Construction is getting underway at two properties the Center owns in Tupper Lake, NY, to help meet the community’s identified need to improve the available housing and to enhance the Uptown District.

The properties include a parcel at 179 Park Street where we removed a condemned structure and are building nine new apartments. Site preparation is underway for the new construction, and crews will begin pouring the foundation in the next month. At the neighboring property, 185 Park Street, crews have begun to renovate the existing house, which will remain a single-family home.

The renovations will help improve the eastern gateway to Tupper Lake, which is known locally as “Uptown,” with the intent to catalyze additional interest and investment in this area of Tupper Lake.

The Center purchased the two properties in late 2022, originally intending to renovate both buildings. “After we did a full assessment of the old Plaza building at 179 Park Street, we realized the best way forward for us was to remove the old building and start with a clean slate,” said Leslie Karasin, Adirondack Program Director for the Center. Before demolition, crews removed asbestos from the interior of the building.

“As we worked on the Strategic Investment Plan for our Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the Upper Park Street area stood out as a vital gateway into our town, one that truly reflects the spirit of Tupper Lake,” said Tupper Lake Mayor Mary Fontana. “This project not only brings long-awaited improvements to our streetscape, it also adds much-needed housing for our residents. It’s wonderful to see progress taking shape, and we’re excited for what this means for our entire community.”

The Center hired AJA Architecture Planning of Glens Falls to design the new building, and JFP Enterprises of Plattsburgh as the construction manager to lead the project. “We’re very excited to be getting underway with this exciting project,” said Jon Poissant, owner of JFP Enterprises. “We can already see what the transformation of this site is going to mean for the community.”

The total cost to develop quality housing at both Park Street properties is estimated at just under million, which the Center will fund with a mix of impact investments from its Northern Forest Fund, grants from the Downtown Revitalization Initiative through New York Homes and Community Renewal, Restore NY, and private grants and donations.