POTSDAM — Two major construction projects slated to begin this spring in the village have yet to break ground, but village officials say progress is being made on Hampton Inn and Lowe's.
Administrator Michael D. Weil told the village Board of Trustees on Monday that the $10.5 million hotel project has been held up over a land deal, while a Route 56 Lowe's is still on the way.
"From the village's perspective, everything is on track. There may be some hiccups between the developer and the seller," Mr. Weil said, in response to a question about the project from Trustee George F. Regan.
"It's dead," Deputy Mayor Ruth F. Garner loudly whispered to her fellow board member.
Economic Developer James A. Murphy said the village hopes to mediate a deal between Hampton Inn developers Sonny Patel and Jay Modhwadiya and Paul M. Blevins and Lloyd Vienneau, who own the 2.3-acre site where the four-story hotel is planned.
"We're having a conference call Thursday morning with the developers to talk about the issues they have with the project. There may be something the village can do to help," Planning and Development Director Frederick J. Hanss said. "We obviously want to see this happen."
A "for sale" sign recently went back up on the property, known as the Sandstone Drive Redevelopment Area. The former brownfield site next to Mama Lucia's Restaurant once housed Potsdam Feed & Coal.
"It's just disturbing to see a for sale sign and elevation stakes up at the same time," Mr. Regan said.
The developers also want to purchase an adjacent parcel to knock down the building there to build an entrance drive accessible from Market Street. The 75 Market St. property houses a laundry service and nail salon.
Mr. Blevins has said that the developers are worried about potential environmental contamination on that property.
"I don't think Hampton Inn is dead yet. It may be delayed some," Mr. Murphy said. "There are some options we're looking at to help facilitate some of Sonny and Jay's concerns."
Construction was supposed to begin on a 111,196-square-foot Lowe's in March.
That project has been stalled by the need to reconfigure the Route 56 store's storm water drainage system and relocate the driveway, Mr. Hanss said. The drainage pond move was approved by the village Planning Board, while the entrance drive shift is still awaiting OKs from that board and the state Department of Transportation.
The village is also working out a lease agreement to purchase Lowe's water tower, while Jeda Capital LLC, Lowe's developer, has been in talks with the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency in recent weeks, Mr. Hanss said.
Developer Michael D. O'Neill is applying for IDA assistance, and hopes to get a payment in lieu of taxes agreement for the water tower and exemptions for sales and mortgage recording tax for the store.
"The project is very much alive. We expect work to begin this building season, hopefully this spring," Mr. Hanss said.
