Leishman Point study: adult home best option
Clarkson group presents development findings
by James Schlett, Times Staff Writer
First published: Friday, April 25, 2003
WADDINGTON - A study on Leishman Point by Potsdam's Clarkson University concluded that the development of an adult home there can be far more lucrative for the town than other options officials are considering for the waterfront property.
The Clarkson Consulting Group, an organization of graduate and and undergraduate students, on Thursday presented to residents its three-month study on the 45-acre plot 2 miles west of downtown Waddington. "They're not going to tell us what to do. They're going to tell us what the impacts are," said Mark Scott, a member of the Waddington Redevelopment Association.
The association, a local grass-roots group, paid Clarkson $3,000 to investigate the financial impacts of possible developments at Leishman Point. The study examined the effects of six potential projects: 16 luxury homes, 20 condominiums, a 120-bed adult home, a 41-boat marina with a restaurant, an RV Park and a 50-room hotel.
"To make an educated decision, we need to know what the numbers are," Mr. Scott said.
The potential added income for the town over 10 years for the adult home development is $2 million, but only about $400,000 for the luxury homes, the study said. Over a 10-year period, the potential savings per taxpayer could be $1,000 if an adult home is built at Leishman Point and $200 if the residential homes are developed there, according to the study.
The Clarkson group reached its conclusions by comparing the proposed Leishman Point developments to similar establishments throughout the state. "The one thing we had to assume is that they are marketable. There's no guarantee that these things are marketable," said James M. Walsh, the Clarkson group's lead consultant.
The Hamister Group and Companies, a conglomeration of health-care groups and professional sports teams, is conducting a feasibility study for an estimated 120-bed adult home at Leishman Point. Since last summer, the Town Council has been considering dividing the property into 16 lots geared for luxury house development.
"They put a lot of work into it. We'll have to take it under consideration," said Supervisor William Dalton.
Also at Thursday's meeting of the association, it was announced that ownership of the St. Lawrence Hotel has been transferred to a local nonprofit group that plans to restore the decrepit Main Street building. Clark House Preservation received on Thursday a signed deed for the hotel from Maryland's REO Enterprises.
Clark House paid $1,500 for the structure. The group, which bears the original name of the nearly 100-year-old building, expects an engineering study on the hotel's foundation to start within a month. The building was almost demolished by the town five months ago.
E-mail: jschlett@wdt.net
Used with permission