GUILDERLAND — Twenty-four proposed apartments near Crossgates Mall recently received a key approval from the town’s planning board, paving the way for a public hearing at the board’s Nov. 9 meeting. 

At its Oct. 12 meeting, the board adopted a negative state Environmental Quality Review Act declaration for the project, meaning it determined the proposal would not have a significant adverse impact on the environment. 

First brought to the board in February, Viscusi Builders of Rotterdam is looking to build a four-story residence at 2 Crossgates Mall Road, which is a 1.54-acre parcel of land sandwiched between Crossgates Mall and the Hilton hotel on Route 20. 

Pyramid sold the land to a Viscusi Builders’ limited liability company in June for $605,000; it was previously subdivided, in 2017, to make way for the dual-branded 192-room Tru and Homewood Suites hotel from Hilton. Crossgates has since sold the hotel along with other area properties.

The first floor would consist of 26 covered parking spaces with eight apartments a piece taking up floors two, three, and four. There will be a mixture of one- and two-bedroom units, engineer Luigi Palleschi told the board.

There will also be a one-story attached management office and gym on the site, Palleschi said. 

The previous proposal had roughly 61 parking spaces, including 15 banked, or potential future spots, Palleschi said, but that number has been cut back to 49, he said, noting the plan still offers two spots per apartment. 

Renderings of what the building would look like will be provided at the public hearing, Palleschi told the board.