JMZ Architects’ upstairs lease was ending, so they bought the whole building

By G. Woodworth & Cathy DeDe, News Editor & Managing Editor

JMZ, the Glens Falls architect and planning firm, is buying the historic B.B. Fowler building at 190 Glen Street, from Flow Communications, whose Saratoga-based owner Bud Wolf bought and redeveloped the building 15 years ago.

The closing is scheduled “on or about Sept. 1,” JMZ president Tenée Casaccio told The Chronicle Tuesday. She wouldn’t disclose the purchase price.

City records show that Mr. Wolf paid $350,000 for the 24,375-square-foot building in 2000. The assessed value is $905,200 and the full market value is put at $1.131-million by the City of Glens Falls.

Bob Joy, who founded JMZ in 1977, tried to buy the building 15 years ago when it came up it in a foreclosure auction.

“We were outbid by Bud Wolf,” Ms. Casaccio said. “He came over and asked us if we would like to be the architect for the project. We said yes, and we’d like to be the tenant, too.”

In January 2002, JMZ moved its offices from Warren Street to the second floor of 190 Glen. In 2008, they took over the third floor as well.

“Our lease was going to be up soon,” Ms. Casaccio said. “We had looked at several properties around town to purchase…After looking at many properties, we decided this is the place to be. It is one of the nicest buildings in Glens Falls. It’s great for us. We get to control our own destiny.”

Aimie’s Dinner & Movie and Wallabees Jazz Bar, operated by Mr. Wolf’s daughter Sandy and her husband Kerry Metivier, posted window signs Sunday that they had closed after 14 years in business. Mr. Met-ivier withheld comment pending the sale.

Ms. Casaccio said. “Bud bought the building because Sandy and Kerry wanted to run a business there. But now they are focused on their horses, and so he doesn’t really need to own the building.”

JMZ has “neither the time nor the talent to” run either the theater or the bar, said Ms. Casaccio.

“We would be interested in renting it, yes. It worked well as a dinner and movie space, but it could do other things as well.”

Davidson Brothers co-owner Rick Davidson, contacted for comment, said using the Aimie’s outdoor dining space “is not something we have considered or thought about. We hope a new tenant comes in who will make use of that property.”

Mr. Davidson and the Metiviers clashed over the City-owned plaza space, which the Metiviers cordoned off but did not use.

Mr. Davidson said, “Our issue has always been not that we wanted to use that space, but that it ought to be used to generate tax revenue for the City, who owns the land. If it’s used as an outdoor dining area, the more the merrier. We would be very supportive.”

The Common Council routinely renews encroachment permits for both spaces every year for a flat $40 fee each.

JMZ has 25 employees, fifth largest architectural firm in the Capital District.

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