By Matt Youngfrau
MONTICELLO — September 13, 2002 – Property in Sullivan County has been a hot commodity, and Bridgeville is the latest hamlet to grab developers’ eyes.
Since the proposed Stockbridge-Munsee Casino on Bridgeville Road east of Monticello does not include plans for a hotel, a group of developers want to put a hotel and conference facility on the adjoining property.
The project, which would be known as the Thompson Inn and Health Spa, is being developed by Abraham Galbut of 3D Associates LLC and Gene Barbanti of the Barbanti Group in Liberty. The size of the property is 82 acres.
The hotel plan calls for 277 rooms and would employ 320 people. There would be 100,000 square feet available for conventions and other activities.
The plans are in the very preliminary stages. So far, the option has been purchased and a fixed price has been agreed upon, said Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development President Michael Sullivan. The group is in the process of a market study, and the project has been discussed with both Town of Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini and Sullivan.
"Sullivan County has become a mecca for anyone in the hotel business simply because the expectations are that one standalone casino would generate a need for 10,000 rooms," commented Sullivan. "We were told this by the late Arthur Goldberg, former CEO of Park Place."
No official plans have been submitted to either the town or planning boards. No timetable has been set for the project either.