Investors: Alteren's still a go

NORWICH – Stephen Stark is out, but a partner in Alteren LLC claims the former developer’s big idea behind the once-proposed $62 million resort project in the Town of Norwich isn’t.

“The project is absolutely not dead,” said Alteren Managing Partner Bill Bobo, contending that the company is now taking a more “deliberate” approach compared to Stark’s efforts.

Previous plans – which included building a 155-room hotel, 70 up-scale housing structures, retail stores, an 18-hole golf course, equestrian facilities, and an outdoor amphitheater on nearly 2,000 acres just east of the City of Norwich – were first announced in July 2003. The project lingered for three years, however, passing by two dates for groundbreaking in 2004 and 2005. Updates from the developers quieted in the summer of 2006; Stark said New York Regional Interconnect Inc.’s power line proposal was what stalled progress.



“There were some setbacks,” Bobo said. “But it (Alteren) is not dead, it’s not even on life support.”

Without offering specific details, Bobo said the initial hotel design, pending any possible changes, will remain the centerpiece of the proposal. The name Alteren could change, he said.

“We are re-evaluating what we are doing,” he said. “We are not going as fast as the original plans called for.”

Above drafting specific plans, Bobo said securing investment for Alteren is the company’s immediate focus, adding that the six-person partnership is “doing very well” in that endeavor. He admitted New York Regional Interconnect’s power line proposal is still a “significant” concern that has hampered development thus far and, if built, will kill the prospect of the resort altogether.

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Reader Response

9 comments on this story

jmorse
March 18th, 2007 at 11:22 am
Yes Kevin, it's the same old story: The five star resort doubling and tripling crime.
kevin
March 18th, 2007 at 5:58 am
Yes Norwich is beautiful but the city and town officials are going to do it anyways. Who wants the snobs from the city coming and taking over, that is whats going to happen. The hill will be ruined and for what for fancy homes a giant hotel we don\'t fill the ones we have now.The equestrian facilities will take away from the people who have their own centers. The crime rate in the city will double and triple.Has the city and town people thought of that.And taking more cutomers away from downtown Norwich.People from the city wants fancy stores not homey stores. The people who live in Norwich will be chased out of the area because they wont be able to afford to live here. We the people live here for a reason. I don\'t think city water or sewer should be used for out side the city unless they are going to be part of the city not the town.We are going to need more police officers and fire members when we are trying to cut their sizes now.
jmorse
March 18th, 2007 at 5:10 am
medic2nurse,
I don't think you need to worry about it. Change requires action.
Mattysm0mmy
March 17th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
I do not agree!! I do agree that Norwich is beautiful as I lived there for 23 years and still "come home" 2 to 3 times a year. The town needs some seriouse help though!! A place like this could bring in tons of new jobs and people willing to spend their money there. Right now the job force is very limited to Walmart, grocery stores, banks and so on. The employees get paid and turn around and put there paychecks right back into the company they work for! Only one getting anything by this is the stores! Give the childeren who are lucky enough to get an outside education something to come home to! I am sure there will be many jobs there that reqire a college education and they won't have to stay away to live there dream! Norwich could have so much more if the people would just open there minds and imagine what it could be and stop being so afraid of change! Share with the outside world whet you have!!
Heather
March 17th, 2007 at 1:11 pm
In response to the comment about not changing Norwich, we NEED the change.It would be great for the economy in this area. There are absolutly no jobs in Norwich,I have been searching for months to find a decent job and there is just nothing. I think it would be great to get some real jobs in this area!!!!!
jmichael
March 17th, 2007 at 11:56 am
There is far more to Norwich then just tree's & Traffic. This kind of facility will bring in much needed Jobs, money, and tourisim to the area. Not to mention the tax dollars it will generate for the community. We all like, no make that love low taxes. Well this is the way to do it.. Jobs are a definate plus for the community. Raising 6 children, I dread the thought of them having to move out of the area to find work.
mjneese
March 17th, 2007 at 10:48 am
I agree with medic2nurse ,my husband and I drove 1000 miles from Woodstock GA to vacation
in Norwich NY to see this great town as it is now .I grew up in Norwich ,and I would hate to see this small town take such a drastic change
I plead dont do it !!! Keep this a commutiy to be proud of . Melissa Samsel Neese
jimbob56
March 17th, 2007 at 6:46 am
This has been a case of P.T. Barnum coming back home. I cannot believe anyone would fall for the antics of Alteren and Steve Stark. If Donald Trump took this long then he would not have finished creating his first project. To believe that everyone jumped on the band wagon without any type ofchecking on the references of both "Alteren and Stark" is a Shame on all of "Us"
medic2nurse
March 16th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Norwich is beautiful without having all those things! Why change it to look like every other town in America? Cut down trees, create more traffic and pollution, cause more noise, not to mention all the other environmental issues.
Who agrees?
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