Developers Look to Bring Holiday Inn to Malone
By Denise Raymo, The Press-Republican, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Jun. 18–MALONE — Malone has been asked to head the environmental review for a proposed Holiday Inn Express and Hotel Suites, but investors have not submitted formal plans.
Chris LaBarge, managing member of Branch Commercial Development LLC, expects to close next week on purchase of 5.9 acres off U.S. Route 11 across from Bailey Motor Co. on the western side of Malone.
He, along with three local partners, hope to develop a 74- to 88-room hotel with water amenities such as a pool, Jacuzzi and water slide.
The project cost is estimated between $6.5 million and $8 million.
“It’s only a proposed project at this point,” LaBarge said, “We don’t have any plans at this point.”
The investors are working to obtain building permits and file applications with the town, the state Department of Health and the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
He said putting the financing in place is also under way as is possible development of two types of franchise restaurants to be situated in front of the hotel closer to Route 11.
LaBarge, who is also a Malone real-estate developer, and Town Supervisor Howard Maneely went before the Franklin County Empire Zone Board of Directors earlier this week.
They asked that all boundaries in Malone with land designated as eligible for Empire Zone incentives and tax breaks be redrawn to include the proposed hotel property and other land where LaBarge says “opportunities for development” exist.
Those additional lands could include 130 acres owned by Gary Guzy on Malone’s east side.
LaBarge represents Guzy in dealings for that property usage off Route 11 at Houndsville Road, which was discussed before the Town Council in September for a possible 24-unit, multi-use subdivision of housing, commercial and retail space.
The subdivision idea is also under review by the Village Board since village-zoning designations for the land there would also have to be revised.
LaBarge said the town has also been approached for a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement, and he has met with county Industrial Development Agency representatives and County Treasurer Bryon Varin “to learn about assistance they might be able to offer.”
When a plan is submitted to the Town Council, it would then go to the town Planning Board for review then back to the town which agreed in principle to take lead-agency status for the state Environmental Quality Review of the project.
Maneely said the investors would like to break grounds as soon as this summer and open next year.
E-mail Denise A. Raymo at:
draymo@pressrepublican.com
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