BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG — Ogdensburg will seek a Restore New York grant to help a local businessman bring an ACE Hardware store to the former Hackett’s building on Pickering Street.

Rob Noble, who built a successful career as a minister and owner of a small chain of Noble ACE Hardware stores in Vermont, New York and New Hampshire, made the request to the city council Aug. 23.

Noble said the project is multi-faceted in that the building he intends to buy will bring fiscal relief and stability to the Ogdensburg Rescue Squad. The squad currently uses a portion of the building, but owes more than $1 million for the property.

Noble plans to pay off the loan, lease a portion to the squad and restore the unused portion and open a store in it.

“That’s why I am here tonight to ask you to support applying for a $1.1 million Restore New York grant to help make this project a reality. The portion of the building I want to make into a major retail center has sat vacant for 12 years since Hacketts closed. During that time, it has deteriorated and requires major renovation work to save it from further deterioration and to transform it back into a major retail center,” he told council. “Under my plan, I will purchase the building from the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad by paying off the $1.2 million loan owed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development office. I will provide a long-term lease to the Rescue Squad that allows them to reduce their cost of operations in their current facility and protects their long-term interests.”

Noble said he’s already been working with local leaders to get things lined up. He offered appreciation to St. Lawrence County Legislator Jim Reagen, who spoke to council on his behalf Monday, the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency, the City Planner, the rescue squad and others who have helped along the way.

Noble said he has a team that’s ready to assist and get things moving.

“My company brings to the table an experienced team that can help with purchasing, marketing, payroll and accounting services to this project. My company and the Ace Hardware Cooperative will pay the cost of stocking the store with a variety of goods that will make it a major shopping destination for Ogdensburg and Northern New York,” he said.

Noble said that while he is excited to get started on the project, help from the city is crucial in moving things forward as the building is in sought shape.

“However, I want to be honest with you. Due to the deteriorated state of the building, my project will probably not be able to move forward without the help that a Restore New York grant can provide to help pay the costs of renovating the building, repairing the flooring, roof, lighting, bathrooms, parking lot, and installing a sprinkler system to bring the structure into compliance with current building regulations,” he said.

But Noble said if the city is successful in getting the grant he’s confident he can bring customers in.

“I believe I can build a successful company here in Ogdensburg, but unfortunately, the building I want to use has sat too long. It has deteriorated too much and needs extensive rehabilitation work to save this important structure and help transform it back into a successful retail business center again,” he said.

“If you look at the criteria for the Restore New York grant program, you will find my business proposal meets all the goals of the program. It’s why Restore New York was created. By working together, we can save this important Ogdensburg landmark before it falls into further deterioration. That’s why I am here tonight. That’s why I am asking you, as the members of the Ogdensburg City Council, and your planning office to work with me and the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Agency and the Ogdensburg Volunteer Rescue Squad to revitalize this building and help us save it before it is too late and it becomes just another derelict building that once played an important role in this community, but was allowed to decay and sit abandoned. Together, we can work together to begin the task of making Ogdensburg a major retail center in Northern New York once again.”

Although the city didn’t take a formal vote on the matter, the council gave consensus to the city planner to pursue the grant.