BY CRAIG FREILICH
North Country This Week

POTSDAM -- The public will have a chance at an open house March 3 to see and discuss proposals for using the $10 million in Potsdam's Downtown Revitalization Initiative grants.

The full list of 47 projects being considered will be reviewed and discussed over the next several months as the Local Planning Committee’s members, including the partners from state agencies and consultants, winnow the projects to find what they think are the best to fulfill the goal of rejuvenating the look and feel of the village’s downtown.

The total costs of the 47 proposals would be more than $46 million. The applicants are asking the various state funding agencies to consider giving as much as $26 million in grants for the projects, or 57% of the total project costs.

The Village of Potsdam DRI Local Planning Committee (LPC) has been told that the total they finally arrive at should exceed the $10 million specified in the program because some of the plans will likely be dropped once they get to the funding stage, and others could be funneled to other agencies under different programs. But the figure will not be anywhere near the $46 million for projects on the list.

In afternoon sessions Feb. 20, the LPC divided into four separate groups, each to discuss and rate the several project proposals assigned to each group.

In a preliminary step, they divided the projects by those deemed acceptable, those for which more information is requested, and those that do not appear to meet the requirements of the DRI. Those decisions are subject to change, and have not yet been released to the public.

A variety of plans, different purposes

The LPC met in a public evening session Thursday, Feb. 20 to review the initial list of 47 proposed projects submitted for DRI funding consideration.

They are presented in four categories:

• Public Improvement Projects. Among seven such proposals are the village’s Downtown Riverwalk Trail along the Raquette River, for which the village is 100% funding of $1.7 million; the Downtown Streetscape Enhancement Project in the Market Street National Historic Register District, 100% of $3 million; and a request from North Country Skateboarders for 76% of the estimated $338,000 for a skatepark and outdoor art gallery at Fall Island Park

• Proposed New Development & Rehabilitation of Downtown Buildings, 38 projects, mostly commercial proposals for building upgrades, and also help for the North Country Children’s Museum’s expansion to a second floor, and for an elevator and carpets at Midtown Apartments, among other requests

• one Revolving Grant & Loan request from the village for a Rebuild Downtown Potsdam program with rent assistance, main street renovation, and a “quick-start” grant program

• Branding & Marketing, for village “branding development, standards, wayfinding, banners and implementation” to promote the village to businesses and travelers.

No projects have been chosen for funding yet; no state agencies have agreed to fund any of the projects so far; no money has been allocated to projects.

The LPC consultants hired by the state to work with state representatives and local members of the LPC are refining the project proposals list based on committee discussions and information from project sponsors. They “are working to shape and strengthen the viable projects to determine which projects will be recommended for the $9,700,000 in DRI project funding,” according to state Department of State Public Information Officer Mercedes Padilla. The $300,000 difference from the $10 million is grants is charged to “planning,” she said.

 Local businesses apply

Potsdam businessman Larry Hazen’s Trezza Realty has nine projects on the list for many of his buildings downtown, most of which include retail operations. He has proposed work valued at nearly $2 million, for which he is asking half from the state. According to Hazen, he employs 115 people in his downtown businesses, including restaurants Maxfields, Mama Lucia, Cactus Grill and Lee’s Hawaiian Grill, and Isle of You women’s clothing store.

Businessman and sponsor Gabe Ockrin lists three projects: as co-owner he proposes expanding and equipping Park Bros. Coffee building on Maple Street with a grant for $179,400 of $220,300 in costs; and asking for 75% of $238,500 he plans for interior and exterior work on The Bagelry at 9 Market St.; as sponsor, he proposes $336,000 of the $482,000 for renovations to the IGA building and parking lot at 25 Elm St.

There are several more requests for funds to rehabilitate downtown buildings with businesses and apartments. There is a request for half of the $2.8 million the Potsdam Food Coop believes it needs for new quarters and equipment.

Clarkson’s downtown buildings

Clarkson University has several projects it directly requests funding for, most notably the expansion of the Clarkson Inn to add 20 rooms, meeting space, and a fitness room, and to renovate furniture and fixtures. The total cost is estimated at $2.5 million, for which they are asking $600,000 in support, or 24%.

It is also asking for funds for renovation, restoration, and “transformation” of buildings on its old Downtown Campus. That includes $2.2 million of the $4.8 million Snell Hall project in support of the Vecino Group’s plans for 59 affordable apartments, renovation of the old classroom building’s theater, and configuring some space for offices and business incubation.

Damon Hall and Congdon Hall are also potential business incubator centers. In Damon Hall, the university wants to create an “advanced manufacturing incubator” with improvements inside and out, for $3.3 million, half funded by the state. For Congdon Hall, they would like the state to fund 77% of the $2.8 million cost of interior renovation for more business incubation.

And they are applying for 50% funding of $2.1 million for work on the Liberal Studies Building at 10 Pierrepont Ave. converting vacant space into 22 offices, classrooms and meeting rooms.

There are several business concerns operating in Clarkson buildings downtown, primarily startups, that are asking for funds, but not in association with the university.

In Peyton Hall at 65 Main St., DMAX Plasma, a company making electrical discharge plasma reactors used to trap and eliminate specific water pollutants, is asking for $100,000 as half of the cost of an expansion.

Also in Peyton Hall, Project Vu/Blu Dodo, described as a company that produces a mixed reality and virtual reality "global climate product," are asking for 28% of their estimated cost of $626,000 for creation of three full-time and three part-time positions, cloud services and exhibition space.

In Congdon Hall, motor manufacturer LC Drives in asking for $1 million, or 20% of the $5 million for material management and manufacturing space including installation of heavy equipment for existing and future companies utilizing incubator space.

Other proposals include $35,000 for 43% of the cost of developing an app connecting potential customers with downtown businesses, and $978,100 as 61% of the cost of acquiring and renovating the Tile Company building on Raymond Street as a new North Country Arts Center for SLC Arts.

Process will take months

The public is welcome to provide comments on the proposed projects at the public open house from 6 to 8 p.m. March 3 at the Town of Potsdam Community Room, 18 Elm St.

The complete list of projects can be seen at https://potsdamdri.com/ by clicking on the Call for Projects link at the top of the page, then the link to the “list of projects received for DRI consideration.”

The process by the LPC is scheduled to continue for months: in March, articulating strategies and drafting a “Strategic Investment Plan” of aligning grants and allocations; in April, defining funding recommendations and finalizing the investment plan; and in May, completing all the paperwork.

Planners have warned that actual improvement work might not be visible downtown before next year.