By Hayleigh Gowans
Staff Writer
After years of decay, the former Howard Johnson’s hotel building off of Carrier Circle in DeWitt is finally in the process being demolished to make way for two new hotels, the first being an 80-room Home-2-Suites hotel.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience, as this has been a long and difficult road. This now opens the door for redevelopment, and the construction of two new hotels,” said Town Supervisor Ed Michalenko. “Converting an open eye-sore into a productive taxpaying property and contributing to the local economy is something we’ve been looking to do for a while.”
The developer, Hampshire Hospitality, has finally made it over obstacles that prevented it from being torn down earlier, such as property right issues and problems linked to a decaying building, and have gained necessary permits to being demolition.
Crisafulli Trucking Inc. will carry out the demolition, which is being paid by the land developer. On Nov. 15, crews began bringing in equipment and the demolition is scheduled to begin as soon as possible.
The development company was not available for comment prior to press time.
Development of the land was much preferred to the alternative, said Michalenko, which would have been for the town to wait a few years to acquire the property on back taxes, and then to pay for a demolition that could have cost taxpayers upwards of $500,000.
The 30 hotels in DeWitt contribute about $3.5 million in taxes to the town each year, and the new hotels to be built in this location can join in contributing to the local economy, said Michalenko.
Cleaning up the Carrier Circle area has been a priority of Michalenko since he first took over as supervisor nearly nine years ago. He said for the future, the town is looking to make further developments such as improving traffic flow and making it pedestrian and bicycle friendly.
“We want there to be a synergy between the hotels and restaurants so the residents of the town and guests can enjoy it,” said Michalenko.
