NORWICH – Renovations will continue over the next month-and-a-half to two months at 24 East Main St. – formerly the location of Frames Unlimited – and the property is now under contract for purchase, according to city officials.
Chris Hayes, owner of Hayes Office Products, has signed a sales contract with the city for ownership of the once dilapidated structure, rehabilitated as part of a third round of Restore NY grant funds awarded the city in the spring of 2010.
Planning and Community Development Specialist Todd Dreyer admitted that renovation of the structure – originally scheduled for completion in June – has taken longer than anticipated, but the approximately $230,000 project will be finished before it changes hands.
“It’s now in contract for purchase and we’re just waiting for the closing,” added Dreyer. “It’s a done deal pending the closing and renovations will continue until we reach that point.”
The vacant, 3,850 square foot building will feature a completely redesigned commercial space on the ground floor, as well as a pair of highly efficient, one bedroom apartments on the second floor. Once the renovation effort wraps up, the structure will include the same energy efficient appliances and heating and cooling systems as three other Restore NY properties located in the city, on Grove Avenue, Fair and Waite Streets.
Restorations of historic structures like 24 East Main St., said Mayor Joe Maiurano, are vital to the city’s appearance and appeal. Any time the city can take a property such as 24 East Main St., completely redesign it and get it back on the tax rolls “is a plus,” added the mayor. And while the project has taken “a little longer than we thought it would,” said Maiurano, once it’s finished “people will be impressed.”
According to Hayes, the first floor of the newly designed property will be used to house Hayes Office Products’ commercial furniture sales department. The second floor, once the sale goes through, will be reserved for local businesses.
“We’ll be partnering with local industries to give their out-of-town visitors a place to stay, providing them with a comfortable living space,” said Hayes of the two upstairs apartments. “I think the guys are doing a great job and there’s a lot of quality workmanship in there ... they’ve left a lot of the historical features in place, it has some nice ties to the past.”
Hayes said he expects renovations to be finished within the next two months.
Restore NY provides successful applicants with financial assistance for the revitalization of commercial and residential properties, and encourages community development and neighborhood growth through the elimination and redevelopment of blighted structures such as 24 East Main St., according to www.empire.state.ny.us.