure which was prohibited by Hudson code, by adding brackets and persuading the board it would resemble the historic Hudson train station.

The Altamont Enterprise also reports that in the new Stewart's proposal there will still only be two gas pumps instead of the three that had been previously proposed. Does that sound familiar? 

Again, the article in the Altamont Enterprise is recommended reading; it can be accessed by clicking here.
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