Your Stories Q&A: Are plans still on to rehab the abandoned plaza near Central Square?

TOWN OF HASTINGS, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — You ask, we answer!

Viewer Question: What’s happening with the old North Country Plaza near Central Square? I thought renovations were supposed to start last year.

The old plaza, located at the intersection of Routes 11 and 4, has been vacant for years.

When we answered a similar question about the abandoned plaza back in March of 2023 , the property owner, Carmen Cesta of Cicero, told us he planned to give the old plaza a much needed makeover.

Cesta said he wanted to bring his doggie daycare/grooming business, called Carm’s Dog House, to the renovated plaza. He also wanted to fill the remaining space with a grocery store, salon and gym.

He added that he was aiming for construction to begin last fall.

The Town of Hastings Community Planning and Development office said they don’t have an update on the property because no construction plans have been submitted to town offices.

The town said the property did need to be boarded up to stop squatters from entering the vacant building.

Why the delay in rehabbing the property?

The Your Stories Team contacted Cesta for an update on the property, curious if his plans changed. He told us he was still moving forward with the project.

Cesta said the delay was caused by turning his focus on finishing other projects, such as adding a Carm’s Dog House location in Syracuse.

He said interest in the property has increased due to the Micron project in Clay, but he said he has no intentions of selling.

As for when construction on the plaza could begin, Cesta said it would be safe to say sometime this year, and added that people should expect to see progress soon.

We’ll keep you posted!

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