Redevelopment project at former Cosmo Motel site back in play

As first reported by MoodyOnTheMarket.com, the owners of the site of the former Cosmo Motel in Sodus Township are moving forward again with plans for redevelopment. In addition to a new retail gas station and convenience store, the new plan reportedly includes a much larger footprint, complete with two new sit-down restaurants.

Formally proposed in July 2020, officials with Speedway, LLC were hoping to develop the 9-acre, former Cosmo Motel site into a new retail gas station and convenience store. The developer secured the necessary permits, but work failed to get underway in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Sodus Township Supervisor David Chandler said after two one-year extensions, the permits are now expired and Speedway representatives will have to come back to the Sodus Zoning Board for another permit application. Chandler says he reached out to his Speedway contacts for an update and reports they are still very interested in moving forward with the project, they understand the need to reapply for the necessary permits, and they also indicated the development application will be modified significantly.Instead of just a gas station and convenience store, Speedway is now reportedly planning to add two sit-down restaurants. The entire development will require structures with more square footage than the single-story, 4,608 square foot retail building originally proposed. There’s no word yet from company officials if the proposed redevelopment will include more fuel pump islands than the two already included in the previous plan (one consisting of eight fuel dispensers and the other consisting of five fuel dispensers). Supervisor Chandler said he’s hopeful for the redevelopment project, but his primary concern was razing the dilapidated Cosmo Motel structure that had been an eyesore and safety hazard for the area. “That’s now done,” said Chandler.As for timing of the next steps, Chandler anticipates the new Speedway permit application for development later this month or early next. No word from company officials yet as to their timeline for actual construction.