The Albany County Land Authority won the bid for the shut down college for $35 million.

You could see progress very soon, Albany County Executive Dan McCoy said. However, before any work starts, a judge needs to approve the sale. A court date is scheduled for next Thursday, Dec. 19.

If the land authority gets the green light, McCoy said work should begin soon after we ring in the New Year.

“It is one of the bigger projects I’ve taken on as County Executive,” he said.

McCoy said the ball is already rolling. Since the announcement of the sale, McCoy has been receiving calls non-stop.

“The way we see this campus and the future of this campus can be a model,” he said.

McCoy said the land authority is looking to transform the college campus into a mixed-use space.

Some ideas floating are affordable housing, wedding venues and restaurants. There has been some interest from colleges to use the campus for additional spaces, if needed. There are discussions of opening the school’s gym to the community.

The Albany County Sheriff’s Office confirmed some deputies will soon be working out of the campus safety building.

The revitalization is to make sure the shops around the campus benefit from the foot traffic.

“We want hungry customers,” said Frank Scavio, co-owner of Paesan’s Pizza.

Scavio said he’s lost 15% to 20% of business because since the Saint Rose shut down. Students were a huge source of revenue for local businesses.

Scavio said he’s looking forward to this new chapter for the community.

“This is what we’re hoping. They put bodies in these buildings, they revitalize the area, and they repurpose it where it’s great for the community. We’re excited to see how Paesan’s will play a role in the community in this revitalization.”

This space is meant to be for you. The goal is to have something everyone can enjoy.

“This property will have ownership of the county, which has pride in our county and city,” Rosly Jefferson said.

Jefferson is the chair of the Saint Rose subcommittee within the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association. She said she was gutted when Saint Rose shut down and several shops in the area closed because the students brought business.

To her, selling the campus to the land authority is the best possible outcome.

“Let’s have some retail space and different restaurants and things that we can go to right in our neighborhood,” she said.