While the bang and clank of heavy equipment and jackhammers floats up to their spacious office, neither Peter Hoffman nor his wife and business partner, Suzanne, see any downside to conducting business right in the midst of the downtown construction. On the contrary, they have the enthusiasm and the vision to see past the torn up roads and sidewalks to what the future holds. "It's a very exciting - very prosperous - time to be here. Mayor Akins and his team have done a wonderful job encouraging and supporting growth in the city," said Hoffman, who transitioned to property development and management after nearly 20 years in the restaurant business in Clifton Park.

"There's an exceptional network here of people involved in economic development - from John Wheatley and the folks at EDC to Todd Shimkus at the ARCC. It's great to see the interaction between municipal government, economic development organizations, and private investors. We're very pleased to be a part of it."

Glen Street Associates has quickly staked their claim to a major role in Glens Falls' renaissance with six buildings purchased to date. The couple's first project was to purchase and lease apartments in South Glens Falls. Then came 100 Glen, a major renovation that resulted in the removal of more than 50 extra-large containers of demolition debris. Last summer, the firm purchased Civic Center Plaza, home of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce and other tenants. And this summer, the couple purchased 136 Glen, which is currently undergoing a major rehab that will be completed by the end of the year. Not all the purchases have required interior demolition and rebuild. At Civic Center Plaza, for example, the building mainly required correction to insulation and heating problems and some aesthetic improvements to make the tenants more comfortable.

Repairs to the brownstone front of 136 Glen Street is taking the building back to its original classical look. Work should be completed and the building ready for new occupants by the end of 2006.

The current focus for Glen Street Associates is the Old Brownstone Bank Building at 136 Glen St., once home to Glens Falls National Bank. The Italianate façade has been restored in places, and much of the interior - with the exception of two existing apartments - has been completely gutted by the company's team of renovation experts. "It's a marvelous building, constructed around 1865," enthused Hoffman, who does not market a commercial building to prospective tenants until the basic renovation is completed. "We plan to make the first and second floors commercial lease space, and keep the third floor residential. There are already two nice apartments and we have some additional space that will make a great loft apartment, which will be our winter project."

"I've always been very energy conscious," said Hoffman. "When we renovate, we remove all the old systems and replace them with high-energy mechanicals for maximum efficiency." The result is a restored exterior and a new millennium interior that's fully wired for 21st century communications.

Peter and Suzanne are delighted when they come across architectural details they can preserve, but so far there's been very little on the interior of the buildings. "Most of the architectural embellishments worth saving are on the outside of the buildings," explains Hoffman. "Although we might get lucky with our next project, 86 Glen, which is a warehouse that dates from the early 1900s. There is a great industrial feel to the building, and we may be able to save some brick and rehab the floors to create a place that celebrates the muscle of the era instead of trying to turn it into a Victorian lady."