SARANAC LAKE - Although few details have been confirmed yet, it appears a real estate developer is looking to purchase the property occupied by Jarden Plastics to possibly build a large retail establishment. "I wouldn't say a shopping center," Franklin County Legislator Paul Maroun, of Tupper Lake, said. "What I've been told is a commercial enterprise, a business. I have not heard the name Wal-Mart, or anything like that, but this is a huge piece of land, so you've got to think big." The factory on Demars Boulevard, which employs 68 people, will close May 18, although a few engineers will continue working there afterwards to dismantle and remove equipment. Since the closure was announced in March, there has been much speculation about what, if anything, will replace the factory. Maroun, state Sen. Betty Little, county Industrial Development Agency Executive Director Brad Jackson, U.S. Rep. John McHugh, state Assemblywoman Janet Duprey, among others, have been attempting to meet with company Jarden President Charles Villa Jr. to convince him to stay. Officials have also been avidly seeking other possible uses for the site. According to WNBZ radio, Nigro Companies, of Albany, is looking to purchase the property and build a large facility for multiple retail tenants. Steve Powers, of Nigro Companies, declined to say how large it would be, and said he was working with several tenants who he couldn't name. Powers was not available for further comment Friday afternoon. Maroun said Jackson has told him he is in discussions with the realtor, but Maroun said he didn't know for sure what type of business would be put there. "Whoever it is, we will do everything and all we can to make it viable there," Maroun said. Maroun added that he thought a Wal-Mart would make economic sense, given the size of the property, the local demand for such an establishment and the large population base. Maroun said customers could be expected to come from as far east as Lake Placid, as far west as Piercefield and Colton, and from surrounding areas like Long Lake, Cranberry Lake and Blue Mountain Lake. "It's almost 15 acres of land, so it's not going to be the Dollar Store," he said. Tupper Lake Village Mayor Mickey Desmarais sent a letter to Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott on April 7, stating the village's support for a Wal-Mart in Tupper Lake. He said Tupper Lakers currently have to travel more than 60 miles one-way to purchase many items that cannot be found locally. "Tupper Lake has the ability to draw shoppers from a minimum of a 40-mile radius if we had a Wal-Mart store," Desmarais wrote. "In that radius, the population at least doubles during the summer months. We promise, as mayor and village board of trustees, to do anything that we can to ensure an efficient, timely and successful achievement of your goal." Village officials said they have yet to hear a response from Wal-Mart. A call to Wal-Mart's media relations headquarters seeking comment Friday morning was not returned as of press time. Contact Nathan Brown at 891-2600 ext. 26 or nbrown@ adirondackdailyenterprise.com.
