CAMILLUS — Crews have finished work on a $9.7 million project renovating the former Camillus Cutlery headquarters into Camillus Mills.

Camillus Mills is a 42,000-square-foot, mixed-use development with new rental apartments and 8,500 square feet of new commercial retail space in the village of Camillus.

That’s according to a news release that the New York City–based Community Preservation Corporation (CPC) issued Dec. 11. The CPC operates a Syracuse office at 315 N. Clinton St. in Syracuse.

As of Dec. 11, 21 of the 29 apartments are already leased, Dan Tartaglia of Sutton Real Estate Company of Syracuse said in the CPC release.

MCK Building Associates Inc. of Syracuse served as the project’s general contractor. 

The renovation of the structure features 8,500 square feet of fully leased ground floor, street-front commercial space, as well as on-site parking. The commercial tenants include the headquarters of Hearth Management, an owner/operator of 15 senior living facilities in four states, and a branch of the Syracuse–based Freedom of Espresso coffee house, which will open in early 2018.

To help finance the project, CPC provided a $7.84 million construction loan as well as a State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA)-insured $3.96 million permanent loan through its funding agreement with the New York State Common Retirement Fund. 

Empire State Development awarded the project a $2.34 million Restore NY grant and a $500,000 grant through the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council. 

Additionally, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) provided a $31,000 grant to Onondaga County from the New York Main Street program to replace the structure’s roof. 

The project received its part I and part II approvals from New York’s State Historic Preservation Office and National Park Service to qualify for state and federal historic tax credits. 

The Town of Camillus additionally provided a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement to help facilitate the project, the CPC said.

The former Camillus Cutlery complex is a state-designated brownfield site. A brownfield is any property where redevelopment or re-use may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous waste, petroleum, pollutant, or contaminant, as defined by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

The development team worked with the DEC and New York State Department of Health to “fully remediate the residue of one hundred years of industrial activity,” the CPC said.

Those involved in the project included Franklin Properties of Syracuse; developer Tom Blair; Sutton Real Estate Company of Syracuse; Community Preservation Corporation; Camillus Village Mayor Patricia Butler-Rhoades; New York State Historic Preservation Office; Empire State Development; New York State Department of Environmental Conservation; Office of the New York State Comptroller, New York State Homes and Community Renewal; and Camillus Town Supervisor Mary Ann Coogan, according to the CPC release. 

Building history

The Camillus Cutlery Company was one of the oldest knife manufacturers in the country, responsible for supplying pocket knives to the U.S. Armed Forces, the Boy Scouts of America, outdoor enthusiasts, and for the general public.

During its peak production, Camillus Cutlery employed 300 workers and manufactured nearly 2 million knives. The factory ceased operations in 2007, and the property was vacant until a large fire destroyed more than 100,000 square feet of former factory space in 2013. The company’s former headquarters building survived the fire. 

The Camillus Cutlery legacy “remains culturally important” to village residents, the CPC contends. Many recovered artifacts have been incorporated into the renovated building, “paying homage to the company’s significance in the community.”

VESTAL — Nelson Development Group, LLC has hired virtual tour provider, Small Town 360, to create “immersive” tours of the company’s seven historic properties, including the new Gateway Building under construction on Front Street in Owego.

 The concept is to provide a 24/7 “Walk Through” for people to easily explore the inside of these buildings, the two Vestal–based companies said in a news release.

Small Town 360 will photograph and build tours for the buildings and apartments. The tours will become a tool and a resource for Nelson Development’s management team, according to David Coleman, owner of Small Town 360. Work on this project began in December.

“It will feel like you are walking through the halls of these buildings, every room different and with a special story to tell,” Coleman said in the release.

“Our buildings provide both residence and businesses with a one-of-a-kind environment meant to not only inspire but to boost pride in our community. We give people the opportunity to see how attractive, exciting buildings exist right in their own town,” Bruce Nelson, CEO of Nelson Development Group, said. “I chose Small Town 360 for this assignment because they are a leader in this innovative technology and their commitment to quality matches our own high standards.”

Nelson founded Nelson Development Group in 2008 to restore historical buildings and adapt them for “a new life.” He has 30 years’ experience in the construction field. Nelson Development’s other development projects include the Water Works Center in Watkins Glen; the Flats on Broadway and The Montour House in Montour Falls; and The Estates, Sheriff’s House, and The Jailhouse in Owego (pictured).

Small Town 360’s other recent virtual-tour projects include the Quarry Farm (Mark Twain’s summer residence), the Clemens Center, the Arnot Art Museum, Chenango County Council Arts, Binghamton Theatre, State Theatre of Ithaca, and the Historic Baxter Library in Portland, Maine, the release stated.