Renovations to canalside factory
NORTH TONAWANDA: Rand developer offers update on renovations to canalside factory
Published: September 18, 2009 12:22 am
By: Neale Gulley
The Tonawanda News
Manhattan-based developer Tony Kissling wants people in North Tonawanda to know change is coming.
At best, many who are tied to the conversion of Sweeney Street’s former Remington-Rand factory building into 81 live/work apartment units hope that change means bringing business and cash-carrying outsiders into this cottage community.
For his part, Kissling is not hoping, but guaranteeing it will at least mean a long-dormant building is turned into something new.
“We’ve been going on for six years now and it’s hard but we’re able to get going on this thing,” he said. “We’ve got the mortgage commitment and everything.”
Cleanup of the site began in May, a groundbreaking ceremony was attended by local, state and national officials from the area, seemingly all of whom helped secure some kind of funding or tax credit for the project.
Since then, not much visually has changed as crews battled to clean up the contaminated state Brownfield property, working to satisfy groups like the Department of Environmental Conservation.
“The demolition plans took us a lot longer because there was a lot more asbestos than we thought,” Kissling said.
A long-anticipated restaurant called 18-Mile is part of the first phase of work now set to begin. Last year, the restaurant was projected to be finished by next month. With cleanup only now wrapping up, however, Kissling said customers should be dining by April 30, 2010. That should coincide with the first paying tenants being offered 18 apartments, also included in phase one construction to be completed in June or July.