Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Opening of Salamander Resort Delayed
Opening of Salamander Resort DelayedBy Holly Hobbs
Times-Democrat Staff Writer
Middleburg officials say they do not yet know what the full impact will be on the town from the delayed opening of Salamander Resort & Spa.
The resort was scheduled to open in March 2010. In December, the resort staff said construction was on schedule.
On Feb. 26, however, Prem Devadas, president of Salamander Hospitality, told the Middleburg Town Council the resort will now open in spring 2011.
"We think it is the prudent thing to do given the condition of the travel industry, especially at the luxury level," Devadas said of the delayed opening.
He told the council that resort officials did not want to open at a time when customers would be hard to come by.
Construction, Devadas said, would not stop but would continue at a slower pace. The resort is still taking reservations, he said.
The biggest impact on Middleburg may be on its water and sewer utility plant and users, town staff said.
“We still have some unanswered questions,” Town Manager Jerry Schiro said. “Our biggest concern is the new wastewater treatment plant.”
As part of Salamander's building agreement with the town, the resort is building a $5 million utility plant to replace the town's current plant.
The new plant, which is to be completed on time in December 2009, would serve town residents as well as resort guests. The resort would make up about 30 percent of the users, Schiro said.
“It's going to be very expensive for us to operate that plant without those users,” he said.
Middleburg Mayor Betsy Allen Davis said the town and Salamander are discussing the impact of the delayed opening on town residents and utility users.
“We've got several scenarios that we're looking at,” she said. “We really don't know what our options are going to be.
“It shouldn't affect us,” Davis said.
Town representatives said they were meeting later this week to continue talks on the impacts Salamander's delays may have on the town.
Reporter Jason Jacks contributed to this article.
You must be logged in to post a comment.