Former St. Clare’s Hospital in Schenectady to be redeveloped

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) — A new beginning is on the horizon for the former St. Clare’s Hospital Campus on McClellan Street in Schenectady. According to the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority, the Board of Directors of Ellis Medicine has approved the sale of the campus to a development team headed by Jeff Buell and Chris Spraragen.

Buell is the Principal of Redburn Development, which owns several properties in the Capital Region. Spraragen owns a development company, as well as Schenectady Hardware and Electric.

“Schenectady County’s unified economic development team has been diligently working behind the scenes to create a proactive and dynamic plan for this nearly 17-acre site, aiming to turn this underutilized area into a valuable community asset,” said Gary Hughes, Chair of the Schenectady County Legislature. “Located conveniently near Central Park and the Eastern Parkway Market 32, this site is ideal for housing that appeals to both downsizing seniors and young professionals.”

St. Clare’s Hospital closed in 2008 due to financial issues. In 2018, former St. Clare’s hospital workers received a letter than their wouldn’t get some or all of their pension money. The pensioners have been pursuing litigation since then .

“We commend Ellis for its stewardship of this campus,” said Buell. “While we are not blind to the enormous challenge of converting an aging hospital building into a new vibrant use, we have spent the past year looking at this building and at this campus and we see the great potential here. We are excited to move forward with a community-first mindset and understand the very real mantle we are placing on our shoulders.”

In June, Ellis Medicine announced that it would be closing its Residential and Rehabilitation Center at the 600 McClellan Street site. Ellis said they spent two years searching for a new operator to take over the nursing home but could not find one.

Ellis Medicine will continue to operate the Belanger School of Nursing at the back of the site, and the two medical office buildings at the campus will remain open under their current ownership. Metroplex said the development team plans to get historic preservation status for the main hospital building and add more greenspace and trails to connect the site to Market 32 and Central Park.

The sale is expected to close within the next few months, said Metroplex. During that time, Buell and Spraragen’s team intend to speak to the community about the plans and look to get the required local and state approvals for the project.

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