OGDENSBURG – The city has been approved for a grant of up to $700,000 to help with asbestos removal and demolition of 10 former Shade Roller buildings along the waterfront.

During the 1960s, Ogdensburg experienced steady declines in economy, jobs, and businesses at the once-thriving trade center and transportation hub along the St. Lawrence River. This led to the abandonment of part of the riverfront area, leaving many vacant and underutilized buildings. The developed its Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan, which aimed to create additional green space, eliminate blight in the city's urban center, and enhance tourism and waterfront industries.

As a component of the plan, the city intends to demolish and remediate the former Shade Roller manufacturing plant at the riverfront in order to make it suitable for redevelopment. The Restore II grant will help fund asbestos abatement and building demolition of the ten buildings in the former Shade Roller site. Total project cost is $1,156,800.

The Restore NY II grant of up to $700,000 is to be used for a portion of the cost of asbestos removal and demolition of 10 buildings.