Press and Sun-Bulletin from Binghamton, New York • 8

Consider Binghamton UR Plot as Hotel Site By LOU GANIM Developers are eyeing as a possible site for a new hotel the parcel of land in downtown Binghamton that had been set aside for construction of a performing arts theater. to build a theater on the site have been scuttled. The property is in the city block west of the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. The land, between Washington and Water streets, is owned by the Binghamton Urban Renewal for the urban renewal agency have said they have received several inquiries from developers about the land, all of them interested in the site as a spot for a hotel. NO FORMAL proposals, however, have been made.

The presence, though, of a number of interested developers has led some renewal officials to become optimistic about attracting another hotel to the city. Robert M. Eronimous, director of planning for the urban renewal agency, advised members this week agency that they should begin consideration of a move to amend the renewal plan for project one to accomodate a hotel at the site. Currently, the land is designated for a theater and the plan would have to be amended to provide for commercial development on the site. One of the developers who has expressed interest in the land is Thorne Real Estate Inc.

of Binghamton. ROBERT T. THORNE, president, confirmed his company's interest, saying, "'We have someone who wants it very Thorne would not identify the interested party other than to say it is "in the hotel business." Among other developers expressing interest in the land have been the E. L. Nezelek Development Corp.

of Johnson City, and Treadway Inns. Frank Monte, manager of the Binghamton Treadway Inn, said that Treadway has taken a look at the land and that it is interested in it as part of its consideration of expansion of the only downtown hotel. "We certainly would make a bid for it along with the othThe city's urban renewal ers," Monte remarked. plan recently was amended to allow the Treadway to expand on its current site to the northwest of the Arena. MONTE SAID that Treadway's consideration of expansion do not hinge on the acquisition of the theater site, bu indicated that the hotel's.

plans may be based on who buys the land and what use would be made of it." Treadway has made no definite proposal for expansion other than to express a desire to increase its rooms. A performing arts theater originally was proposed to be built on the site in connection with the Arena, but was eliminated by the county legislature because of an estimated $7 million cost. Instead, it has been proposed that the old Capri theater in the city be renovated and used for performing arts. A campaign to raise money for the renovation project has surpassed the $250,000 mark, the minimum needed to get a matching grant from the Gannett Newspaper Foundation. OBSERVERS FEEL interest in the theater site has been spurred by the opening of the Arena and the closing of the Sheraton Inn on Front Street this year.

The nearness of the site to the Arena combined with a possible need for incresed hotel accomodations in the city have brought on the inquiries. One person remarked that the Arena has brought renewed activity to 'the downtown section and that developers are looking for a way to cash in on it. Much of the site is used at this time for parking, although an old, two-story building is leased by the renewal agency to the Broome County Health Department, which has its offices there. Little Time to Negotiate -L Yard for School Site The Binghamton School District will try once more to negotiate a purchase of the Erie-Lackawanna Railway Co. yard in the city as a site for the district's planned new high school, Superintendent Richard P.

McLean said yesterday. But the board and the railroad, if it is more recepsecond time around tive a may have only a short time to come to an agreement before a pending federal law bans any such transaction. "WE'RE GOING TO take one more swing at them; we're going to pursue this thing one more time," McLean said. McLean and school board members met in Cleveland with trustees of the bankrupt E-L railroad last month, and their purchase offer was rebuffed. Then, McLean said, the trustees mentioned the possible impact of the now-pending bill, called the Railroad Reorganization Act.

NY-Penn Studies Criticized by HEW The U.S. Department Welfare, in its first Health Planning Council, group for reportedly health needs. The report of an assessment team, which reviewed the five-year-old planning council last month, was released this week. It advised the planning group that the federal government believe NY-Penn had done studies "as money became available for them from the Public Health Service and not as they were needed." Commenting on the review today, James R. Tallon, executive director of the planning council, said the valid problems pointed out in the review had been identified by the Dec.

7, 1973 PRESS, Binghamton, N.Y. 5-A -PRESS PHOTO BY PAUL F. KONECNY HOTEL -Developers are looking at this piece of land in county Arena is directly opposite the land, across Washington downtown Binghamton as a possible hotel site. The building on the Street, the street in foreground. Old Sheraton Inn is at right in land is currently used by the county Health Department.

The background, across Susquehanna River. Smith Fund Donations Top $2,700 The fund for Paul Smith, the 4-year-old Greene boy who fought a losing battle to keep his reattached arm, rose to $2,750 as of this morning, according to Binghamton Councilman John E. Cahill who set up the fund. A spokesman for the Jewish Hospital in Louisville, where Paul is recuperating from his ordeal, said today that the boy's high fever has subsided considerably and that he remains in satisfactory condition. Gerald Adkins, public relations director for the hospital, also said that the cost of Paul's operations and hospitalization will be high.

He urged Triple Cities residents to contribute to the fund. Donations, which go to Paul's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Smith, will pay for hospital costs and othec family expenses.

Cahill also said today that a well which is being drilled free of cost on the Smith Farm was down 75 feet yesterday afternoon and should be completed by MONDAY. The well will replace a dying spring on the property and provide drinkin water for the family and for Smith's cow herd. Donations to the Smith Fund should be sent to the Marine Midland Bank, Marine Midland Plaza, Binghamton. Nixon Asks FEO Funding WASHINGTON (AP) President Nixon has asked Congress for $9.3 million in a supplemental appropriation for fiscal 1974 to pay for his new Federal Energy Office. The White House said Thursday the money would go for salaries and expenses, including the hiring of passenger motor vehicles for the office he has set up to coordinate and manage energy 1 policies.

-PRESS PHOTO BY LEO F. FAHEY EARS ON CAREERS New York State Trooper Anthony Roberts discusses the work of the state police with students at Binghamton North High School during Career Day sponsored by the guidance departments of North and Central High Schools Rites Tomorrow and Monday Camillo Iacovelli Brought 'Spiedi' By STEVE HAMBALEK Funeral services will be tomorrow and Monday at Endicott for Camillo lacovelli of 918 Douglas a well-known retired restauranteur who died yesterday at Wilson Memorial Hospital. He was 77. lacovelli, a native of Italy, was man who generally introduced credited as the "spiedi" to the U.S. during the depression of the 1930s in Endicott.

He started with the most modest of means, cooking the marinated pieces of skewered lamb over a charcoal fire in a small metal burner on the sidewalk in front of a tavern on the North Side of Endicott. EACH SKEWER held a half dozen chunks of lamb. When the meah was done, the cus- to U.S. Dies; DeMarco Funeral Home, 1607 Witherill Endicott. Because Saturday is a Holy Day of Obligation, funeral Mass at St.

Anthony's church has been postponed until 9:30 a.m. Monday. Burial will be in the Vestal Hills Memorial Park. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Josephine Iacovelli, a daughter, Mrs.

Michael (Norma) Weller of Endwell, four grandchildren, a brother, Augostino lacovelli of Endicott, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Prayer Fails NITEROI, Brazil (AP) Leodaro Juliao, a 57-year-old beggar, prayed to an image of Saint Joseph, didn't get the things he wanted and later smashed the image with his cane, police said. He refused to say what he prayed for. tomer wrapped a piece of Italian bread around the lowest piece, pulled upward to form a sandwich. The price was 10 cents a stick.

Iacovelli did so well in the business that in a few years he was able to build and operate his own restaurant: Camillo's on the George F. Highway in Endwell. He ran the restaurant, which featured spiedis, for about 35 years, until he retired and sold out in 1967. Iacovelli was a member of St. Anthony's of Padua Church, a former member of Broome County Restaurant and Liquor Dealers Association and the Endicott Elks and Moose clubs.

THE FIRST FUNERAL service will be at 10:15 a.m. tomorrow from the Anthony R. Open 10 to 9 'till Christmas CHRISTMAS GIFT LIST Coats from $65 Dresses from $20 Blouses from $9 Handbags from $13 Jewelry from $5 Blazers from $12 Robes from $12 Skirts from $14 Gowns from $8 Scarves from $5 Millinery from $5 Leather Gloves from $10 Boutiques from $5 Full Slips from $6 Shoes from $17 Belts from $5 Wallets from $8 Fragrances from $3 75 Slacks from $14 Umbrellas from $7 Pant Suits from $40 Long Skirts from $16 Leather Jackets from $75 Designer Knits from $54 Gowns from $38 Fake Fur Coats. from $115 Half Slips from $4 Evening Bags from $12 A gift from drazens, a joy to give. a joy to receive UR Picks Developer The 1 Binghamton Urban Renewal Agency has selected Trans Urban Housing Systems, of New York City as the developer for the planned Woodburn Court housing complex.

The designation was made during a meeting of the urban renewal agency. Woodburn Court is a planned 200-unit project south of Susquehanna Street in the Model Cities neighborhood. According to an aide of Rep. Howard W. Robison, Tioga County Republican, the bill, designed to revamp six bankrupt northeastern railroads, including the E-L, has a provision that would bar the railroads from abandoning any of their properties while the reorganization plan is worked out.

THE PLAN would be at least a year and a.half in the making, the aide said. That might be too long: a wait for city school district officials, who plan to begin physical work on the proposed school sometime next year. The bill has been passed by the House and goes into final debate in the Senate next week. Robison's aide said. Passage could come before Congress adjourns this year.

If the President signs the bill into law sometime in January, as is now expected, it would go into effect at once. To remain valid, any agreement involving sale of the E-L railroad yards to the school board would have to be consummated before the bill went into effect, the aide said. THE E-L SITE IS considered by McLean the first choice as a site for a new school in the city. The only other announced site possibility is the Susquehanna Valley Home campus in the city. SV officials have said they are not interested in selling.

The school district could condemn the SV site if the district decided it wanted the land badly enough. ORTESE RESTAURANT Italian-American Cuisine Genuine Italian PIZZA Numerous Varieties Reservations 723-6477 117 ROBINSON ST. BINGHAMTON NEWLY AIR CONDITIONED of Health, Education and evaluation of the NY-Penn criticized the five-county ignoring the overall local board at least a year ago. He said this was not only the first time the federal government had set out uniform standards but the first time federal review had taken place. Tallon indicated he believes while the criticisms are valid, it is unfair to use new standards to critize actions of five years ago.

He further took issue with the federal comments that Penn undertook studies just because the money was available. He said it was believed the studies were needed and the group.