EDITOR’S NOTE: The Bricks & Mortar Report will provide updates on Mondays on major construction projects in Chenango County.

AIM Fitness:
• The opening of a new fitness and day care center in the North Plaza shopping mall in Norwich has been delayed until October, company officials reported.

Chenango County Fire Department Tower Project:
• New, state-of-the-art emergency communications towers for Chenango County fire, safety and medical emergency personnel were erected in the towns of Otselic and Pharsalia earlier this month.
• A third tower location, in Coventry, is under review by the New York State Historical Preservation Organization. County Fire Coordinator Matt Beckwith said ancient Indian Reservations may be in the surrounding area.
• The Coventry tower was scheduled to be erected Aug. 13. Beckwith told Coventry Town Supervisor Janice O’Shea last week that she could expect the 250-ton crane to be on site Wednesday.

Chiarino’s Insurance Agency:
• Chiarino’s Insurance Agency is undergoing major construction to both the interior and exterior of their Broad Street location. The building’s facade is being altered in order to make it fit more with the surrounding businesses. Chiarino’s is also altering the inside of the building to allow for more office space. Improvements for the exterior of the building are partially funded through the New York State Housing and Trust Fund Corporation’s Main Street Grant, organized through the Norwich BID.

Dunkin’ Donuts:
• Groundbreaking for the new restaurant on state Route 12 just South of the City of Norwich is expected to begin shortly, town of Norwich officials say.

Employment stats:
• The Chenango County Office of Employment and Training reported a 4.2 percent unemployment rate in August. The figure compares to a 4.4 percent in August of 2006 and 4.7 in July.

Housing Starts (modular, double wide and stick built):
• Chenango County Codes Enforcement reported the following new housing starts in August: One each in the towns of Smithville, Sherburne, Preston, Plymouth, Pitcher, Oxford, Norwich, McDonough, German, Coventry and Bainbridge. There were two new starts each in the towns of Afton and Guilford, and four in Pharsalia.

McLaughlin’s facade improvement:
• The aluminum sheeting that has covered the front of the McLaughlin’s building for years is being removed as part of the New York State Housing and Trust Fund Corporation’s Main Street Grant, organized through the Norwich Business Improvement District. As the building was uncovered, the original brick and windows underneath was unveiled.

New York State Electric & Gas:
• NYSEG is constructing a new natural gas compressor station in Norwich to support projected growth in the Norwich, Oxford and Oneonta areas over the next 20 years.
• The $1.8 million project is underway on East River Road just south of state Route 23 in the Town of Norwich. NYSEG expects to complete the compressor station later this year, according to project spokesperson Clayton Ellis.