Construction work at one of the busiest intersections in Delmar is moving at a rapid pace, and two projects are set to wrap up in the new year. Bethlehem town officials said the former Saratoga Shoe Depot site at the intersection of Delaware and Elsmere avenues would likely be ready for occupancy by Berkshire Bank in the early part of 2012. The bank will relocate to the site from its branch in the Delaware Plaza. Across Delaware Avenue, it’s likely that construction of the new Delmar Medical Arts Building will be finished by next summer, allowing for doctors to move from their current location next door. Doctors from Community Care Physicians will occupy the first floor, with medical office space making up the second floor of the facility. “Once the building has been completed, and they get their certificate of occupancy from the town, the doctors will then move in to the building, and the old 15,000-square-foot building will be torn down,” said Michael Morelli, the director of economic development and planning for the town. The vacant space will then be used for landscaping, parking and for stormwater management purposes. It’s progress that Morelli is happy to see. “You had two vacant buildings sitting across from each other,” said Morelli. “You’re talking about an adaptive reuse of existing, previously developed sites. That’s a good thing.” Morelli pointed to the mandate in the town’s comprehensive plan to refurbish existing sites wherever possible, rather than starting from scratch. The intersection is considered a “gateway,” a description used in the Delaware Avenue Hamlet Enhancement Study developed by an advisory committee but never adopted by the Town Board. Morelli is hopeful that the board will act on the study in 2012. “It was a good guide that we could share with the developers and say, these are some of the things the town is trying to develop and articulate along that corridor,” said Morelli. The intersection, Morelli said, is considered by many to be the entrance to the more traditional part of Delaware Avenue. Over 12,000 vehicles pass through the intersection, but town officials and developers aren’t anticipating that number to rise significantly. “The surrounding businesses are going to see a benefit from new traffic and new employees at the location,” said town Senior Planner Robert Leslie. “That’s also one of the things we look at in considering these projects.” Traffic flow also is expected to improve as well due to the elimination and relocation of existing curb cuts. The exterior designs for both locations will be somewhat similar to what already exists at the CVS location across the busy roadway. The buildings are more oriented toward the street and were designed with elements such as decorative lighting and better pedestrian access in mind. Morelli said it’s good to be able to point prospective developers toward existing projects so everyone is on the same page. “You can look at them and say, these are good examples,” Morelli said. “And then, it’s a snapshot for them.” The two projects are not the only action in terms of development along Delaware Avenue. Morelli confirmed that there is interest in the former Friendly’s site and recently the town’s Planning Board approved designs for renovations and an expansion of the Valero gas station at the intersection of Cherry Avenue. That project will include the reestablishment of the car wash at the station.