Three Cobleskill projects are moving slowly ahead or at least are still in the planning stage.
The purchase of Zion Lutheran Church, the renovation of the former Best Western and the coming of Marshalls remain in place.
Clemens McGiver is drawing up a feasibility study for Zion Lutheran, and the Main Street landmark will become a performance center and restaurant, as potential buyer RJ Freitag envisions.
The study or plans are necessary for Mr. Freitag and his partners to seek zoning variances for the church because the new use isn’t permitted in the R3 zone.
Mr. Freitag and the Lutheran congregation have agreed on a $150,000 price on the church, which was damaged by fire nearly three years ago. The Upstate Lutheran Synod and state Attorney General must also approve the sale.
“We’re still going to close in January,” Mr. Freitag said. “It’s slow but steady. We want to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s.”
Mr. Freitag plans a performance center in the sanctuary, which will also have a restaurant and bar.
Mr. Freitag hopes to open in late 2024.

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Meanwhile, renovations at the former Best Western in Cobleskill are proceeding.
Mohammad Jan purchased the decrepit and vandalized motel in May and plans then called for reopening the motel, restaurant, bowling alley and pool.
Mr. Jan has replaced all the windows inside and out and is installing heating and cooling units in the room, Village Codes Officer Mike Piccolo said.
“It’s coming along,” he added. “I think they’re a little bit ahead of my schedule.”
Back county taxes will be forgiven if Mr. Jan completes the project.

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While there’s progress on the motel and movement on Zion Lutheran, Marshalls remains a plan––but it’s still a go, Mr. Piccolo said.
Rumors circulated in August and again last week that the off-price clothing department store won’t be replacing Label Shopper in the Price Chopper Plaza.
Mr. Piccolo dismissed the August rumors and did so again on Monday.
“It is coming,” he stressed.
Marshalls will replace Label Shopper and expand the store to include the three storefronts next to it.
One of those storefronts is vacant. The Everything Shoppe was in another and moved out in the spring after the Marshalls announcement.
The Maureen LaRose Barber Agency is in the third storefront and will move to space formerly occupied by Gamestop.