Closing Delayed Month

On Cooperstown Motel

COOPERSTOWN – CVS Health has delayed closing on the purchase of the Cooperstown Motel for a month to allow an arson investigation into the Aug. 9 fire there to come to a conclusion.

Attorney Martin Tillapaugh, executor of the estate of Albert O’Brien, the longtime owner of the motel who died last October, said the closing, which was scheduled for this past Monday, Aug. 22, has been rescheduled for Sept. 21.

The fire that swept through the motel in the early morning hours of the 9th has been ruled “suspicious” by investigators.  A press release on progress of the investigation has been expected Tuesday, but was delayed.

Meanwhile, CVS’ plans for the motel site received a “special permit” approval by the village trustees on Aug. 12, but the approval was contingent on a dozen provisions being met, including a traffic survey where CVS would pay for an expert to interpret.

Todd Hamula of the Zaremba Group, CVS’ contractor, appeared at that meeting and said afterwards groundbreaking would not occur on the site until at least next spring.