ALTAMONT — Altamont may get some senior housing sooner than most people expect.

Developer Troy Miller, of Altamont, is planning an eight-unit senior complex on vacant land across Park Street from the post office.
"I’ve lived here my whole life and I know the need for senior housing is huge," Miller said.

Miller bought the property, a 16,000-square-foot parcel of land, from Thomas and Sarah Ketchum about six months ago, he said. In the early nineties, the village designated that land for senior housing, and it remains the only land zoned specifically for that purpose, Miller said.

Another developer, Jeff Thomas, has, for the past couple of years, been planning a much larger senior complex—72 units—just outside of the village, on Brandle Road, called Brandle Meadows. Though there has been a lot of interest from area seniors hoping to move into Brandle Meadows, the project has gotten bogged down in litigation over drawing water from the village water system and a village well also planned for Brandle Road.

Thomas has also said he intends to build a senior housing complex in the Hilltowns.

Miller hopes his project will develop smoothly. He’s been working with the village to ensure that, he said.
"I sat down with the zoning administrator and we went through the entire zoning law and we tried to put together a project that doesn’t require any variances," Miller said. "So, we’re just trying to stay within the rules and make it quick and simple."

The Park Road complex will be a two-story building made up of eight 800-square foot apartments, each with one bedroom.
"The building will have an elevator and will be set up special for seniors," Miller said.

The housing will be attractive to elderly people who want to live close to stores and services, Miller said.
"It fits in well with Altamont as a walking community," he said.

Miller said he hasn’t decided yet what he is going to charge his tenants.
"It’s up in the air," he said. "I’m not really sure what the process is going to be as far as the village."

To help pay for $2.5 million worth of planned improvements to its water system, Altamont is currently considering charging a hookup fee of $2,500 per unit. Thomas has strongly opposed the fees, saying they are unfair to him and to seniors.

If the proposal is passed, Miller’s project will be subject to the same fees.

The Altamont Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Miller’s plan at Village Hall on Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. The plans are available at the village offices during normal business hours.