There was a sigh of relief in Irondequoit Monday after the developer of the former Medley Centre made a critical payment, one that was originally due at the end of January.

It's the deadline that had Irondequoit waiting all weekend.

"As I was walking into Macy's I heard someone saying that the payment was in fact made," said Diane Conte of Irondequoit.

"At 2:00 today I received an e-mail," said Irondequoit Town Supervisor Mary Joyce D'Aurizio.

Three hours before the 5 p.m. deadline, an e-mail informed D'Aurizio that $322,813 had been wired, plus nearly $10,000 in interest.

"I had basically lost confidence myself," said D'Aurizio.

She has been a cheerleader of Syracuse developer Scott Congel's plan to redevelop the former Medley Centre into a so-called lifestyle center, a mix of stores, restaurants, hotels and residential spaces.

But until Monday, Congel had failed to make his first payment in a 30-year PILOT program, or payment in lieu of taxes.

"I think this puts some credibility back into the PILOT and the project," said D'Aurizio.

Had the payment not been made, the PILOT program could have been cancelled and the entire project put in danger.

"That payment had to be paid," said D'Aurizio. "I think he knows now that we do mean to follow all of the articles of the PILOT and stay on track for this development."

D'Aurizio said the next step is something actually happening at the site. Aside from Macy's and Sears, it's pretty much been a ghost town for some time.

"We've had a lot of promises, we just don't seem to get the action," said Conte. "We get the lip service and that's about it unfortunately."

D'Aurizio promises more.

"I will play that role of suggesting to him that he needs to move on some demolition, that it has to be done," said D'Aurizio.

People we spoke with are taking Monday's payment as a reason for optimism.

"I think with this new collaboration that has a mix of things, I think it'll probably work and I'm looking forward to it," said shopper Wendy Johnson.

"You have to hope," said Conte. "If you don't have hope, what do you have?"

There has been no word from Congel or his representatives as to why the payment was so late. D'Aurizio said she wasn't given a reason either, but suspects it had something to do with the complicated finances that go into such a large-scale project.