Exterior of 27-31 Main Street in Amsterdam, the former Key Bank Building under construction for mixed use, retail and residential apartments by Cranesville Properties, LLC.

AMSTERDAM — An event space is slated to open in the fall on the ground floor of the former KeyBank on Main Street in Amsterdam as renovations throughout the seven-story building near completion.

The Planning Commission complimented the plans for Crystal’s Events at 27-31 Main St. before unanimously approving the proposal on Wednesday.

The business will be similar to other event spaces already run in Schenectady and Glenville by owner Crystal Jones. She believes the operation will fill a need for event space in and around Amsterdam.

“I think it would be successful,” Jones told the commission. “I have a long history as an event planner.”

The roughly 4,000-square-foot space on the ground floor will mainly host weekend events for mid-sized gatherings of around 50 guests. Intimate weddings, showers and other celebrations have become increasingly popular since the pandemic, according to Jones.

“With COVID it fluctuated and increased with the rate of how much these other venues are charging people,” Jones said.

The existing first floor space will undergo only minor renovations mainly involving painting and updated flooring performed by building owner Cranesville Properties and managing member Joseph Tesiero.

The former KeyBank has been undergoing extensive renovations since its redevelopment into a mixed-use building received $1 million through the city’s $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative state grant award in 2019.

The estimated $2.5 million project creating commercial space on the ground floor and 24 upscale one- to two-bedroom apartments on the upper floors is nearing completion after running into pandemic related supply chain issues, according to Tesiero. Leasing of apartments is expected to begin in the fall. A small commercial space at the front of the building will also be available.

The building’s first floor bank vault will remain intact following renovations and can be incorporated into the activities at Crystal’s Events.

“We want to actually keep the integrity of the building,” Jones said. “My other event space is a bank vault and it’s a huge hit with people.”

Crystal’s Events will provide planning and decorating services at the site, but would not offer catering.

“A lot of people like to bring their own traditional foods and own traditional customs,” Jones said. “They just want to have a beautiful space to rent.”

The business would also supply clients referrals to local businesses to assist with food and beverage arrangements. The referral system usually works in both directions to boost business for local caterers and the event space, according to Jones.

“When I come into a certain area I look for the local people,” Jones said. “It works well. We basically refer each other.”

Clients interested in serving alcohol at their event will be encouraged to work with a caterer with a liquor license. Jones can also help event hosts secure a temporary wine and beer permit. She would supply event insurance.

Jones is targeting an October grand opening of Crystal’s Events on Main Street to get the party started with a celebration of her own birthday along with the birth of a new city business.

Reach Ashley Onyon at [email protected] or @AshleyOnyon on Twitter.