NORWICH – Despite having missed its initial goal to have work completed by now, the Development Chenango Corporation is still making headway in giving the former Salvation Army building in downtown Norwich a substantial facelift.
DCC, a non-profit partner organization of Commerce Chenango, hit a milestone last week after the process of asbestos abatement was finally finished inside the facility, located at 17-19 S. Broad St. According to DCC officials, there’s still much to do with the dilapidated property before it can be unveiled to the public. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel, they say.
“The building is cleared now, so we are excited about moving forward with the project,” said Development Chenango Corporation Director Jennifer Tavares.
The Salvation Army building restoration project, initiated when the DCC closed on the building in March, has been underway for months. In that time, the DCC has secured low-interest loan funding in the amount of $200,000 from the Southern Tier Region’s Community Revitalization Program in December, leveraging an additional $250,000 in direct investments from the DCC.
And more funding for DCC may be in the pipeline as part of a recent application to the New York State Office of Community Renewal for $150,000 through the agency’s Rural Area Revitalization Program (RARP). If awarded, the DCC proposes using $50,000 in RARP funding for rehabilitation assistance for the building at 17-19 S. Broad St., and $100,000 for a separate downtown rehabilitation project - which will not be spearheaded by the DCC - at 42 and 44-46 N. Broad St.
“The application for (RARP) funding went out in August,” said Tavares. “We don’t expect to hear an answer regarding that funding until December.”
Moreover, the DCC is working closely with the Norwich Business Improvement District, which applied for $200,000 for the fourth round of Main Street Grant funding, also funneled through the New York State Office of Community Renewal. According to Norwich BID Director Ann Coe, the BID is optimistic about receiving funding this year that will be beneficial for several downtown restoration projects, including those at 17-19 S. Broad and 42, 44-46 N. Broad.
“Because of limited funding available statewide, it is anticipated that fewer individual properties, but larger projects, will be accommodated,” Coe told The Evening Sun after submitting the Main Street Grant application in July. The BID hopes to hear whether it will receive grant funding by the end of the month.
In the meantime, engineers are working inside the former Salvation Army building and making final adjustments to building plans. Crews waited until asbestos was removed before proceeding with work inside the facility. As work progresses, Tavares said energy efficiency will be key.
“We will incorporate environment systems wherever possible,” she said, also noting that the project is subject to review from the State Historic Preservation Office. “We had ideas to make the building more cohesive and historically relevant. I don’t anticipate any of the improvements made will be an issue. Our proposal is to better marry the building with other historical buildings downtown.”
Work will go out to bid later this month.
The DCC has recognized the former Salvation Army building as “at-risk” for several years. Extensive damages to the interior and exterior of the building, combined with the presence of asbestos, made it unlikely that the facility would be purchased and rehabilitated by a private developer because of the extraordinary costs associated with rehabilitation. The building has been vacant since the Salvation Army closed its doors in 2009. However, when work is complete, the building will be turned over to The Artists’ Palette, an arts supply store currently located at 29 S. Broad St. in the City of Norwich.
Said Commerce Chenango President Steve Craig, “It’s going to require a bit of design work and significant remodeling. It has been a long road to get to this point, but I am very excited to be in a place where we can continue with construction.”