Potsdam Lowe's store might open before work on water tower is complete

POTSDAM — There's a chance that Lowe's will open before work on the water tower that it plans to use for fire protection and lease to the village is complete.

Village Administrator Michael D. Weil said the municipality and developer Jeda Capital 56 LLC are still working on a completion agreement for the tower.

The village also recently signed an agreement with a contractor to paint the Route 56 structure, which could take three to six weeks and cost up to $40,000. Work has not yet begun.

Under its lease agreement with the village, Jeda Capital must reimburse the municipality for painting the tower.

When the paint is dry and the completion agreement is signed, officials still have to pressure-test, disinfect and flush the lines leading from the water tower, Mr. Weil said. Only then can the tower go into use.

The village is responsible for making sure the tower is inspected and up to code.

"The soonest the village could use the tower would probably be mid-August at the earliest," he said.

Lowe's plans to use the water tower to filter village water and to run its sprinklers in case of fire.

Since the location is hooked up to village water and sewer lines, the big-box store may be able to open without the tower being ready if it makes provisions with its insurance company and obtains approval from the fire marshal and code enforcement office, Mr. Weil said.

The village plans to pay $1.25 million over 20 years for use of the tower. Officials voted to raise water rates to pay for the lease.

The Lowe's store last was said to be opening at the end of July, but the company has yet to begin stocking shelves. That process typically takes four to six weeks.

Michael D. O'Neill of Jeda Capital hoped to take care of four mechanic's liens filed by contractors seeking more than $2 million by the end of June, but as of Thursday they still had not been resolved. Lowe's originally had hoped to open the Potsdam store in time for Christmas.