Business Center begins raising funds for roofs

The Watertown Center for Business and Industry has made a start toward raising the money necessary to replace the failing roof on Building A.

The building has the majority of tenants and more than 80 jobs at the center.

The Jefferson County Local Development Corp. approved a $200,000 grant from the Community Development Fund and a $200,000 loan for the roof replacement during its meeting Thursday morning.

The Watertown Industrial Center Local Development Corp., which oversees the center, also recently was awarded $250,000 from the state Empire State Development Corp.'s Upstate Regional Blueprint fund.

"The buildings are old; the roofs are old," site manager William J. Soluri said. "With the roofs failing, it's hard to sustain keeping our tenants."

Building A covers 80,000 square feet and has the most critical roof needs. But the roofs on the three other buildings at the center also have to be replaced. Replacing the Building A roof will cost about $1.5 million, but replacing all of the roofs will cost about $3.1 million.

"With your participation, we have a better chance to find sources elsewhere," Mr. Soluri told the board of the corporation. "We are trying every source possible."

In an earlier meeting, board member Michelle D. Pfaff asked about making rents high enough to support a capital fund.

"As leases come up, we're going to new rents," Mr. Soluri said.

The grant was approved on a

4-0 vote. Board member David J. Converse abstained because his company is a tenant in the center.