PLATTSBURGH — Mall representatives and local leaders took part in a ceremonial groundbreaking Wednesday for the Target store scheduled to open in October 2008 at Champlain Centre.

Champlain Centre General Manager David Napolitan said the ceremony marks one of the biggest events ever at the mall. Target has the ability to attract shoppers to the area as almost no other store can, he said.

“Local shoppers will be joined by a strong influx of shoppers from both Canada and Vermont. This additional traffic will benefit the stores within our mall and those in the surrounding area,” Napolitan said.

“And, we can say to others with pride, we have a Target in Plattsburgh, at the mall. Many other communities have tried but can’t make that claim.”

The project received approval from the Town of Plattsburgh Planning Board in June.

At that time, Napolitan said demolition of the former 80,939-square-foot Ames building could start within two to three months. It will be replaced by a 126,842-square-foot store on 9.9 acres of property, and Target willown both the building and the land.

Work is under way on relocation of a portion of the mall’s perimeter road and adjacent drainage areas. Napolitan said the perimeter road and parking areas from the Tom Miller Road entrance and the Smithfield Boulevard entrance to the Ames building will be fenced off next week so Champlain Centre can continue its work in a safe and secure manner.

Also, starting on Sunday, July 15, the loading and unloading area for Clinton County Public Transit buses is expected to be switched to the entrance between Dick’s Sporting Goods and Gander Mountain.

BIG IMPACT

Napolitan went on to thank the many agencies involved in bringing Target to the mall, then handed things off to Plattsburgh Town Supervisor Bernie Bassett, who said it’s great to have Target coming to the Town of Plattsburgh and the Champlain Valley.

“This is a concrete example of change taking place,” he said.

With severe competition to attract businesses and industry, the ability of local municipalities and economic-development agencies to work together leads to much greater results than any single entity could achieve, Bassett said.

The town needs to continue to build infrastructure so future development can occur, he said.

“We’re very, very fortunate we have the space in the Town of Plattsburgh that we all can benefit from.”

Clinton County Legislator Robert Butler (R-Area 6, Saranac) said he was pleased to be on hand to witness groundbreaking on such an important community development.