In a December 8 presentation to Town Council, Salamander Hospitality President Prem Devadas reported that construction on the long-awaited Salamander Inn and Spa was once again moving forward, with April, 2013, set as the target date for opening.

A recession-driven nation-wide decline in the luxury resort business had led Salamander to an earlier decision to delay construction and staffing of the facility.

Water problems, in large part caused by leaking around scores of custom-built windows, led to further delays.

Those issues, Devadas reported, have been resolved.

More important, he said, the resort business seems to be improving nationally, with 2013 projected to be the year the industry returns to pre-recession viability.

Salamander, Devadas noted, has already expressed its optimism by investing and partnering with investors in a carefully selected portfolio of resort properties outside Middleburg.