Exerpt from Corry Journal, full story available online:
Corry eyes progress at former Cooper Ajax site
By Stephen Sears
The southeast corner of the Cooper-Ajax building in downtown Corry looks like a half-finished geometry project.
With the siding gone from its back and side walls, steel girders can be seen angling in every direction inside the massive structure.
But soon the 210,000-square-foot building at West Washington Street and First Avenue will take a new shape.
Workers could begin putting up new siding in about three weeks. And by summer’s end, that siding could gleam with a shimmering coat of fresh paint.
The improvements to the vacant building and the surrounding property are part of a plan to turn a once-rundown city block into an attractive magnet for new jobs.
Rick Novotny, an economic specialist for Corry Redevelopment Authority, is pleased with the progress.
“In eight months, we’ve eliminated blight, created the potential for new jobs, created additional parking, and soon there will be an aesthetically pleasing entryway into the community,” Novotny said.
Corry Industrial Benefit Association bought the complex from Cooper-Cameron Corp. of Houston in September 2005. Since then, CIBA has spent about $500,000 has been spent to improve the property.
Those improvements included razing about seven connected buildings, having water and soil tested for environmental hazards, and separating the jumble of electrical lines that once connected all the buildings.
The cornerstones of the project are the Cooper-Ajax building, which contains about 80,000 square feet of manufacturing space, and the 11,500 square-foot Cooper-Ajax office building that faces North Center Street.
The larger building could hold between 60 and 120 workers, depending on what kind of business it is used for, Novotny said. Although one potential tenant has shown interest, no contracts have been signed, Novotny said.
“We have an interested party,” Novotny said. “That’s all we can say. It’s not a done deal.”
Steel siding has been ordered and will be installed by Kessell Construction of Bradford when it arrives, Novotny said.
“This will soon be a secure building once again,” he said.
A new roof was put on the office building in November. Still, the building needs repairs to the back wall, new ceilings and wallpaper, and new heating and air-conditioning systems, Novotny said.
Novotny believes the building would be ideal for professional offices or a telephone call center, which could handle telemarketing or technical support.
More improvements to the former Cooper property are also on the way, thanks to two $198,000 federal Economic Development Incentive grants, Novotny said.
The money, which hasn’t been released yet, will help pay for landscaping to make the property more attractive, he said.
Plans are to level much of the land where buildings once stood, create parking spaces, improve drainage and add greenery.
“As a worst-case scenario, bulldozers should have the land somewhat leveled off and the land should be seeded by September or October,” Novotny said.
Fencing, perhaps cut in the shape of a train to honor Corry’s railroad heritage, is also in the works.
Corry eyes progress at former Cooper Ajax site
By Stephen Sears
The southeast corner of the Cooper-Ajax building in downtown Corry looks like a half-finished geometry project.
With the siding gone from its back and side walls, steel girders can be seen angling in every direction inside the massive structure.
But soon the 210,000-square-foot building at West Washington Street and First Avenue will take a new shape.
Workers could begin putting up new siding in about three weeks. And by summer’s end, that siding could gleam with a shimmering coat of fresh paint.
The improvements to the vacant building and the surrounding property are part of a plan to turn a once-rundown city block into an attractive magnet for new jobs.
Rick Novotny, an economic specialist for Corry Redevelopment Authority, is pleased with the progress.
“In eight months, we’ve eliminated blight, created the potential for new jobs, created additional parking, and soon there will be an aesthetically pleasing entryway into the community,” Novotny said.
Corry Industrial Benefit Association bought the complex from Cooper-Cameron Corp. of Houston in September 2005. Since then, CIBA has spent about $500,000 has been spent to improve the property.
Those improvements included razing about seven connected buildings, having water and soil tested for environmental hazards, and separating the jumble of electrical lines that once connected all the buildings.
The cornerstones of the project are the Cooper-Ajax building, which contains about 80,000 square feet of manufacturing space, and the 11,500 square-foot Cooper-Ajax office building that faces North Center Street.
The larger building could hold between 60 and 120 workers, depending on what kind of business it is used for, Novotny said. Although one potential tenant has shown interest, no contracts have been signed, Novotny said.
“We have an interested party,” Novotny said. “That’s all we can say. It’s not a done deal.”
Steel siding has been ordered and will be installed by Kessell Construction of Bradford when it arrives, Novotny said.
“This will soon be a secure building once again,” he said.
A new roof was put on the office building in November. Still, the building needs repairs to the back wall, new ceilings and wallpaper, and new heating and air-conditioning systems, Novotny said.
Novotny believes the building would be ideal for professional offices or a telephone call center, which could handle telemarketing or technical support.
More improvements to the former Cooper property are also on the way, thanks to two $198,000 federal Economic Development Incentive grants, Novotny said.
The money, which hasn’t been released yet, will help pay for landscaping to make the property more attractive, he said.
Plans are to level much of the land where buildings once stood, create parking spaces, improve drainage and add greenery.
“As a worst-case scenario, bulldozers should have the land somewhat leveled off and the land should be seeded by September or October,” Novotny said.
Fencing, perhaps cut in the shape of a train to honor Corry’s railroad heritage, is also in the works.
~Greg Graves
