OGDENSBURG — A high-ranking Social Security Administration official has promised U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer the Ogdensburg office will be moved into the city's downtown corridor once its lease expires.

Linda S. McMahon, SSA's deputy commissioner for operations, told Mr. Schumer she pledged to move the office to downtown when its lease at the Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority's Commerce Park expires, the senator's office said Thursday. The senior New York senator wants the office located in the former Ford Street post office. No announcement on the new location has been made.

"The best SSA location for seniors and for Ogdensburg is downtown and today we finally got some assurance that SSA is not opposed to that move," Mr. Schumer said in a prepared statement.

The office will remain in the OBPA's Commerce Park until at least October 2009 because a new location hasn't been selected. The General Services Administration, the federal government's property manager, recently asked to extend the lease with OBPA that expired April 18. The OBPA's board of directors approved the 18-month lease extension at its meeting last month.

"GSA was just bull-headed when it came to extending the lease at OBPA, and we're still trying to see if there's any way we can convince them to ditch this plan," Mr. Schumer said.

Political pressure has been building to move the office into the city's downtown corridor since 2006. City officials and Mr. Schumer have lobbied for the relocation, and were pleased with the pledge.

"This indicates that the process is continuing and we still have a valid application out there," City Manager Arthur J. Sciorra said. "The Social Security Administration has not made a long-term commitment to remain where they are now."

The Ogdensburg Growth Fund Development Corp., which owns the 420 Ford St. property, has not signed any lease agreements with tenants. The 1.13-acre property includes a 13,600-square-foot building, constructed in 1989, and about 30 parking spaces. It has been vacant since 2001.

The first phase of renovation work was completed recently. The work included gutting the building and replacing the roof, flooring and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

A second phase of renovation work is needed, including installation of ceiling tiles and bathrooms, replacement of wallboard, electrical work and construction of partition walls to accommodate the tenants.