OGDENSBURG — The proposed expansion of the Remington Art Museum will not advance for immediate funding through Ogdensburg’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, following a review by the Local Planning Committee that is narrowing the city’s list of projects for the state-funded program.

At its Oct. 28 meeting, the committee determined that the museum’s proposed expansion at 323 Washington St. was not currently ready for DRI funding. 

The project was instead recommended for inclusion in the “Roadmap for Continued Revitalization,” a path intended to recognize projects that could contribute to downtown’s future beyond the immediate DRI awards.

The decision represents a setback for the museum’s expansion plans, although the committee acknowledged the institution’s importance as a cultural asset in downtown Ogdensburg.

The museum’s project received a public transformation rating of 2.71 out of 5. Two committee members, JoAnne Gareau and Barb O’Keefe, recused themselves from the discussion.

The museum’s status emerged as one of the significant developments during the committee’s fifth meeting as it works to assemble a final slate of projects for Ogdensburg’s DRI Strategic Investment Plan.

Remington Art Museum Director Maggie McKenna thanked the committee for its work but expressed disappointment with the number and types of projects submitted through the DRI process. She also questioned whether the museum’s responses to committee requests had been considered adequate as some questions appeared excessive and seemed intended to eliminate the project from further consideration, according to a meeting summary on the city’s website.

The DRI process began with 19 submitted projects. Following the committee’s fourth meeting, 15 projects remained under consideration.

At the Oct. 28 meeting, the combined cost of those projects was approximately $24.16 million, with about $20.69 million requested in DRI funding. The committee is working to reduce that amount to a proposed slate totaling between $12 million and $15 million in DRI requests.

Projects in contention

While the Remington Art Museum expansion was directed toward the revitalization roadmap, several other projects received favorable consideration.

The committee determined that the Presbyterian Church addition at 419-421 Ford St., the mixed-use rehabilitation proposed at 234 Ford St., and streetscape improvements along State, Isabella and Ford streets were suitable to continue for DRI funding consideration.

The Ford Street streetscape project received a transformation rating of 3.51 out of 5, the highest among the projects reviewed. State Street streetscape improvements received a 3.44 rating, while Isabella Street received a 3.36 rating.

The committee also supported increasing the proposed DRI request for the Small Project Fund to $600,000, the maximum amount identified as allowable under the program.

Other projects remain under consideration pending additional information, including the Better Care project at 203 State St., the Ogdensburg Public Library addition at 312 Washington St., the commercial rehabilitation proposed at 422 Ford St., and the St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union expansion at 301 Ford St.

Back up projects

The committee also recommended identifying several projects as pipeline projects, meaning they align with the goals but are not currently ready for DRI funding. Those include the mixed-use renovation at 202-206 Ford St. and the five-unit residential rehabilitation at 409-411 Washington St.

The commercial renovation proposed at 203 State St. was determined to be better suited for 

The committee requested that project sponsors with outstanding information requests submit responses by Nov. 6.

If projects are subsequently determined to be unready or unsuitable for DRI funding, the committee will revisit the overall list to ensure the proposed slate remains within the $12 million to $15 million funding target.

The next public workshop is scheduled for Nov. 17, followed by the sixth Local Planning Committee meeting on Nov. 18. At that meeting, the committee is expected to review final project information and approve the slate of projects to be included in the Strategic Investment Plan.

The final plan will determine which projects are recommended to receive funding through Ogdensburg’s DRI award, while other proposals may be carried forward through the roadmap for continued revitalization.