William Street will be getting a facelift in the next year. VIP Partners LLC are looking to convert 6 lots into commercial space with a courtyard with apartments on the top floor.

“We are trying to create a significant presence in William St,” said Alvin Moonesar, Founder of VIP Partners. “The goal is to resurrect the area to what it was in past years. Our goal is to create a center in the community.”

The community center located on 69 - 79 William St will consist of 15,000 square feet of commercial space and 12 one bedroom apartments.

Moonesar is looking at a clothing store, a green grocery store, a full restaurant, and a group of social service agencies. He is also looking to have a business center for resident businesses or general business and 4,000 square feet on the second floor for classroom and event space.

“The goal is to develop a live work concept,” said Moonesar. “They can live above their businesses, a lot is based on entrepreneurship.”

Moonesar previously worked for the YMCA in New York City until he retired. He saw Newburgh as a great opportunity to make an impact in the community after his retirement. He first discovered Newburgh driving home from a conference in Albany 25 years ago. In 2017 he came back to the city looking to take part in the revival of Newburgh.

VIP Partners is a real estate and developer company. The company works with organizations like Best Resource Center, various banks and social services to help residents build their credit and purchase a property. The house home project is designed to rehab homes in the area and help residents to become homeowners.
“One of the biggest economic challenges is the lack of resources in Newburgh,” said Moonesar. “We want this to be the William St Hub. We are looking for people to join us who want to make the community a home for themselves or their businesses. We want to uplift the community.”

The project on William St is a side project outside of Moonesar’s day job as a financial consultant. He plans to move his own office to William St once the space opens up.

According to Moonesar the current building has good bones. They are looking to taking the existing building and refurbish it, to fit their needs. The building lies between Broadway and Renwick Street.

“The bones are good but it needs a complete rehab,” said Moonesar.

VIP Partners LLC looks to source its workers locally when possible. In the past the organization brought in local interns to learn the trade. They plan to continue to hire locally from the community.

The rental apartments will be priced at 60 to 80 percent of the area’s median income, to be affordable and done in high quality.
Construction is predicted to start in April with a completion date before May 1, 2020. As construction starts they are looking to put out an RFP for the commercial spaces in the building, to work with those interested in space.