This map shows the parcels of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center property the city hopes to acquire from the state. The two subdivisions located on parcels A and C, roughly show the portions of the property the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority has expressed interest in.

By JIMMY LAWTON

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg City Council hopes to acquire and develop 160 acres of land at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center on Airy Point with help from state lawmakers.

On Monday the council approved a resolution of support that backed a proposal made by Sen. Patricia Ritchie R-Heuvelton, which would return vacant state-owned land at the facility to the tax base.

Ogdensburg Mayor William Nelson said the idea to get the land back on the tax rolls isn’t new, but with Gov. Andrew Cuomo calling for similar initiatives across the state the timing couldn’t be better.

“This is something we’ve looked into before, but this is exactly what the governor is calling for. I feel pretty good about our chances,” he said in a brief interview following the Monday night council meeting.

Deputy Mike Morley said it was a golden opportunity to expand the city’s tax roll and develop long vacant property, and councilor Wayne Ashley agreed.

“This is an opportunity we can’t let slip through our fingers,” Ashley said.

The plan initially calls for the state to turnover four parcels of land to the city. City Manager John Pinkerton said the parcels have been identified as the most immediately valuable vacant portions of the property.

The parcels include a woodlot, a residential waterfront section, the cogeneration plant and a section of vacant land along Route 37.

Pinkerton said the plan would be to develop and sell the properties to generate revenue and use that money to invest and in other vacant properties.

“It generates income that will be reinvested,” Pinkerton said.

Pinkerton said the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority has expressed interest in to small portions of parcels the city may acquire.

Mayor Nelson said he would be more than willing to meet with OBPA officials to discuss the plans, but would like to see the properties returned to the tax base even if the OBPA acquires them.

“We need to get the property on the tax roll. It does nothing for our tax base if we don’t,” he said.

The bill was put forward recently by Sen. Ritchie with support from Democratic Assemblywoman Addie Russell.

Nelson said the bi-partisan support will be key as the proposal moves forward in the state legislature.

“It’s definitely in concert with what the governor wants to do,” he said.

St. Lawrence County legislators and members of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center Task Force are also supporting the plan.