3 proposals for Apollo Mall Pitches include power plant, market, retail
By Leonard Sparks, Times Herald-Record
Published: 2:00 AM -01/21/11
MONTICELLO — A company that specializes in converting landfill gas into electricity was among three potential developers to pitch plans to Sullivan County legislators Thursday for the development of a 400-acre site in Monticello that includes the former Apollo Mall and the now-closed landfill. Burlington, Vt.-based Carbon Harvest Energy is proposing to use the landfill’s methane gas to generate electricity for local use and heat for a 25-acre commercial greenhouse.
The plan also includes a commercial fishery and a food distribution center that could connect local farmers to large buyers like Whole Foods. “I would look at it as an opportunity to grow the agriculture community,” said Legislator Alan Sorensen, whose district includes Monticello. Sullivan could get $3.5M/year
Carbon Harvest’s power plant could generate 1.6 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 1,500 homes and local businesses, said Don McCormick, the company’s president.
He estimated the greenhouse could grow 6,697 tons of produce and the fishery 150 tons of fish annually. The distribution center would distribute local farm products to large buyers and food markets like New York City.
“We are sitting next to the greatest high-quality food corridor in the world,” McCormick said. The county would receive $3.5 million a year for the use of the methane gas and another$150,000 a year in rent, he said. Construction and installation would generate at least 120 full-time jobs, and the finished greenhouse would require 110 full-time workers, he said. “We’re talking about (jobs) with health insurance and a base of $10 per hour,” he said.
Local developers have ideas too Local developers Butch Resnick and Michael Kaplan also are pitching projects for the site. Resnick is proposing to renovate the existing Apollo Mall building for $5 million and bring in a supermarket, farmers and craft markets and large retailers, said Rock Hill attorney Jacob Billing.
A second phase would add a truck stop, motel and a community and youth center, Billigsaid. Resnick already has financing, he said, and the project would create 100 construction jobs and 60 supermarket jobs.
“We can start immediately,” Billig said. “This is several years in the making if you knockdown that building.” Kaplan’s plan calls for demolishing the building and constructing a $65 million, 750,000 square-foot retail and entertainment complex that would combine big-box retailers with a multiplex cinema and car, motorcycle and bicycle businesses.
Retail, movies could be a draw The development could be open in three years and draw shoppers from outside Sullivan County, bringing the county $25 million in sales tax revenue, 1,200 full-time jobs and$500,000 in annual rent, Kaplan said. “The county needs that and the county needs that now,” he said.
The legislators were unanimous in their enthusiasm for Carbon Harvest’s proposal, but said they’d also like to see some retail developed at the site.
Legislature Chairman Jonathan Rouis said he’d like to decide on a plan for the site by next month and have signed leases within three months.
lsparks@th-record.com