BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- Renovations of the former JJ Newberry building in downtown Massena have been given nearly $150,000 in tax breaks from the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency.

The renovation project, which has received numerous grant funds in recent years, was granted a $147,860 exemption on sales and use taxes on purchases and rentals related to the project, officials said.

The IDA board also approved a $15,000 mortgage recording tax cut during the meeting.

The project was awarded $1.663 million as part of the village of Massena's $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative Grant. According to the project application, the total project would cost $3.527 million.

In a previous village board meeting, Administrator Monique Chatland offered a brief update on the project, saying they were moving forward with work to address environmental and structural issues like asbestos abatement and roof replacement.

She also previously said at the end of May that bids for the abatement work through the New York Main Street grant were coming to a close, with environmental testing complete.

Those grants were handled by Chatland, who said significant hours were put in to ensure the applications would be successful for the project.

"I'm very busy with grants. Although not all of it is able to be seen, there's a lot of background work that goes into it. With the environmental testing, abatement and various, stringent criteria and requirements that need to be met through various agencies that we receive funding through, it's a lot," she said.

Once complete, the building will include interior and exterior modernizations, along with repairs to the historic building.

Plans include incorporating apartments, flexible retail space, office space, as well as a rooftop deck and a new facade, officials previously said.

GoCo Massena LLC, owned by William and Susan Fiacco, owns the property. Officials say it is considered a cornerstone project of the DRI.

GoCo also includes a second property at 37 Water Street that was awarded DRI funding.

That facility will be used for light manufacturing and commercial sales of ice cream, yogurt and cheeses, along with second floor apartments, according to officials.

No deadlines have been announced for either project but village officials previously said "significant work" was underway with the JJ Newberry project.