{"id":10216,"date":"2013-08-05T15:00:04","date_gmt":"2013-08-05T19:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/inbox\/?p=10216"},"modified":"2013-08-05T15:17:19","modified_gmt":"2013-08-05T19:17:19","slug":"breaking-saranac-lake-scores-2nd-big-hotel-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.northcountrypublicradio.org\/inbox\/2013\/08\/05\/breaking-saranac-lake-scores-2nd-big-hotel-deal\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking: Saranac Lake scores 2nd big hotel deal"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>

The faded Hotel Saranac was once a centerpiece of the village economy and social life (Photo: Susan Waters)<\/p><\/div>\n

Saranac Lake Mayor Clyde Rabideau says a hotel developer has signed a contract to purchase the venerable Hotel Saranac, a faded icon that sits in the middle of the village.<\/p>\n

According to Rabideau, the developer’s proposal to refurbish and revitalize the brick structure will be discussed at a village meeting tonight.<\/p>\n

(See full press release below.)<\/p>\n

This news comes less than two weeks after another developer announced plans to build a new, high-end hotel on the shore of Lake Flower.<\/p>\n

In an interview today, Rabideau said the two projects together would serve to revitalize Saranac Lake’s downtown.<\/p>\n

To move forward, both projects will apparently require grants and other financial support from the state of New York.<\/p>\n

The Hotel Saranac deal comes seven years after hotel-owner Sewa Arora purchased the property from Paul Smiths College.\u00a0 From the start, Arora’s management practices drew criticism from members of the community.<\/p>\n

Long a destination for weddings, public events, and galas, the imposing structure fell into disuse, with some community leaders worrying that it might go bankrupt.<\/p>\n

Rabideau described this latest effort to revive the hotel as a crucial step for his village’s downtown.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the developer of the waterfront property near Pontiac Bay, Malone’s Chris LaBarge, has asked for a zoning change to facilitate construction of his project, according to a report in the Adirondack Daily Enterprise<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If granted, it would mean a series of land-use code variances Chris LaBarge of Lake Flower Lodging had requested for the hotel project, including for the height of the building, wouldn’t come before the village Zoning Board of Appeals.<\/p>\n

Instead those issues would be taken up during the planned unit development district process.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That change will likely be discussed at tonight’s 5pm meeting of village trustees in Saranac Lake.<\/p>\n

PRESS RELEASE:<\/p>\n

\n
A major hotel development company notified Mayor Clyde Rabideau that it has reached an agreement to purchase the Hotel Saranac from its current owners and is seeking village support for its grant funding request to the North Country RegionalEconomic Development Council before the August 12th<\/sup><\/span> application deadline.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Fred Roedel III, a fourth-generation summer resident of Saranac Lake and a principal in the Roedel Companies, announced the company\u2019s plans to the mayor and other local and state officials last week as the company is putting together a grant funding application for part of the projected investment.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
At tonight\u2019s special village board meeting, the mayor and trustees will vote on a letter of support for the grant funding application.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Mayor Rabideau commented, \u201cThis is terrific news for the village and, though it\u2019s not a done deal and there are many hurdles to overcome, the intended renovation and restoration of the hotel will bring new vibrancy to Saranac Lake, especially our Downtown, as the Hotel Saranac is the icon of the community and is downtown\u2019s centerpiece.\u201d<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
The special meeting will get underway at 5 PM in the Village Hall on Main Street.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Developing…<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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