News story made available courtesy of Daily Freeman

Developers plan Lloyd retail stores

Tuesday, November 6th, 2007

By Craig Wolf
HIGHLAND - Developers have announced plans to develop retail stores on some 22 acres at the intersection of U.S. Route 9W and state Route 299.

The Highland Square project was announced through a press release from DES Development, which has plans to construct "an anchor store and five separate buildings" that will be leased to retail shops, restaurants and offices.

The Dagar Groups Ltd., of Fishkill, has been retained to lease the project and Liscum McCormack Vanvoorhis, of Poughkeepsie, has been hired as architects and planners.

"The average space will be 60 feet deep with frontage starting at 20 feet," said Dagar Groups President David Livshin.

"We envision several individual buildings containing a mix of retail and office as well as one building with second-story space," DES Development partner Fred Straub said. There will also be an opportunity for several free-standing buildings or pad sites at the front of the property facing Route 299."

Developers expect to submit applications to the Lloyd town Planning Board for the project in 2008 and open in 2009.

Project architect Michael McCormack said developers want to have the project evoke the "aura of the Hudson Valley style" when designing the buildings.

"Building colors and materials are inherent in the area, from the clapboard siding to the metal roofing which is found throughout the region - there is a sense of locale," he said.

"The buildings shapes are formed from the neighboring structures which provide gable roofs, shed dormers and segmented window openings," McCormack said. "The clock tower element borrows from the region where such structures provided a sense of importance and stability. All in all, the Highland Square design will not only complement the region but emphasize the importance of the region's architecture through example."