Interior Changes Being Made to M'burgh Condos

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - Though the new condos being built at the Middleburgh Meadows project look the same from the outside, Middleburgh town assessor Marie Stuber told town board members at their January 11 meeting, that the insides are being changed from the first ones built.

Ms. Stuber told board members that she has not seen the interior of the latest condos being built near the Valley Supermarket nor has she seen pictures of the inside. When it comes to estimating the values of the new condos, she said she is doing her best.

"I may be making errors in the values," she said. "I can only do the best I can."

The original plans for the condos called for a kitchen and living room on the first floor, but apparently that layout has changed, Ms. Stuber told board members.

Former board member Steve Hendrickson noted that all changes in plans have to be filed and told Ms. Stuber to ask for pictures.

She said she was told there were changes made but the code enforcement officer did not have a picture.

Despite repeated attempts, she added, "I'm not getting the information from the developer, Carver Laraway, and associates. I don't know what to do." The latest condos are different from the original plans, she said, though the square footage is the same. She said that the realtor does not have permission to give the information about the changes.

In all, four more condos have sold, according to Ms. Stuber. They look the same from the outside, but are different on the inside, with different upgrades which could increase their values. She said she can only assess what she sees.

Construction of the controversial condos began in early spring 2022. In all 64 units are planned.

The condos, dubbed "The Barracks" by some residents, came under heavy criticism in the past after the planning board allowed the construction of the units despite being heavily changed from the originally approved plans. The original plans called for 16 buildings with four units each but developers said those were not saleable so they changed the plans to 64 single-family units.

Then, Middleburgh and county officials found out that the buildings, despite being single-family homes, would be taxed as condos, which are taxed about 30 percent lower than traditional homes, since there is a condo association.