If you have looked around town lately, you may have noticed numerous construction sites, heavy machinery and signs signifying new businesses and expansions coming into the Port City.

The Rite Aide being built on Route 104 East next to McDonald’s is perhaps one of the more noticeable construction projects. The developer, Ellicott Development Company of Buffalo, tore down the former Taylor Rental and Route 104 Ford buildings to build the new pharmacy.

A small road, where Route 104 Ford was previously located, will connect Rite Aide to 104 so that pharmacy-goers can utilize the traffic signal that connects to the DKR Plaza where Price Chopper is located.

The east side McDonald’s will be flanked by two new businesses. One being the Rite Aide, the other will be the new home of Sherwin Williams in the old C&C Appliance building. The current store, which is located on Route 104 West next to Subway, is moving to the other side of the city. “There will only be one store in town,” said Jim Bourdon, store manager.

According to Bourdon, the business could be in its new home by July 1. He said it depends on when the building will be ready but anticipates at the earliest it would be done by early July.

“It’s just a bigger facility,” Bourdon said. “The showroom will be about the same size, but there will be more warehouse space.” The manager noted that the business had outgrown the store it currently resides in now.

One of the larger projects that is under way is the expansion of Canal Commons on West First Street. Local developer Tony Pauldine purchased the next three buildings adjacent to  Canal Commons, including the B&D Photo building, Main Moon building and last week he bought the Vona building.

Pauldine plans on extending the current hallway in Canal Commons throughout the three buildings, creating space for seven new vendors on the first floor. “Effectively what it means is we’re doubling the size of Canal Commons,” he said. Currently there is 6,500 square feet of leasable space.

There will also be space for new vendors on the Water Street level located at the back of the buildings. Pauldine noted that he has already been able to secure a couple of new vendors to move in when the expansion is completed — hopefully by late summer.
According to Pauldine, one of the new shops will offer a line of all natural candles, lotions and soaps that will be made by the owners. Also, the refurbished space will be home to a small portrait studio. Pauldine noted that the studio will tie in nicely with other shops currently housed in Canal Commons where people are able to get items for their wedding, flowers and their hair done. “The plan is to be a one-stop shop,” he said.

The developer stated that the project is being paid for through a combination of private funding and money from a City of Oswego 2020 Façade Grant. According to Mary Vanouse, the director of community development, the grant can pay up to a maximum of $20,000 or cover 80 percent of the cost of the rehabilitation of the façade. Pauldine said he is eligible for $80,000 in grant money.

“Façade grants have been available to people on that block (West First Street) to refurbish their facades,” Vanouse said. She noted the façade grants have already been used on the Browne-Davis Building and also on a section of the current Canal Commons where Andrew’s Wine Cellar and Flowers by mr. John are housed.

“A special thank you to community development without which this development would not have happened,” Pauldine said. “They’re doing a wonderful service to the community in Oswego.”

Pauldine said that the cost to refurbish the exterior of the windows is $150,000. “The plywood windows will be filled in with new, state-of-the-art windows,” he said, noting that they will be energy efficient.

The first phase of the project includes finishing the first floors and extending the hallway. The second phase includes installing an elevator in the Old Jefferson Block, where B&D Photo and Main Moon used to be. This would connect the parking lot on Water Street to the first level of Canal Commons on West First Street.

By winter, Pauldine hopes to start refurbishing the upstairs of the buildings to transform the space into 11-12 high-end apartments overlooking the Oswego River and the east side of the city. “The view is just spectacular,” Pauldine said.

The one-and two-bedroom apartments would be approximately 900-1,200 square feet each. Pauldine said he went to a downtown Syracuse walking tour to view some of the residential buildings. “Ours are going to definitely rival or surpass what we saw on the walking tour,” he said.

Pauldine estimated that when the apartments are finished there should be 20-24 new people residing downtown, which means that they will most likely eat there and shop in the area as well. “It’s a real boom to our local economy,” he said. “It ensures the longevity of the downtown building.”

The contractor is excited about the new project and noted that the vendors are as well. “As a developer it makes your heart leap,” he said. “It’s very exciting to create something in the heart of the community.”