A long awaited housing project in Westfield has yet to begin, but one county leader believes it will start before the end of the year.

Savarino Companies has proposed converting the former CE Welch building into apartments and commercial space. The project was originally to be done by 2 Portage, LLC.

Savarino Companies is still behind the proposal, but it will now be done by Upstate Economic Opportunities, LLC.

“They (Savarino Companies) are using a different LLC,” Rebecca Wurster with the county Planning Department explained at the county legislature’s Planning and Economic Development Committee meeting.

Previously 2 Portage, LLC was awarded an $800,000 Empire State Development County Infrastructure Grant. With a different LLC behind the project, the county legislature is being asked to change the award from 2 Portage, LLC to the new Upstate Economic Opportunities, LLC.

Along with Wurster, Mark Geise, county Industrial Development Director and the Deputy County Executive of Economic Development, was at the Planning and Economic Development Committee meeting.

Neither gave a reason why Savarino Companies had changed the Limited Liability Company, but said the change is not impacting the project.

“It’s a long time in the making but they’ve assured us that it’s going to start soon,” Geise said.

Geise said part of the problem is that funding is coming from many different agencies, which slows the approval process.

Last year the project was estimated to cost $19.5 million.

Geise recently met with Sam Savarino and discussed the renovation project. “He assured me that this project would get underway before the end of the year,” Geise said.

Wurster said once the renovation work begins, it’s expected to take one and a half to two years to complete.

The building is located at 2 Portage Ave. and was the headquarters of the Welch Grape Company.

The building has not been in use since 2005.

Legislator Fred Johnson, R-Westfield, applauded the county Planning Department for helping with the project. “This has been a saga. Hopefully we’re really getting down to the start of the horse race and getting going,” he said.

The full legislature will vote on Wednesday for final approval of the changed LLC to receive the $800,000 state grant.