H'port gains revamp monies
BY MARY PERHAM THE LEADER

HAMMONDSPORT - Renovation of the once-controversial municipal hall in the village of Hammondsport could begin as early as October.

An award of $2.25 million from the state Department of Housing and Community Renewal announced Tuesday night has set in motion the final steps needed to turn the three-story building into 21 apartments for limitedincome seniors.

"This is just great news, great news," said Town of Urbana Supervisor Richard Gardiner. "This is what the people here said they wanted, to keep the building and provide places for the elderly to live. And at no cost to the taxpayer. None."

The 150-year-old municipal hall, a former schoolhouse, is owned by the town and located in the village. It has housed town and village offices, a police department and a local library.

When library trustees announced plans four years ago to relocate to another site, Urbana officials said the nearly-empty building would be vacated after the library moved.

Both village and town officials initially backed a plan for Steuben Churchpeople Against Poverty to convert the building into affordable seniors quarters. But the $4.5 million project hit a road block nearly two years ago when village officials said the site could not be rezoned from parks and recreational use to residential.

When the town proposed to convert the structure using other state laws not subject to rezoning, village trustees threatened to sue the town to prevent the renovation.

After months of bitter wrangling on both sides, the village conducted a straw poll which showed support for the project and trustees withdrew their objections. But the delay meant the deadline for approved state funding for the project had lapsed. SCAP officials reapplied for the money, approved this week.

"It's a relief to hear the news," said village Mayor Emery Cummings. "Let's get it started, put all that turmoil behind us and move forward. I hope the town and village will work together to make it happen."

SCAP officials expect to sign a long term lease with the town for a nominal sum within the next month, according to SCAP Director of Development Dan Gallagher.

Gallagher said work should begin this fall, with occupancy set for October of 2008.

The new complex will serve income-eligible elderly in the Hammondsport area and provide a yearround boost to retail revenues in the small, summer resort village of 700 residents, officials said.

"It's all going to be in walking distance for the (tenants)," Gardiner said. "It's going to be great for the community."

Gardiner said the project has been limbo since last year while officials waited to learn whether the renovation would be funded.

"All I knew was we had to move out, once the library did," he said. "It was just too big and expensive for just a few offices."

Gardiner said work has begun on the new town hall, located on the Urbana town line near state Route 54. Several months ago, village offices were moved to The Depot on the shores of Keuka Lake, and the police department is expected to relocate to The Depot within the next two months.

The new Fred and Harriett Taylor Memorial Library officially opened in June on William Street.

Cummings said the village will rent a records storage area in the SCAP complex.

"I hope the local elderly will benefit from this, the whole community will," Cummings said. "SCAP has promised this will fit into the community and I have no reason to doubt them. They've always been true to their word."