The world-famous Camillus Cutlery Company closed its doors for the last time in 2007, leaving a vital part of the village of Camillus dark and empty. But Tom Blair, of Sweet Spot Development, plans to change that by transforming the former cutlery buildings into a “wellness community.”

Blair began presenting the idea to the village board early last year, but the project gained momentum when it was awarded $2.5 million in RestoreNY grant funding. The community, dubbed Camillus Mills, would house residential, business and commercial space with an emphasis on providing residents with easy access to medical practices. The start date for the development was not firm in September, but Blair said he hoped to break ground sometime in 2010.

Blair was not available for an update last week, but Camillus Mayor Kurt Brunger said the project was moving along.

“It’s still on target, and the funding stream is there,” Brunger said. Though it may not be apparent from the streetfront, Brunger said that the project is alive and well, and that environmental studies were currently being undertaken.

He added that Blair had spoken to the Western Area Homeowners Association about the project, and that he planned to present to the village board as the project progressed.

Blair spoke in-depth on the project at a village board meeting in 2009, and more information is available on the Sweet Spot Web site, sweetspotdevelopment.com.