Concord redevelopment gets financing

KIAMESHA LAKE, NY — The Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency has announced the first major financing for the redevelopment of the proposed Concord Resort and Hotel in the Town of Thompson.

Entertainment Properties Trust, a Kansas City-based Real Estate Investment Trust, is providing $225 million in financing for the project. Together with Cappelli Enterprises’ existing investment of $100 million dollars, this financing completes the equity of $300 million dollars required under the new state legislation signed by Governor Paterson in July of this year.

The Concord Hotel closed in 1998 following a prolonged period of financial difficulty. Concord Associates, LP purchased the Concord Resort property in January of 1999 at a bankruptcy auction. Concord Associates is now poised to move forward with this redevelopment after years of planning.

The Town of Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini expects permits to be issued and concrete work for the new hotel and convention center to begin almost immediately. Demolition of the former structures on the site, which began late spring, is complete.

Liberty to upgrade water district

LIBERTY, NY — The Town of Liberty has received a $600,000 Small Cities grant from the New York State Office of Community Renewal.

In April, the town board applied for the grant to aid the Loomis Water District. The district provides water to approximately 65 residential and seven commercial properties. Its 150 residents are served by an open concrete reservoir used as a system backup. Open reservoirs are susceptible to contamination. The grant will connect the Loomis Water District to an alternative water source, discontinuing reliance on the spring-fed system and open concrete reservoir. The project will begin during fall of 2008, and construction is expected in spring of 2009.

Senator John Bonacic, state assemblywoman Aileen Gunther and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation were instrumental in furthering the project.

Pipeline to cross more streams

NEW YORK STATE — The Millennium Pipeline Company has informed the local chapters of Trout Unlimited that it will cross 239 streams in the next two weeks starting on Labor Day, as reported to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

These are: three streams in Chemung County, 56 streams in Tioga County, 63 streams in Broome County, 56 streams in Delaware County, 26 streams in Sullivan County and 35 streams in Orange County.

FERC is the official regulating body for the pipeline in its principal operations while the New York Department of Environmental Conservation and the Army Corps of Engineers regulates concerns affecting the environment, according to Michael Armiak, director of external affairs for the pipeline company.

Police seek information in shooting

PAUPACK TOWNSHIP, PA — Carl Christophersen, 56, of Lake Ariel, was found dead by police from apparent gunshot wounds on Saturday, August 30 at 48 Purdytown Turnpike. Pennsylvania State Police in Honesdale were called to the site at approximately 9:00 p.m. The exact time of death is currently unknown.

Police are seeking information in the incident. Anyone who knows anything relevant to the investigation is asked to call 570/253-7126.

Prices of essentials almost triple;

welfare grants stay the same

NEW YORK STATE — Following the release of poverty data last week by the federal government that showed the poverty rate in New York State remaining above the national average, the anti-poverty advocacy group Hunger Action is requesting changes in the state welfare grant system.

The basic welfare grant—$291 a month for a family of three—has not been raised in New York State since 1990, while the cost of basic household items has increased 284 percent over that period, according to Hunger Action. Also according to the group, the combined welfare grant in the state, including the shelter allowance, now comes to less than half the federal poverty level.

Anti-poverty advocates are urging the lawmakers to increase the non-shelter portion of the public assistance grant from $291 to $475 for a family of three, increase Fuel For Heating allowances to account for inflationary increases since the last adjustments in 1987, and establish a commission to investigate the adequacy of all public assistance allowances and to recommend mechanisms to provide for annual cost adjustments.

Leeward Construction awarded bid

for Hawley revitalization

HAWLEY, PA — The bid of Leeward Construction for Hawley’s Downtown Revitalization project was accepted last week by the council.

The bid amounted to $822,257. Grants totaling $800,000 to help cover the project will come from PennDOT, the Department of Community and Economic Development and Wayne County. It is not yet known where the remainder will come from.

The area covered by the project extends along Main Avenue from Middle Creek to Church Street, and also includes Church Street from Main Avenue to Penn Avenue.

Planned projects for the revitalization include new bluestone sidewalks and curbs, brick treelawn, plantings and cement driveway accesses. The winning bid covers the building of a conduit and wiring for pedestrian lighting but not the fixtures and their installation. A bid that would have included the latter was deemed too costly. Additional grants will be sought to complete the project.

The revitalization has been in the works since 2004.