OGDENSBURG -- As Ogdensburg officials continue to work with state leaders to acquire vacant land at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, Sen. Patty Ritchie has created and sent out a promotional video to help muster support and interest.

Ritchie collaborated with Ogdensburg and state officials to create a video promoting development and job creation on vacant and unused land at the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center.

“For more than a year, I’ve been working with Ogdensburg city and state officials to describe the potential for redevelopment and economic growth on the vast, unused portions of the St. Lawrence Psych Center,” Ritchie said. “But for many, seeing is believing, so we created this short video that shows the opportunities for job creation and growth on the shores of one of America’s great rivers.

Details of the land transfer are still being finalized by state and city officials. The council held a special meeting Monday that centered on the land transfer.

The six-minute video has been sent to more than 100 community and elected leaders and economic developers to help build support for the plan, developed by Senator Ritchie and Ogdensburg city officials.

“The North Country community has shown great support for the ‘Point Airy Vision’ plan, and we have to continue to work to convince Albany that we need to control our own economic future, and this plan should play a key role,” Ritchie said.

The Point Airy Vision includes four parcels on the sprawling Psychiatric Center campus that are prime for redevelopment. A 2014 law, drafted and sponsored by Senator Ritchie, authorized the transfer of the first block, “Parcel A,” including 45 acres of prime road front land along busy State Highway 37, just steps from the entrance to the Ogdensburg International Bridge, from the state to the city to smooth the way for commercial or retail development.

The three other blocks comprise 120 acres of land along the riverfront, adjacent to the existing commercial park, and including a fully functioning power plant. These parcels are envisioned for future housing, commercial and industrial use. The mixed-use plan is seen as key to the success of the Point Airy Vision.

Copies of the video can be requested from Senator Ritchie’s office, and can be found at her website, using the following link: http://www.nysenate.gov/video/2015/jun/15/point-airy-vision-transforming-past-build-north-counrtys-future.