Luxury townhouse complex proposed in Ellicottville

By:CHRIS CHAPMAN , Staff Writer

ELLICOTTVILLE - An Amherst company is looking to build the largest townhouse project in the town's history; a 54-unit, $30 million resort community.

Amherst investment group, AWSC, LLC., is working with Ellicottville town officials on a proposal to build the Morningside Estates complex on a 10-acre plot of land off of the intersection of routes 219 and 242. The plot was acquired from developer Peter Krog.

The complex would be built in phases over the next five years, according to Craig Marlatt, executive vice president of Ross Wilson & Associates, an Amherst-based development company that is taking the lead in the project.
The construction of the project will bring an estimated 100 construction jobs to the area, according to Marlatt.

"The (construction) bidding will open to every one and done in multiple packages," Marlatt said. "We'll take bids on mechanical contractors, concrete contractors, and coordinating everything between all of them.
"Once this is up and running, there could be as many as 20 to 24 house keeping and maintenance positions," Marlatt said.

The economic impact of the project will be determinate on the preferences of the customer, according to Marlatt.
"There will be 54 units priced from $650,000 to $1.2 million, " Marlatt said. "That would give a figure between $30 million and $60 million."

Each of the units will have a drive-in garage and two stories of living space. All floor plans include a stone fire place in the unit, and an option of an exterior fireplace. The customer can choose from a two- or three-bedroom floor plan. According to Foit-Albert information, each unit will have a two-story glass wall.
A timetable for construction to begin is not yet known - the project is awaiting approval from town officials, as well as that of the New York State Attorney General's Office.

According to the town's building code enforcement officer, Tom Abriatis, final approval is not expected during July.

"They're going through the SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) process. They're application is under review by the town engineer (Mark Alianello) for the sewer and drainage. We're waiting for more information. They're not on the agenda for this month," said Abriatis.

For more information on Chautauqua Lake Real Estate & Living visit: www.chautauqualakehomes.com