But golly, it looks like a developer has gotten the State’s OK to build us Vermonters an official highway rest area in Randolph.
Under the 30-year agreement, [Jesse “Sam”] Sammis will pay for construction and operation of the visitors center, which will be open 365 days a year from at least 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. […] The building is designed to resemble a barn to blend into the Vermont landscape. One end of the building will host the State sanctioned visitor center, the other end housing the Vermont Products Showcase.
By gawd what a selfless man, and yet some folks think developers are greedy self-interested exploiters. So this nice man named “Sam” Sammis who must be very busy otherwise because he is Chairman of the New England Land Company of Greenwich CT and Randolph VT owns projects in Vermont including The Green Mountain Stock Farm and Green Mountain Office and Industrial Park.
Well, he will build it all by himself, and as luck would have it he just happens to own a 170-acre industrial park right next to the highway! And that exclusive official Vermont state-sanctioned signage is expected to direct upwards of 500,000 cars and trucks to it every year. Thankfully that traffic won’t be any bother at all to Mr. Sammis!
In addition, Sammis plans to add 274 residential units, 280,000 square feet of office space, 236,000 square feet of light manufacturing space, and a 180-bed hotel and conference center on land he owns near the visitors center.
But what really sold and convinced me was that nice man from Montpelier (the one with beard) that works for the Governor – ,Jeb Spaulding. Why he’s normally so taciturn and serious – well he was just so excited he could hardly contain himself!
“When I first heard about this proposal I thought it sounded too good to be true. Imagine, a private developer offering to build a top quality visitor center for the State on private property, staff it and operate for thirty years and at what cost to the State? Zero,” said Administration Secretary Jeb Spaulding. “We are confident this project will be a job creator, generate new revenues and save the state many millions in avoided spending while providing quality services to the travelling public.”
Golly, isn’t it just great that Governor Shumlin lets these wealthy people build nice things for us here in Vermont?! Since we are in these difficult days and must keep upper bracket income taxes low so they won’t move away and tough choices must. be. made.
And gosh what a great coincidence too, this announcement coming now during the new budget session when the state just seems to have hardly any money at all. Goodness me.
A rest area in Randolph? Or pretty close by? Wasn’t it closed by the state? Can’t imagine why they didn’t offer to sell off that to the generous Mr. Sammis.
NanuqFC
We now know that government by organized money is just as dangerous as government by organized mob. ~ FDR
So a hotel (in hokey barn motif no less), light industry, building, grounds and road maintenance. food and janitorial services? Should offer lots of great union organizing opportunities in the near future. As Randolph rises, so rises Vermont.
Randolph is the best place for something like this anyways. There’s alot of traffic from the south that still pretty much stays south of route 4.
did he just buy himself exclusive use of an interstate exit for 30 years or so. I wouldathunk that a violation of the interstate highway regulations. But if Jeb was involved, you can bet it is on the up & up. He isn’t one to let things go out the door on the cheap….