It’s in the early stage of a long process, but residents and visitors of Newcomb can look forward to a visitors center in the town.
Photo: Antoni Zaborek Wildlife Photography
“We’ve been working on it for a considerable amount of time,” Newcomb Supervisor Wes Miga told Sun Community News. “Right now, we’re in the process of developing a sketch. There are a lot of components.”
A grant from the Department of State has been combined with funds from the Town of Newcomb, leading to a total of $75,000 set aside for planning and development. Chazen Companies and Argus Architecture & Preservation have been enlisted to design the sketch.
“It’s in its infancy,” Mega said of the draft to Sun Community News. “It’s going to take awhile.”
The preliminary drawing is expected to be completed by October. The next step will be getting approval for an engineering plan, at which point the town can start determining the cost of the project and what funding will be needed.
Properties in the town could be sold to fund the construction of the project, and additional grants are also being considered.
The special projects committee is using public input to pinpoint what the community needs out of this visitors center. Amenities being considered are an information center, restrooms, and an area to host mid-size groups.
“We’d like to have some type of certified kitchen and possibly be able to host a wedding,” Town Board Member Dave Olbert told Sun Community News.
A museum of historical records is also being discussed. When longtime resident Marvin Bissell passed away in 2013, he donated historical documents and pieces of property to the town.
Thanks to his generosity, a $25,000 annual gift may go towards the storage and display of genealogical and historical records for the public – this could be a significant part of the historical component of the visitors center.
What is certain is that the building will be located near the scenic overlook on Route 28N.
“It’s an open park with vistas of the High Peaks region,” Olbert told Sun Community News.
Although costs are still being worked out, an overall price of $1 million has been mentioned in public discussions.
Sources:
- Sun Community News: Future Newcomb visitors’ center still in planning stages.
