NORWICH – Commerce Chenango is taking new measures to ensure the vacant storefront at 17-19 North Broad Street – the Salvation Army building – is put to good use in the heart of the city.
Recently, board members of the Development Chenango Corp. approved the application of a state grant to restore the run-down commercial space that was occupied by the Salvation Army for three decades but been vacant since the thrift store closed its doors in 2009. Development Chenango submitted an application to the Southern Tier Region Community Revitalization Fund in June in hopes of attaining low-cost financing to assist in the proposed redevelopment of the property. If awarded, funding would reduce the up-front contribution the DCC would make on a redevelopment project.
The goal, said the DCC, is to purchase the building, mitigate the asbestos, take on needed interior and exterior renovations and lease the property to a potential tenant (yet to be disclosed) before ultimately selling the property. The agency set a goal of fulfilling its plan within the next five years.
According to Commerce Chenango President Steve Craig, the DCC should know the outcome of its funding application by next month. Funding could be awarded as a state grant or a low-interest loan, but if DCC is awarded funding, expectations are that it would be in the form of the later, he said.
“The state wants to see things happen with these vacant properties and see downtown properties improve,” Craig explained. “We have identified a couple of uses for it. Development Chenango recognizes that it’s an important area downtown,” he added, noting a lack of interest private developers have had in the building. “The DCC exists basically to take on projects that don’t necessarily make sense to private developers but do have an overall economic benefit.”
Rehabilitation of the Salvation Army building falls in the parameters of the city’s Downtown Revitalization Program, a development project that also entails large-scale renovations to the dilapidated building at 42, 44-46 N. Broad St.
Just next to the former Salvation Army, is another building project – a new location for the Commerce Chenango main offices. Construction crews are nearing the end of phase one of a three-phase building process to convert the storefront that was once the home of Two Sisters Cafe into a more visible location for the agency.
“We have to do a little more cosmetic work inside,” Craig said, but “phase one should be completed by the end of October.” Upon completion of phase one, which consists of renovating six offices and a lobby just inside the main entrance, Commerce Chenango can make the move from their current offices at the Eaton Center on Conkey Avenue to the more desirable location.
“My goal is to get out of where we are now and be downtown, where we can be more obvious and accessible,” said Craig.
The remaining two phases call for restroom and board room renovations, and the completion of a community multi-purpose room. Craig said hopes are to have the entire project finished by spring, 2013.