By LINDA KELLETT

C-S-E News Staff

CANAJOHARIE — Where some see adversity, others see opportunity. Such is the case in Canajoharie, where an area resident with an eye toward the future recently invested in a downtown foreclosure property, sight unseen.

For Palatine resident John McGlone, the $76,000 purchase of the commercial property at 89 Church St. one month ago was a no-brainier.

Situated at what he views as a strategic location, McGlone said the building, which houses three businesses and several upper-story apartments at the intersection of Erie Boulevard and Church Street here, is in close proximity to the Canajoharie Library and Arkell Museum.

It’s also near a key portal to the village (the Route 10 bridge over the Mohawk River), and it’s directly across the street from the former Beech-Nut plant.

While some people see an enormous complex of empty warehouses and factory buildings as well as lost revenue if the structures are razed, McGlone envisions approximately 27 acres of repurposed space along the New York State Thruway.

Additionally, based on state Department of Transportation traffic studies, McGlone, who works for IBM, said 8,200 vehicles drive past the building on Church Street each day, and 3,500 pass on Erie Boulevard. Among other plans, he intends to position code-compliant signs on the Erie Boulevard side of the building advertising Canajoharie’s diverse attractions to visitors southbound on Route 10.

He said it’s his express intention to keep businesses in Canajoharie. That includes the three businesses currently occupying his building: Tony’s Pizzeria, operated by former building owner Marge Moschetti, Natural Nails, and DSGP Computer Sales and Service. He hopes there will be no disruption to their operations; rather, it is his desire to make them more stable and profitable.

He said, “My priorities for the building are fire, safety and health. There were code violations. I’ve been working with the mayor and code officer to correct them.”

While the code enforcement officer was on vacation and couldn’t be reached for comment, Mayor Francis Avery said that he was aware that the CEO was handling the case.

He said, “There were some problems. Mr. McGlone is addressing fire and safety codes first. He’s a very responsible landlord, and he’s working very carefully with the code officer. He wants everything perfect.”

So far, the new owner has installed smoke alarms and exit signs. He’s also converting a third story space that once served as the Odd Fellows hall into what will likely be a loft apartment and a small incubator space for a tech company. “We’re only 53 miles away from the nano tech campus,” he said.

He’s also renovating the first of the three apartments. A cozy apartment with a corner bedroom should be renovated and ready to rent within the next three weeks, he said.

McGlone moved to the area from New Jersey more than a dozen years ago with his wife, Michele, who owns and operates Gollum Vintage Clothing at 36 Church St. He said the plan is for her to continue to occupy that storefront space.

“We can keep her storefront occupied plus three more. This is about keeping business in Canajoharie,” he said.

He’s also not looking for a quick return on his investment. “Ten years from now I will get a return,” he said. “It represents the 21st century in Canajoharie.”

Careful consideration factored into McGlone’s most recent acquisition, but it’s not the first time he’s researched for such an endeavor.

McGlone said the couple spent four years researching potential locations for their new home. After looking at Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, they moved here “because of the history of the area, the proximity to the airport and IBM routes in the New York City area — and we found the perfect house,” he said on Monday. They live on a farm on Brower Road.

A familiar figure at Palatine Town Council meetings, McGlone researched issues related to the potential construction of a new town hall. His findings, presented during the August town council meeting, were well received by town officials, who have decided to further explore their options.

His purchase of the Canajoharie building also gives him a voice in what happens to that village in the future. “I have a dog in the fight,” McGlone said.