Phases for
Development
The site consists of two parcels with a total
of 220 acres running along the Stony Kill Creek. One
hundred and eighty woodland acres stretch over a half-mile
from the Stony Kill up a wooded hillside to its northern
border along Highland Road. This parcel is available
for development as a community land trust, an encouraged
use under the draft comprehensive plan for the Town
of Chatham.
The former paper mill runs nearly
a quarter mile along the Stony
Kill and Route 295. The buildings
that make up the complex range
in readiness for occupancy and
reuse, with over 100,000 square
feet of contiguous industrial
space. Four clear-span spaces
totaling approximately 45,000
square feet bookend the central
portion of the contiguous mill
buildings.
An Existing Conditions and Stabilization
Plan, prepared in 2007–08
by Troy Architectural Program
(TAP, Inc.) focuses on the phased
rehabilitation and reuse of the
mill beginning with Buildings
1, 2, 9 and 10, followed by the
development of multiuse office
space in Building 11 and a restaurant
in Building 12.
PHASE 1
Building 14, along NYS Route
295, is a 20,000 manufacturing
facility occupied by Kling
Magnetics and SunDog Solar, the first incubator
business to launch at Solaqua
Power & Art.
SunDog has completed major renewable
energy improvements on Building
14 as a model for later adoption
at the mill, including a 12.6kW
solar PV electrical system, with
another 25kW to be installed
in 2009. A 500K BTU waste vegetable
oil boiler heats the building,
with propane
serving as backup alternative
energy. Several rooftop solar
thermal arrays provide hot water,
exterior closed-cell soy foam
insulation, double storm windows
and T5 fluorescent lighting with
motion switches make this building
a carbon-neutral, energy-efficient
model for future development
at the mill, and for other commercial
businesses.
PHASE 2
Buildings
1 and 2 at the southeastern
end, are 8,500 square foot clear-span
metal Butler buildings,
an overhead door entrance and
loading docks. Large parking
and truck turnaround areas exist
for businesses such as manufacturing,
warehousing, and distribution.
Buildings
9 and 10, masonry buildings,
comprise 24,000 square feet at
the northwestern end of the mill.
With loading docks and 23' ceilings,
the buildings are highly suitable
for a green business, or artists’ studios
and production facilities. Buildings
1, 2, 9, and 10 can be sub-divided
based on tenant needs.
PHASE 3
Building
11 is a 5,000 square
foot office building overlooking
the dam and waterfall in the
center of the complex. As a central
business facility, the two-story
building can house shared administrative
support services, and offices
for related businesses such as
marketing,
communications, and graphics
production. Larger rooms may
serve as showrooms and meeting
spaces with classrooms, educational
workshops and workforce training.
Building
12, the oldest freestanding
building on the site is a perfect
location for a restaurant and/or
brewery or distillery. It is
built in the style of the earlier
mills along the Stony Kill, with
2' thick masonry walls. It is
ideally located with its proximity
to the creek and waterfall, prominent
roadside location, accessibility
to parking, and the 1,500 square
foot open-air terrace connecting
to the core of the mill complex
at Building 4.
PHASE 4
Buildings
3 through 6 add another
20,000 square feet for redevelopment.
These buildings embody many of
the industrial characteristics
of the mill that are sought by
artists and entrepreneurs and
enliven public spaces such as
theatres, galleries, and community
centers. The outdoor terrace
directly connects to the southern
edge of this group of buildings,
and leads to a double-height
daylighted atrium space, and
a large masonry
area
with a wall of glass brick. Numerous
industrial artifacts including
large mixing vats are housed
in this area.
Buildings
7 and 8, and adjacent
mechanical rooms, are the 15,000-square
foot heavy-processing core of
the mill and are in need of intensive
rehabilitation, for use as more
foundry space and studios.
 Getting on
Board
Solaqua
Power & Art
offers a unique opportunity to green businesses,
artisans, residents, and investors by providing a
green business incubator and arts center powered
by renewable energy. Shared resources such as low-cost
energy for high energy consumption industrial arts,
shared workforce, distribution, sales and marketing
services will be available to the Solaqua community.
Solaqua is well positioned to play a visible and
relevant role in the development of green-tech workforce
training, renewable energy demonstrations and public
education.
GREEN BUSINESS
We are seeking green product manufacturers or distributors,
such as: recycled glass tiles, metals casting foundry,
blacksmithing, welding, concrete countertop
with recycled glass, ceramics, recycled tire products. Solaqua will provide affordable
renewable energy to power high-energy industrial arts. We will work with local
and state economic development agencies to relocate and expand your business,
or nurture a start-up venture. Warehousing, distribution, customer service; greening
your product/service. Office Tenants: web services, marketing & communications,
graphics, education.
ARTISANS
Lease studio space, share workforce and co-op marketing of art or products.
Participate in demonstrations, exhibitions and events. Teaching skills by workshop
and utilizing interns and apprentices.
RESIDENTS
A net-positive 180-acre community land trust with community supported agriculture.
Solaqua Homes, building small solar integrated houses in the mill for the land
trust and the world.
PARTNERS, INVESTORS AND OPERATORS
Development of the mill with ground floor opportunities in green-business
incubator. Opportunities for operation of restaurant, brewery, distillery,
theatre, gallery. green motel, gift shop, etc. Turnkey or lessee fit-out;
event and catering space available; low-cost energy for commercial kitchen
or food processing operations. Ample back-of-house contiguous space for scene
shop, collaboration with on-site artists, site-specific performances. SunDog
Solar; solar design & installation company launched in 2006; Business
expansion. Solaqua Homes; Net positive energy pre-fabricated Homes; Seeking
partnership inquiries and private investment.
VOLUNTEERS
People committed to environmental sustainability in the 21st century who
want to participate at Solaqua Power & Art.
EDUCATORS
Solar Thermal Center- including education center, work-force training, demonstrations,
equipment sales, and installation Classes, demonstrations workshops, conferences
and events in industrial arts and renewable energy.
INTERNS
Seeking highly motivated individuals for research and development projects;
arts, environmental studies, business and administration.
CONTACT
Solaqua Power & Art
PO Box 348, Chatham, NY 12037
518-392-4000
info@solaqua.org
www.solaqua.org
www.sundogsolar.net
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