Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Property Redevelopment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Owner says he will list Tower Plaza and donate tower; council tables enforcement review
Summary
The owner of the Tower Plaza said he will put the property on the market, preserve the landmark tower and consider donating it to a nonprofit; council instructed staff to re-inspect the plaza buildings and tabled a code-enforcement discussion until the next meeting.
The owner of the Tower Plaza complex told the Lake Placid Town Council on Oct. 13 he plans to list the property for sale, demolish the surrounding retail center, preserve the 200-foot tower landmark and explore donating the tower to a nonprofit. Council members and residents pressed the owner for a timeline and asked staff to re-open code-enforcement proceedings for the deteriorated buildings on the site.
Owner presentation and plans
Owner (Mr.) Sperk told the council that cellular equipment on the tower has been decommissioned, that he has met with prospective real-estate brokers and that he expects to list the shopping-center portion of the parcel in the coming weeks. Sperk said he is exploring options that would separate ownership of the tower from the center so the tower could be restored and used as a community landmark. He said he personally would consider donating the tower to a nonprofit or otherwise supporting restoration efforts, and he showed council members conceptual sketches for possible tower renovations and limited public access features such as cameras, lighting and decorative finishes.
Council and resident concerns
Council members and residents repeatedly raised the plaza's appearance and ongoing public-safety concerns: trash, broken windows and vandalism. Several residents called for consistent code enforcement; others urged the council to allow the owner time to sell or demolish the deteriorated structures. Staff said prior enforcement actions had been closed because the earlier code enforcement officer who issued them was no longer on duty and the town had been working with the owner during interim meetings.
Action: table for inspection and staff report
Following discussion, the council voted to table the item and directed staff to re-inspect the plaza, document current violations and return to the council at the next meeting with a recommendation on potential enforcement or condemnation steps. The council clarified the town would not demolish the tower and that any action would be limited to addressing the deteriorated retail structures or legal enforcement where code violations exist.
Why it matters: Tower Plaza sits near Lake Placid's downtown footprint and the tower is a local landmark. The property's condition and future use affect downtown appearance, public safety, and potential redevelopment. Residents described the center as an eyesore that affects nearby businesses and neighborhood safety; the owner said he has spent money to clean and repair parts of the property and will move to market the parcel.
Next steps
Staff will conduct a fresh code inspection, gather photo documentation, and return to the council with a recommendation and timeline for any necessary enforcement action. The owner said he would return to a subsequent meeting with a presentation and more detailed cost estimates for demolition, separation of the tower parcel and restoration concepts.
