WATERTOWN, N.Y. — The Watertown Family YMCA’s new $27.5 million facility is complete, Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announced.

The new building repurposed a vacant 89,000-square-foot structure in the heart of downtown Watertown, turning it into a family wellness, aquatics, and fitness center.

“The completion of the Watertown YMCA is the culmination of many ongoing strategic investments by New York state to redevelop downtown Watertown that are breathing new excitement in the community,” Hochul contended in a news release. “The opening of this new and modern facility is another important milestone in this exciting transformation that will help revitalize and grow downtown Watertown, now and for the future.”

The Watertown Family YMCA has offered swimming, exercise classes, and a variety of after-school educational programs for more than a century. The new facility expands on that traditional programming to meet the diverse needs of the community and includes features such as lap and recreational pools, an indoor track, multi-sports courts, exercise studios, a wellness center, community rooms, “child watch” and kid’s adventure areas, art space, and a space for teens.

The new location, which opened on Dec. 11, features more than 350 parking spaces and offers multiple entry and exit points. Additionally, the new facility enhances the city’s downtown revitalization initiative (DRI) and ensures the Y’s legacy as a downtown anchor, the organization stipulates.

“We remain so grateful for the support we have received to make this project a reality for our community,” YMCA CEO Denise Young said in the release. “This is not about a building, but about what will happen inside it, improving lives for the next five generations.”

Empire State Development supported the project with a $3.6 million capital grant to assist with construction and rehabilitation costs. The project additionally received a $9 million U.S. Department of Defense grant from the Defense Communities Infrastructure Pilot program to support military families at Fort Drum.

“Today’s not about one project,” Watertown Mayor Jeff Smith said. “It’s about multiple investments breathing life into our downtown. Investments like the DRI and the new YMCA project strengthen the community core and stimulate new projects like the redevelopment of the Globe Building. We’re not just growing; we’re creating a vibrant hub that will encourage more investment in our city.”

In addition to the new YMCA, several state-supported projects are underway in downtown Watertown. 5G Real Estate Group, LLC is undertaking a nearly $3 million project to restore the former Globe Building into 11 market-rate apartments and 14,000 square feet of commercial space. The project is supported with $558,000 in DRI funding from Empire State Development.

Other projects nearing or at completion include the downtown streetscape redevelopment project, the Jefferson Community College Center for Entrepreneurship project in the former Strand Theater and Lamon buildings on Franklin Street, and the redevelopment of 138, 152-154, and 170 Court St.

OSWEGATCHIE, N.Y. — Crews have started their work on a project at the Ogdensburg International Airport in St. Lawrence County to make the facility a regional transportation hub.

The effort seeks to make the airport one that will “attract new travelers to the area and fuel economic growth” throughout the North Country, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced.

The project has a total estimated cost of $21.5 million and is expected to create 195 jobs. It will involve a renovation of the terminal building to create a multi-purpose facility that “better serves passengers and air carriers, and attracts new visitors and businesses to the region,” Hochul’s office said.

The effort was awarded $18 million from the governor’s $230 million Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Competition.

The project will expand the check-in, ticketing, and baggage drop off areas; construct a new canopy over the curbside drop-off/pick-up area; install new passenger information display systems; and make other improvements to “enhance the passenger experience” and create a “state-of-the-art gateway for the entire region.” 

Crews will also create a new, multi-purpose great room to provide “much-needed” community space for civic gatherings, conferences, business meetings, and other public events, Hochul’s office said. 

“Our upstate airports are gateways that not only welcome travelers but also open the door to increased tourism and expanded opportunities for economic growth,” Hochul said. “Thanks to our Upstate Airport Economic Development and Revitalization Initiative, the Ogdensburg International Airport will get the improvements it needs to become a true, 21st Century travel destination that will attract new visitors and businesses to the North Country.”

Constructed in 1980, the Ogdensburg International Airport’s terminal handled as many as 26,921 enplanements a year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic but the facility “lacks adequate space to comfortably handle” the current, increased passenger flow or accommodate the expected levels of growth in the coming years, per Hochul’s office.