P.J. Simao, co-owner of Dealmaker Auto Sales at 420 State St., had said he would move his dealership to land he owns near Wal-Mart in the town of Watertown if the City Council did not give him enough of a commitment to the Emerson Place project.

The project calls for rehabilitation of the century-old Emerson Row apartment building and renovation of a dozen other houses near the apartments.

At Monday's council meeting, Mr. Simao asked council members for a firm verbal commitment to the project.

"As long as they tell me they are committed to the project, then I'm committed to increasing my investment on State Street," he said this morning. "All I needed to know is do I build there or build somewhere else."

His plans include moving the dealership's service center to the former Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. property on Main Avenue and renovating the current service center on the rear of the State Street property to use as a showroom for vehicles.

The Emerson Place project is in limbo because the city is still negotiating with Watertown landlord Larry V. Silverstein to come up with a purchase price for properties Mr. Silverstein owns at 109 and 110 Emerson Place and 707 and 711 State St.

Neighbors of Watertown has said it must acquire and raze those properties to clear the way for the redevelopment project.

Members of the Near East Side Neighborhood Improvement District, which is made up of property owners on and near State Street, have asked that the city use eminent domain, where it would simply take the properties from Mr. Silverstein and pay him a court-determined price.

City Manager Jerry C. Hiller said he and Mr. Butler hope to meet with Mr. Silverstein this week to continue negotiating a price.

The city hired David Peatfield, Syracuse, to come up with an appraisal of the properties. Mr. Peatfield determined that the properties, using real property and income values, collectively are worth $230,000.

City officials said the number, which is $35,000 higher than the $195,000 figure released last week, is different because of a "miscommunication" between the city and Mr. Peatfield when the appraiser was asked for a preliminary figure.

Officials said the $195,000 took into account only the value of the buildings and hadn't yet factored in the buildings' income value.

Mr. Simao said that after Mayor Joseph M. Butler and council members Roxanne M. Burns and Jeffrey M. Smith took turns expressing their support for the project at the council meeting, he decided he will move forward and should start construction later this year.

Mr. Butler agreed that the council is willing to do whatever it can to make the project happen.

"The last time I checked with the other council members, four of us said we were absolutely committed, even if it means we have to go to eminent domain," Mr. Butler said this morning.

Council members pointed out that they guaranteed $20,000 at last week's work session to keep project moving until Neighbors of Watertown, which is leading the project, can gain control of neighboring property and obtain necessary funding.

"Their answer to me is satisfactory," Mr. Simao said. "I now will proceed with my plans."