NEWINGTON - Developers are exploring other options in case plans to add a continuing care facility fall through.

       As of now, it’s not looking good, with town officials and property owner Hunter Development still waiting on word from Amara Community Living, which garnered Town Planning and Zoning approval for the project during a series of marathon public hearings last year.

       â€�"The door isn’t closed, but Hunter Development is pursuing other options,” said Economic Development Director Andy Brecher.

       Brecher made the announcement during a speaking event hosted by the Kiwanis Club at Paradise Pizza in New Britain.

       Mike Frisbie of Hunter Development is looking to scale down the site plan to fit an assisted living facility-different than continuing care, which provides services for multiple stages of senior life. Frisbie did not return a call seeking comment.

       Word that construction had not started got out through The Hartford Courant a couple of months ago. Brecher, who said that he has not been in contact with representatives from Amara, cited a combination of funding and state approval roadblocks as possible factors contributing to the delay.

       A representative from Amara did not return a call seeking details.

       Shifting to assisted living would likely prompt a new site plan, which would send Hunter Development back to the TPZ, Brecher said.

       â€�"But they’d literally be asking for a reduction,” he said.

       During the event, Town Councilor Gayle Budrejko asked if there is any way to ensure that an applicant will be able to secure the finances necessary for a proposed project.

       â€�"That’s not our prevue,” said TPZ Vice Chair Dominic Pane, who was also in attendance. â€�"We have to take them at their word that they’ll get the financing.”

       A couple of months ago, Brecher described the state’s own approval process of a potential â€�"catch 22” for applicants who might need financing in place to clear certain regulatory hurdles, and vice versa.

       Frisbie purchased the former Lowell Manufacturing site in 2006 and won a court battle to develop it in 2009. Plans originally called for the inclusion of a gas station, but the economic recession and a hotel company’s backing out delayed the multi-faceted project further.

       While the Amara development would have been designed to offer independent living, residents would have been able to transition into being provided additional services-including advanced medical assistance, adult daycare, and outpatient care-as they aged.