Al Sorrentino of ACS Design discusses his plans for "The Jungle"
The Village Design Review Board has posted a public hearing notice for 4pm on Wednesday July 6th for consideration of a request from William Alsup Jr. , with Alfonse Sorrentino as a co-applicant, to get permission to demolish five buildings that are part of a parcel of land under contract to Sorrentino in the East End of the Village. This is in the area familiar to most as “The Jungle” across from ” The Wasp” snack bar and where the former NAPA auto parts store was, including the old Woodstock Railway Station behind it.
It’s not clear that Alsup or Sorrentino will, in fact, take down the buildings if the purchase goes through. However, Sorrentino says he thinks the original request is being made by Mr. Alsup, of which he is now a party, to clear up any issues related to historical structures.
The property is in the Village Design Review District and has been the subject over the years to debate and conjecture about its future as it has remained in Mr. Alsup’s hands unimproved. There have been offers on the land including an offer by a group of Woodstock investors who established a trust for that specific purpose, but for various reasons, all previous deals fell through.
Now, there appears to be some serious traction holding in a pending deal between Woodstock’s Sorrentino, the principle of ACS Design/Build, and Alsup. So much so, with money down, that at a recent Village Trustees field hearing, Sorrentino was invited by Chair Candace Coburn to informally outline his plans for developing the property. He reiterated today what he said then, that he wishes to move forward “in a community-oriented way.” He added, “There is so much positive we can do there. I want to emphasize that.”
At the time of the site visit, Sorrentino said his short-term goal — in addition to making sure a Village snow dump below the parcel is moved — is to eventually “clean up the site” so that a grassy view to the Ottauquechee River might soon be visible to those driving into the Village. Long-term, he outlined ideas for possible commercial and residential uses of the property, which measures out at just over an acre. . These ideas might include bringing in a microbrewery or a local cheesemaker, something attractive to visitors but also to locals. He described the project as an unprecedented opportunity.
Perhaps in conjunction with his development of the Alsup property — pending successful contract deliberations — the way might also be laid for the area that is currently the Village of Woodstock snow dump — in a flood plain and not buildable and not part of the Alsup property– to be turned into a Riverside Park. Sustainable Woodstock has been active in promoting that park measure while encouraging appropriate development of the whole East End.
Simultaneously, The Village Trustees are in talks with the Woodstock Inn about moving the very necessary snow dump area to a parcel of land owned by the Woodstock Corporation. Sorrentino says the Woodstock Corporation was hesistant to get behind the idea of supporting a new snow dump parcel until it had heard more about why it needed to be moved. Hearing that the adjacent property may now really be improved and developed, Sorrentino thinks the Woodstock Corporation is closer to supporting efforts to help provide an alternate place for Village snow.
Alsup (with Sorrentino as co-applicant) will have to get approval for possible demolishment of some buildings not just from the Village Design Review Board on July 6th but also the Village Development Review Board. Only then could the parties involved proceed despite the lack of a firm plan to do so. The second public hearing on the Alsup/Sorrentino request before The Village Development Review Board will be 7:30pm on Wednesday, July 13th. All meetings at the Town Hall.
Julia Carlisle
Woodstock Early Bird 