BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

MASSENA — The St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency has approved the acquisition of the Lot 11 building at the Massena Industrial Park, a move officials say will help restore an underutilized industrial property and provide more space for future business expansion.

The IDA board unanimously approved the $250,000 purchase during its June meeting after Executive Director Pat Kelly outlined the history of the property and the agency’s plans for the site.

Kelly said the acquisition follows a similar partnership model between the IDA and the St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency, which previously helped the agencies acquire other industrial buildings in the park.

The Lot 11 building was originally constructed by the IDA in the late 1990s. The 20,000-square-foot facility was later sold to Marramac of Montreal, which used it as a warehouse operation.

Kelly said Marramac had been a responsible owner but no longer needed the space.

“Marramac was a good owner. They utilized the building well, but their business no longer requires it,” Kelly said. “We think we can do more with it in our hands, repurposing it.”

The IDA has discussed the acquisition with Marramac and recommended purchasing the building through the River Valley Redevelopment Agency.

Kelly said the building’s location and availability make it a valuable asset for the county’s economic development efforts.

“The building is one of the most visible buildings in the Massena Industrial Park,” Kelly said.

He said the county currently has limited available industrial space, particularly in Massena.

“The inventory of available properties throughout the county, industrial properties, is somewhat low,” Kelly said. “In Massena in particular, we have about 5,000 square feet of space available.”

The acquisition would allow the IDA to renovate the building and market it to potential tenants, either for a new company looking to locate in the area or for an existing business seeking room to expand.

Kelly said having ready-to-use industrial buildings is an important factor in attracting businesses because companies often cannot wait years for new construction.

“History has proven it is difficult not having an inventory of potential buildings for new expansions,” he said. “People don’t want to wait around to have someone build them.”

He added that the cost of constructing a comparable facility makes acquiring existing buildings a practical investment.

When asked what it would cost to build a similar building today, officials estimated the cost would be closer to $2 million.

Board members noted that the purchase price represents a significant opportunity, with the acquisition costing $250,000 and initial maintenance work expected to be far less than new construction.

Kelly said the IDA is budgeting approximately $50,000 for initial repairs and maintenance.

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