‘Industrial And Performance Machining’ Is Name Of BOCES Program With A New Aim

Developer Is Planning To Build 20 New Houses Close To Northway Exit 10

BY PAUL POST

A Niskayuna developer hopes to purchase 32 acres just west of Northway Exit 10 with plans for 20 new single-family homes on 1.5-acre, heavily wooded lots.

Each new house, in the $600,000 to $700,000 price range, would have a professional office with a dedicated entrance and parking, although this could be just for the owner’s use.

“It doesn’t have to be where someone is bringing in outside clients or customers for business,” said Chris Myers of Concord Development Company LLC. “It’s literally 90 seconds off the Northway, which I think is going to appeal to a lot of people working not only the Albany area, but the Saratoga area as well.” dition to providing habitat for a variety of plants and animals.

People such as real estate agents, insurance agents and attorneys work from home quite often, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a major shift in the way many firms conduct business, allowing employees to work from home, which can be much cheaper than maintaining a “brick-and-mortar” office setting.

The Van Patten and Eagle Crest golf clubs are also just a few minutes’ drive away, and a recreational path for walking and biking runs along the side of the road where Myers wants to build.

Myers made application to the town of Clifton Park in early autumn and hopes to begin work this spring or early summer, pending necessary approvals.

He’s under contract to buy the property from the Van Patten family, whom he’s known for many years, but the sale won’t be finalized until all permits are in place.

The site is already serviced by municipal water and sewer.

“I’ve had an eye on it for quite some time,” Myers said. “It’s hard to tell with supply issues these days, but I’d love to have a model up long before this time next year.”

The Washington-Saratoga-Warren-HamiltonEssex Board of Cooperative Educational Services (WSWHE BOCES) announced a new name and direction for its Career and Technical Education (CTE) machine tool technology program.

The new title—Industrial and Performance Machining—reflects the industry today and better positions the program to prospective students, officials said.

Officials said the program places a heavy emphasis on high-tech equipment and precision in the machining of component parts for automobiles, performance vehicles, industrial machines, and more. This consists of fabricating component parts to specification for these applications using milling, drilling, grinding, and boring machines.

While “Machine Tool Technology” is often used by technical colleges, WSWHE BOCES administration and educators said that students did not immediately identify the program in line with career goals.

In an effort to continuously offer programs and curricula that best support our students and the current job market, the transition from Machine Tool Technology to Industrial and Performance Machining reflects a growing need to reach high school students interested in machining careers.

“Our metal fabrication facility would be unable to operate without individuals trained to program and run the wide variety of machines we have on our shop floor. These students are essential to our current success and our future survival,” Aindrea E. Lundberg, of the Fort Miller Group Inc. in Greewich.

In addition to strong ties with industry partners, the program directly addresses two common areas of machining: large-scale, industrial machine shops and smaller, more varied perfor-

Continued From Page 10 ucts when he was approached by someone, wondering if he could make something for the dairy industry,” Rob said. “One thing led to the next.” mance engines and vehicles.

He moved back to Saratoga Springs from New York City to work with his father full time, about two years after AgroChem’s founding.

Two years ago, the French food safety firm, Kersia Group, purchased a majority stake in AgroChem. Rob DeMarco is still a part owner and company president. John DeMarco is vice president for product development, but is no longer an owner.

Exports already account for about 30 percent of AgroChem’s sales. Now, as part of the Kersia Group, AgroChem expects to find new markets in the pig and poultry industries, another reason for the proposed 25,000-square-foot expansion.

In addition, the current facility is home to a related company, Biosan, which makes peracetic acid, a sanitizing agent used in many facets of industry. Applications run the gamut from hospital and commercial laundries to wastewater treatment plants. Rob DeMarco said peracetic acid is an effective alternative to chlorine bleach because it’s a more powerful oxidizer and more environmentally friendly.

It is the hope of WSWHE BOCES that the new name will help prospective students better understand the program and how machining impacts their daily lives.

The program “enables students to learn not only how to fabricate components but experience where the components fit into the real-world environment,” said James Alheim, a representative of Stone Bridge Iron & Steel Inc. in Gansevoort.

CTE programs are geared toward students who benefit from “doing” while learning, allowing them to achieve their high school diploma while also acquiring the technical skills needed for certain career goals. With more than 20 programs, CTE prepares students for interesting, indemand careers, whether they graduate into the workforce or continue their education, according to BOCES.

“I’m not sure we’re marketing to any specific group,” Myers said of the project.

The forested property is on Van Patten Drive, south of Ushers Road, across from the large Country Knolls West development. Plans call for 10 separate driveways off Van Patten Drive, each one shared by two homes.

In addition to easy Northway access, the site is near the Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve, a 240-acre site popular with area residents for its hiking trails and fishing spots in ad-

As a land developer, his primary business is locating property, getting approvals in place and then selling it to a builder. This could either be as raw land with approvals, or in some cases he’ll put the roads in, too, depending on what the developer wants to do.

But this project is so unique, Myers said, both in terms of location and with professional office space added in, that he might build the homes himself.

“I haven’t decided yet,” he said. “It isn’t listed with home builders. It’s been a long time since I’ve built homes. But this one could be a very fun one. It could be a good project.”