BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Work is underway at the Ogdensburg Newell Manufacturing building.

“We're excited to get started with the process. The building still has a great deal of potential, but it is especially important to get the roof rebuilt and sealed before another winter,” St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency Director Patrick Kelly said.

The 63,000-square-foot building once provided more than 100 jobs to the city and has caught the eye of many developers in recent years. But contamination at the site, unfortunate timing and degradation of utilities has made it tough for the city to close a deal.

A public update to the city council said the project consists of abating asbestos, replacing the failing roof with new rubber roofing, repointing existing brick on the western façade facing Paterson Street, and replacing windows to improve energy efficiency.

Repairs are expected to continue through November 2019.

Ogdensburg has struggled to find the funding necessary to repair the building as it has faced economic challenges in the past decade.

The lack of resources was a driving factor in a partnership with the SLCIDA that helped the city secure the $1 million Restore New York Grant.

The partnership with the IDA means the city already has a developer, which was an important aspect of obtaining the grant. The IDA has a proven track record of restoring similar buildings throughout the county and has access to the funding and resources and partners to fill a building or find a buyer once it has been rehabilitated.

Located near the city’s port, rail hub and a main street, Kelly says the property has a lot to offer even without the building. Kelly says the building itself also has a lot going for it, mainly space.

The original Newell factory was constructed in 1912-1913 as 15,000 square foot brick masonry building overlooking the St. Lawrence River.

As the company grew, so too did the facility. Additions were added in 1919, 1960-1969, and again in 1992. In June 2003, the Newell Company closed its operations in Ogdensburg, and the property was sold to Tri-Regency Warehouse Properties, Inc. for use as storage and warehousing, according to the city update.

In June 2013, the city acquired the property through property tax foreclosure proceedings and has worked with the St. SLCIDA to market the property.

The general contractor on the project is Continental Construction.