Nov. 21--SARATOGA SPRINGS Two of three bids to build a city public safety building, courthouse and parking lot behind City Hall also include a movie theater and more that would reshape the downtown area, according to plans filed Thursday in the Accounts Department.

City-based Bonacio Construction, plus Yorkshire Properties and Forum Industries, both of Clifton Park, will each detail their proposals during hourlong sessions starting at 11 a.m. today in City Hall. The companies submitted bids in response to a request from city leaders, who sought new police and court facilities in the High Rock lot behind City Hall and the Collamer lot on Broadway.

"I was excited when we got three of them," Accounts Commissioner John Franck said Thursday.

In conjunction with BBL Construction Services of Albany, Bonacio Construction would construct four separate buildings, including a 45,000-square-foot movie theater on Broadway between City Hall and the City Center and a 910-space parking lot on High Rock. Bonacio would pay the city $4.5 million at the start for development rights, and suggests instituting a new comprehensive paid-parking plan for downtown to help finance the project, according to the plans.

Under Bonacio's plans, the High Rock site also would include a 32,000-square-foot public safety building, a 10,000-square-foot restaurant across from the City Center and a 92,000-square-foot commercial and residential building.

"It's a very interesting proposal," Public Safety Commissioner Ronald Kim said.

Forum Industries presented its bid with Dallas-based Garfield Traub Development under the name High Rock Partners. It proposes a maximum 56,000-square-foot public safety and court facility, an 850-space parking garage, an area containing a theater and retail stores and 40 units of "work force housing" on High Rock. The plan also calls for a mixed-use development on the Collamer lot and a year-round farmers market.

Yorkshire's bid features an up-to-three-story public safety and courthouse building made of glass and brick, and a 600-space parking garage.

Downtown has not had a cinema since the single-screen Community Theater left Broadway in the mid-1970s, Franck said.

The three bidders will explain financing methods today. All rely on the city leasing the buildings, acquiring them after a bond is paid back, and metered parking, city leaders said.

The proposals offer creative financing a more affordable way to build than if the city borrowed the money, and new commercial properties would be put on the city tax roll, Franck said.

Dennis Yusko can be reached at 454-5353 or by e-mail at dyusko@timesunion.com.

If you go

WHAT: Review of public safety complex proposals

WHEN: 11 a.m. (Yorkshire Properties), 1 p.m., (Bonacio Construction), 2:30 p.m. (High Rock Partners)

WHERE: City Hall, Broadway

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