BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON -- The town and village are moving forward with the purchase of the former McDonald’s restaurant property at 64 Main St.

At a recent joint meeting, it was reported that both parties are hopeful to close on the property in late December of early 2022.

“That property will help with handicapped accessibility and that is really important to us,” said Mayor Dalton.

The town and village have agreed to split the cost of the $295,000 purchase price. The seller is the McDonald’s Corporation of Delaware.

“We see this as an important move to preserve our future for parking and future changes to the municipal building,” stated the mayor at an earlier meeting.

McDonald’s has owned the current parking area adjacent to the municipal building since opening downtown in 1977. Ownership of the parking lot is part of the transaction.

The property has been up for sale since McDonald’s closed its door in 2015. In August, McDonald’s opened a new restaurant in Canton at 111 East Main St.

Initial plans class for the demolition of the building but a two-part environment study will be conducted on the property before that decision is made.

Opening up the former McDonald’s parcel will allow for possible expansion of the municipal building and additional parking.