MILLERTON — A building at the corner of routes 22 and 44, which has housed several garages over the years, is being converted to retail space.
Building owner Steve McCollian said the building, which is believed to have been built in the 1940s, has been renamed "Millerton Gateway." The project is scheduled to be completed this summer.
"It’s a neat building and it’s very unique," McCollian said. "It sits on a corner at an angle. It was built as a typical era gas station with overhang and everything. Its big window lends itself to a lot of things. It’s beautiful and we want to enhance that beauty."
The building will have three retail spaces when completed. However, McCollian emphasized that there would not be a garage in the building again.
"A lot of garages have been there and a lot of garages are interested in renting that space," he said. "Everything changes over time and it’s definitely not a garage anymore. There are several businesses interested in renting space and right now we are determining if they will add to the flavor of Millerton. I’m not at liberty to talk about who is interested. But let’s just say they will all tie into the livelihood of Millerton."
Project architect John Allee said the building, while historic, was in pretty bad shape.
"It was near falling down in some areas," Allee said. "It has been in dire need of renovation, mostly because of its condition and its previous use as a garage. It’s a bleak asphalt wasteland, in a sense."
According to Bill Flood, principal broker for Oblong Valley Real Estate and broker for the building, the structure of the building had to be rehabilitated and new electric, plumbing, sceptic and heating systems had to be installed.
"Once it’s finished, The Gateway will be an incredible building," Flood said. "Traffic to that corner is incredible and any business that goes in there will do very well."
McCollian said the building will include on-site parking when completed.
"I think of this building as being owned by the people of Millerton," McCollian said. "I’m just a caretaker. We were looking for something to be in the corner for a while. If it was about making money, then there would have been other things I would have done."