43 North Real Estate

Happy New Year Everyone! Despite the apparent setback of an Article 78 filing that challenges the Town of Irondequoit's approval of a use variance for the St. Thomas School project, 43 North Real Estate and the Community will continue our work at the school and continue our investing in the project. We will appear before the Planning Board in February to obtain our Site Plan and subdivision approval, as we are confident in the legal standing of the Board’s decision. 43 North partnered with the community to create a new collaborative approach to real estate development. We did our best to gain an understanding of how to best use the vacant school, understand the fears of residents, overcome obstacles, incorporate feedback, and communicate our plans openly and honestly – prior to approaching the town. Our submission to the Town was based on the thoughts, suggestions, and inputs of hundreds of Irondequoit residents. Our primary objectives (with the last being nearest and dearest to our hearts) were to maintain the character of the neighborhood, restore the school to its former glory, preserve the structure using National Historic Register approved methods, and create a place where longtime Irondequoit residents can stay in the community if the burden of home ownership becomes too great. Supporting the Board’s decision to grant the use variance, we presented overwhelming, independent financial, and market evidence to the Town Zoning Board, resulting in their approval. The matter is currently under review by the New York State Supreme Court in closed sessions. For a decision to be overturned, it must be deemed arbitrary and capricious. To be deemed arbitrary and capricious, the Town’s decision would need to lack reasonable basis and disregard the facts. That being said, we are excited to continue our work at the school, using our extensive experience repurposing and preserving historic structures to save St. Thomas. We are thankful that an overwhelming majority of the Town of Irondequoit supports and trusts our professionals to do this, and we look forward to providing a space that serves the community going forward. We thank you for the outpouring of support throughout the project and are excited to deliver the Town a stunning example of adaptive reuse and collaborative development that we as a community can be proud of. Save St. Thomas https://lnkd.in/ggtAspPM

Here’s to a new year full of old buildings // we can’t wait to show you what we have in store for 2024!

Hi everyone! We are gearing up for the December zoning board meeting that will determine the future of the Saint Thomas School and want to make sure that everyone is up to date. Our plan is to renovate and repurpose the century-old building, keeping the footprint the same. We'll develop a maximum of 21 spacious apartments, all of which would be perfect for retirees, empty nesters, young professionals, and people who want to downsize but stay in the community they love. Each apartment will feature high ceilings, hardwood floors, and modern appliances. We'll also add a community room, fitness center, an outdoor patio, fiber optic internet, fitness, on-property storage, and parking. Our waiting list for these apartments has officially surpassed 100 interested people, all of which are those who were raised in the Irondequoit, currently live in the neighborhood, or are simply looking to return to their community. We’re encouraging any and all Irondequoit residents to attend and participate in the discussion. This may be your final chance to show your support, voice your opinions, and stay involved in the life and legacy of the St. Thomas School! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us! Thank you for your time and consideration! We hope to see you there! Joel Barrett & Team