ACR lands the Great White Shark

So here it is early October.  ACR got their green light almost a year ago, and there's been very little news out of Tupper Lake on the progress of the development, other than the announcement of Greg Norman's "involvement" early in the summer.

This article appeared in The Chronicle a week or two ago, which doesn't say anything about sales progress, but does clarify Norman's role somewhat:

Is the Australian a partner in the Adirondack Club and Resort project?

“No, we’re not going to be called a partner,” Mr. Norman said. “I think we’re more of a, I’d say — branding it, bringing my brand in and bringing my expertise and my marketing in.

Instead of putting cash into the project as an investor, it sounds like Norman will be billing the developers as a consultant.  As to Norman himself buying one of the Great Camp lots and building a home:

“Yeah, we have discussed that,” he said. “We’ve got a site allocated."

So what I want to know is what happened to all those investors and buyers that were waiting in the wings for the lawsuit to be dismissed and the approvals finalized?   Does anybody know if any sales contracts have actually been signed or if any construction work has begun?

Link to Adirondack Daily Enterprise, 9/26/2015

ACR recently had another permit extension for the project. They are in the process of getting different permits for a 7 mile road that crosses steams and wetlands.

"After Planning Board Chairman Jim Larkin asked for an update, ACR Attorney Bob Sweeney filled the board in on the project's progress to date. Because the project's seven-mile road crosses streams and wetlands, he said it needs to obtain permits from the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Corps of Engineers."

They have the ability to take deposits from buyers now.

"The resort received a Cooperative Policy Statement 7 permit from the state attorney general's office in June, which allows the developers, Pennsylvania-based Preserve Associates, to sign contracts and take deposits."

There is still no mention of where the money is coming from to finance the project.

Adk Jeff wrote

 “We’ve got a site allocated."

This is exactly what I was thinking payment would be...unimproved land.    Greg got a few free expensive dinners, wined and dined, some name recognition and land for his time.   I don't think much more will be said about this for a few years.  


Financing will be the real test.    If private then there may be some "there" there on this plan/project.    If public, it's a shake down designed to steal tax dollars on a false promises of jobs and a  project that will never occur--a dream, a very costly dream for NY residents and maybe even Federal dollars.  

x10003q wrote

ACR recently had another permit extension for the project. They are in the process of getting different permits for a 7 mile road that crosses steams and wetlands.

Yeah, they've been "working" on that road for a long time.  From the same article X linked:

"This is the ninth extension of the original resolution," town Assessor and Code Enforcement Officer Paul O'Leary said, adding that it had been over two years since the board first granted the project a permit. "This is the fourth extension from the date of the Court of Appeals decision, which would be 281 days."

"The lots are for sale, but the road has to be there," ACR Attorney Bob Sweeney said. "The town wants the road there, the seller wants the road there, the buyer wants the road there, and that's what we're working on. These things take time. It probably takes more time to get the permits than it does to build the road. That's the reason that we're looking for another 90 days."

ACR Developer Tom Lawson agreed. "We're ready to go on the road," he said. "I've talked to different people about doing it, and we want to get started the day that we're legally able to do it. As Bob said, we've got to get the road in before we can close on lots."

I'll bet they have no money to build a road.  They dragged their feet on the road hoping Norman would kick in some bucks.  Now we're nearing the end of the building season and they'll drag their feet into next year hoping to get some of that $500 million from the Gov that everyone's looking for.  Any takers on that bet?  A donut?  A beer?  Case of Heady Topper?

Like I said, I'll bet a hundred bucks Norman was doing somebody a favor with that photo op, and it wasn't the developers. I'd love to hear the phone calls.

Benny Profane wrote

Like I said, I'll bet a hundred bucks Norman was doing somebody a favor with that photo op, and it wasn't the developers. I'd love to hear the phone calls.

Appears I am lost then......who beside the developer?  The town?  Trying to get some of the $500M.     Sorry for being obtuse.    As I said before...I firmly feel that all these decisions were made long ago at a nice restaurant in Albany with several shoe boxes filled with green paper.  They then play them out for the press and public.    

Wow, how many people to buy a case of Heddy?
 Sorry thred drift

The Heady probably wasn't a good idea - could be pretty hard for whoever loses to actually obtain and deliver the goods.

Flower Power?

Yeah, NY alternative, or how about Sip of Sunshine? Sorry beer thread.

I:)skiing wrote

Benny Profane wrote

Like I said, I'll bet a hundred bucks Norman was doing somebody a favor with that photo op, and it wasn't the developers. I'd love to hear the phone calls.

Appears I am lost then......who beside the developer?  The town?  Trying to get some of the $500M.     Sorry for being obtuse.    As I said before...I firmly feel that all these decisions were made long ago at a nice restaurant in Albany with several shoe boxes filled with green paper.  They then play them out for the press and public.

About the best I can come up with is Cuomo. I mean, let's face it, why in the world is Norman even bothering, you know, there? Of all the places in the world, and he is an international celebrity. There had to be a favor called in by big time Democrats to help out Cuomo on this one, and the payoff may be down the line, someday. I know, conspiracy theoryish, but, you come up with a better one. No way he's putting a dime into it or even buying a plot of land.

http://www.lakeplacidnews.com/page/content.detail/id/523935/Greg-Norman-s-daughter-to-help-promote-Tupper-Lake-resort.html?nav=5005

This August 27, 2015, article discusses Greg Norman's daughter visiting the area to develop a marketing plan.

"Great White Shark Enterprises Creative Director Morgan-leigh Norman, daughter of golf legend and Great White Shark Enterprises founder Greg Norman, met with ACR developers Tuesday to gather information that will help her company devise a branding and marketing strategy for the 6,200-acre resort in Tupper Lake. "My father is involved from everything (from) golf course design to a fully branded, integrated involvement," Norman said at the ACR's Park Street office Tuesday, Aug. 25. "My position with his company is creative director, so I oversee all of the marketing, all the PR.

"We're just going to be overseeing and leading the pack for all branding and marketing for the project. We have a lot of experience with projects of this scale ... all over the world that we've worked with." While Greg Norman's accent gives him away as Australian, Morgan-leigh grew up in Florida. She and company Corporate Communications Manager Jane MacNeille arrived in Tupper Lake Monday and visited Big Tupper Ski Area, the planned centerpiece of the project. On Tuesday, the duo met with ACR Developer Tom Lawson, his wife, Susan, and LaValley Real Estate owner Jim LaValley to discuss the project. "My father is all about building up this vision," Norman said. "He sees Tom and Susan's vision, and he just wants to be a part of it. He fell in love with it the second he got here, so he came back and kind of tasked everyone in his office to get on board and to live this story and to tell this story and help bring to reality their vision."

Bringing visions to reality, one dream at a time.

http://www.lakeplacidnews.com/page/content.detail/id/523935/Greg-Norman-s-daughter-to-help-promote-Tupper-Lake-resort.html?nav=5005

The article also states they have 5 people interested in the great camps, now numbered at 18. There are notations online indicating there are a proposed 39 great camps.

"Lawson said the project team has sent contracts out to five people thinking of buying some of the resort's 18 great camp lots, and those contracts are starting to trickle back in. The resort received a Cooperative Policy Statement 7 permit from the state attorney general's office in June, which allowed the developers to sign contracts and take deposits, and Lawson said it is waiting on additional permits before it begins a national and international advertising campaign in conjunction with Great White Shark Enterprises. He said the project is moving forward as quickly as possible."

One of the comments at the end of the article says that ACR has not yet purchased the land they are proposing to develop.

There's kind of a smoke-and-mirrors theme here, isn't there?  A lot of talk about sales and partners and building stuff without any actual sales or partners or construction.

“I think we’re more of a, I’d say — branding it, bringing my brand in and bringing my expertise and my marketing in.”

"My father is involved from everything (from) golf course design to a fully branded, integrated involvement"

“those contracts are starting to trickle back in.”

“the project is moving forward as quickly as possible."

“These things take time. It probably takes more time to get the permits than it does to build the road.”

Adk Jeff wrote

There's kind of a smoke-and-mirrors theme here, isn't there?  A lot of talk about sales and partners and building stuff without any actual sales or partners or construction.

“I think we’re more of a, I’d say — branding it, bringing my brand in and bringing my expertise and my marketing in.”

"My father is involved from everything (from) golf course design to a fully branded, integrated involvement"

“those contracts are starting to trickle back in.”

“the project is moving forward as quickly as possible."

“These things take time. It probably takes more time to get the permits than it does to build the road.”

Used to need hip-boots to get through the /acr propoganda, now you need an excavator. There is NOTHING happening in Tupper Lake. The best line in the ADE article was Tom Lawson talking about going  Mach 2 with his hair on fire, more like Mach 2 with his PANTS ON FIRE.  These guys tell so many lies they can't keep  them straight.

Back in early May  this Lawson guy was quoted in the local paper saying they had all their permits from all agencies except the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) They have no permits at all yet, more later on all this,too late to think clearly.

Btw did Lawson ever sell his pad on SIMON Pond ?

Warp, No not sold. Multiple mortgages on it totaling over $2M, listed for $3.5 m, Assessed at less than $600K, would be hard pressed to get $500K in todays market.

If ACR was hoping to get a piece of the Governor's Upstate Revitalization Initiative, it ain't happening:

No big payday for North Country

I wonder how sales are going?  

Adk Jeff wrote

If ACR was hoping to get a piece of the Governor's Upstate Revitalization Initiative, it ain't happening:

No big payday for North Country

I wonder how sales are going?  

Sales? Kind of hard to sell something you don't even own yet. Not that it has stopped other shifty developers in the past.
Jeff, The ACR will be touting this as a success, if you checked you will see that the Village of Tupper Lake is going to get $1M thrown their way to expand the water and sewer to connect to the (non existent) ACR. Of course their are no real details as to what the Village plans to do yet either. It will be interesting to see how they spin this in the next few days. Maybe it will help solidify Tuppers' reputation as an "Under the radar ski destination".

endoftheline wrote

Adk Jeff wrote

If ACR was hoping to get a piece of the Governor's Upstate Revitalization Initiative, it ain't happening:

No big payday for North Country

I wonder how sales are going?  

Sales? Kind of hard to sell something you don't even own yet. Not that it has stopped other shifty developers in the past.
Jeff, The ACR will be touting this as a success, if you checked you will see that the Village of Tupper Lake is going to get $1M thrown their way to expand the water and sewer to connect to the (non existent) ACR. Of course their are no real details as to what the Village plans to do yet either. It will be interesting to see how they spin this in the next few days. Maybe it will help solidify Tuppers' reputation as an "Under the radar ski destination".

Forget about under the radar - it is the Stealth Resort.