Preston, Conn. —
The two developers competing to build on the vacant Norwich State Hospital property made their final public pitches Wednesday night.

The Norwich Hospital Advisory Committee, which will choose a developer in as little as one week, also gave the first hint of where it stands.

First Selectman Robert Congdon said both proposals have pros and cons. Renova Partners LLC wants to build 1 million square feet of mixed-use commercial and retail space. Northland Investment Corp. proposes a high-end resort.

Congdon said he’s troubled by the size of retail proposed by Renova. But he said Renova would pay the town back quicker than its competitor. Northland also wants a tax break Congdon doesn’t like.

Committee members raised two key issues: Money and traffic.

Renova guarantees $350 million worth of taxable property, even if the development is never built. Northland guarantees $250 million, with a tax incentive for the developer.

For 15 years, the company would pay $1 per square foot on its commercial property, for a tax break of about 30 percent on half the development, Congdon said.

John Hanselman, managing partner for Renova, said his company is ahead when it come to money for Preston.

“We are not asking the town of Preston to pay us for the privilege of building,” he said.

But committee member Sandra Ewing said she’s worried about the shoppers, office workers and employees traveling to the development Renova builds.

“Sounds like an awful lot of cars to me,” she said.

Northland President Larry Gottesdiener said his project would be a more subtle neighbor.

“It’ll be a quiet, attractive neighbor in the town,” he said.

Eleanor Miller, a resident who attended the meeting, said she liked Renova’s plan less after seeing all the parking it would require.