North Creek, NY, Oct 13, 2010 — Two years ago, the Adirondack Park Agency approved a massive new resort in North Creek. Front Street Mountain Development was meant to bring more than 130 luxury condos to the village, along with five hotels, restaurants and a riding stable. The idea was to tie the resort in with the North Creek ski bowl, offering ski-from-your door condominiums.

But so far, only one model home has been built and no properties in the resort have been sold. As Brian Mann reports, local officials are questioning the project's future.  Go to full article

Apr 14, 2006 — Governor George Pataki announced nearly $3 billion in budget vetoes this week, slashing the legislature's proposed spending plan. One of the big cuts here in the North Country was a $5.5 million dollar fund earmarked to build a ski gondola at the state-run ski area on Gore Mountain in North Creek. One pro-environment group praised the decision. But local government leaders in the Adirondacks worry that the veto could derail plans to build a new resort development around North Creek's ski bowl. Brian Mann has details.  Go to full article

Feb 15, 2006 — The 6000-acre resort proposed for Tupper Lake would be the biggest project in the Adirondacks since the Olympic games a quarter century ago. Investors from Philadelphia want to build more than 700 mansions, townhouses and condos near the Big Tupper Ski area. This week, the company will submit their application to the Adirondack Park Agency. Conservation groups and some local residents say a plan to build "great camp" style estates on the property would damage the forest and disrupt wildlife. But as Brian Mann reports, the environmental issues aren't as clear-cut as some critics say.

Tomorrow during the Eight O'Clock Hour Brian reports on the park-wide implications of the Big Tupper Resort project. Green groups and some loggers say this development could set precedents that would alter the Adirondack backcountry forever.  Go to full article

Dec 08, 2005 — In Tupper Lake tonight locals will meet in the town hall to discuss a proposed zoning change intended to help the Big Tupper resort project. This is the first major public hearing on the project since last month's election. As Brian Mann reports, key decisions could be made before the new slate of elected officials takes office.  Go to full article

May 20, 2005 — In the coming months, people in Tupper Lake will decide whether to support a huge new resort development in the hills above the village. The project - with more than 700 vacation homes and condos -- will be funded, in part, with village bonds worth tens of millions of dollars. The developer has also asked for a tax break from Franklin County for those who buy the four hundred thousand dollar vacation homes. Boosters of the project say the deal comes with very little risk for the community and would revitalize a town that's been losing population and businesses for decades. Brian Mann attended a community gathering yesterday in Tupper Lake. He found that many people support the project. But questions linger about financing. Some locals also worry that their quiet village could change beyond recognition.  Go to full article

Feb 11, 2005 — The Adirondack Park Agency is reviewing a proposed resort development in Tupper Lake that would mean construction of more than 800 vacation homes and condos. A cornerstone of the project are the 25 "great camp" sized lots that would spread over roughly two thousand acres. Environmentalists and some locals say the great camp subdivision could damage the forest and disrupt wildlife habitat. An APA report issued last month played down those concerns. But an investigation by North Country Public Radio has found that members of the Park Agency's own review team were deeply troubled by the project. As Brian Mann reports, their recommendations were over-ruled by the APA's executive team and their environmental concerns were never made public.  Go to full article

Feb 11, 2005 — The Big Tupper resort development is widely seen as the first big crest of a development wave that's hitting privately owned forestland across the Adirondack Park. Brian Mann spoke with Heidi Kretser, a graduate student at Cornell University who's studying the impact of "exurban" development on northeastern forests. She says a lot of questions are still unanswered.  Go to full article