A worn exterior is seen at the Sunmount Developmental Center in Tupper Lake on Sunday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

TUPPER LAKE — Driving in from the east, it’s hard to miss. Not only is the Sunmount Developmental Center at the core of Tupper Lake’s economy as the community’s largest employer, but the nearly 140-acre property and its numerous buildings loom large over the busy state Route 3/30 corridor.

Given its stature in the community fabric, a Tupper Lake resident feels that the outward appearance of many of the buildings leaves a lot to be desired. Decades-old paint continues to peel and chip away — and Brian Merriam wants to do something about it. He began circulating a petition last fall that reads as follows.

“We, the undersigned, are grateful for the existence of Sunmount Developmental Center as our main employer in Tupper Lake; however, the appearance of some of the buildings gives a poor impression of our community,” the petition stated. “As such, we petition that the building be painted to give a good appearance to the community and guests.”

It’s garnered about 220 signatures. Making the rounds around town and presenting the petition to people, Merriam said that only two didn’t want to sign, both former Sunmount employees who Merriam said told him that they didn’t think it would make any difference.

“They were so jaded by their experience that they weren’t going to do anything, one way or the other,” he said. “But almost everybody else who voiced any opinion said, ‘It looks like hell, it needs to change and if all it’s going to take is a signature from me, you’ve got it.'”

Merriam, who moved to Tupper Lake full-time in December 2024, said it didn’t take long to notice the worn appearance.

“When I noticed that Sunmount looked so beat, I started asking questions of our politicians and the like,” he said. “The most common answer I got was, ‘Well, it’s been that way for years,’ and, to me, that’s not really an answer.”

Merriam spoke with town Supervisor Rickey Dattola and village Mayor Mary Fontana about ways that he could make a case to the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities — which owns and operates Sunmount — that something needs to be done. Merriam said the local leaders told him that they had brought the appearance up to state officials in conversation before, to no avail.

Merriam suggested a petition might be more effective than just talk, and by having at least a couple of hundred signatures affixed, it would show it’s something that a lot of people are behind.

“I made it a point to present (the petitions) and said, ‘This is not just Brian Merriam’s concern,’ but every person, pretty much, that signed the petition had something to say about it,” he said.

Merriam said he’s had the chance to tour some of the buildings, and had productive conversations with Richard Abdou and Richard Bell, the director and deputy director, respectively, of property supports and emergency services for OPWDD. He said they’ve told him it’s something they’re focused on, pointing to the millions of dollars in various infrastructure projects at Sunmount, such as steam pipes, rough-in, new windows and heating plant upgrades.

“I said, ‘Well, that’s all well and good, Richard (Abdou), but none of it is visible,'” Merriam said. “And he said, ‘Well, yeah, but you’ve got to take care of the bones before you take care of the cosmetics.'”

Merriam said he understands the principle, but is concerned that, given the lack of visibility with some of these projects, juxtaposed with the high-profile exterior appearance, there’s a perception that the state doesn’t care.

Based on his meetings, Merriam doesn’t feel that’s true. For instance, he said that Bell gave a presentation at the Tupper Lake Rotary Club’s Nov. 5 meeting. This required him to drive all the way up from near Binghamton to speak in person, before returning home that evening.

“To me, that demonstrates a dedication,” he said. “That demonstrates that we are, in fact, a priority, and so the perception needs to change.”

OPWDD spokesperson Erin Silk said that the office “prioritizes being a good neighbor and fostering a positive experience for people with developmental disabilities and their fellow community members.”

“OPWDD presented at the November Rotary Club meeting and highlighted the structural and foundational work that is ongoing on the campus and our prioritization to revitalize,” Silk said. “The people receiving services, employees and community members’ health and safety continue to be our top priority.”

Merriam said that despite OPWDD’s work to improve Sunmount, perception — in this case, the blighted exteriors — can drive reality in many people’s minds. To that end, Merriam had another suggestion.

“If you’re going to put it off until ’27 or ’28, the least you can do is put up a big freaking sign saying, ‘Forgive our appearance. We’re aware of it. We have it slated and it will be addressed,'” he said. “Then, when people start to badmouth Tupper, you can just point to the sign and say, ‘Why don’t you read that before you criticize?'”

Merriam said it’s something that a lot of private businesses do when they’re doing improvements, and it can go a long way toward showing that the care is there. He said the state officials did not commit to that. Merriam added that this is something he’ll keep pushing on until action is taken, and is considering another petition drive.

“It’s everyone’s responsibility when it comes to self-perception about the viability and the livability and the future of a community,” he said. “This is important. This is important to us. This is important to every visitor who drives up Route 3 and sees Sunmount as being the first thing that greets you when you come into the village of Tupper Lake.”