Ogdensburg DRI committee removes Remington expansion from immediate funding list

The Ogdensburg Downtown Revitalization Initiative Local Planning Committee has removed the proposed Remington Art Museum expansion from consideration for immediate funding through the state program. The committee made the decision at its Oct. 28 meeting as it narrowed the list of projects for the city's $10 million DRI award.

The proposed expansion at 323 Washington St. was recommended for Ogdensburg's "Roadmap for Continued Revitalization," which is intended for projects that may support downtown development beyond the current DRI awards. The project received a public transformation rating of 2.71 out of 5. Committee members JoAnne Gareau and Barb O'Keefe recused themselves from the discussion.

Ogdensburg was selected as the North Country winner of the ninth round of New York's Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The process began with 19 proposed projects, and 15 remained under consideration after the committee's fourth meeting. The committee is working toward a final slate with DRI requests totaling between $12 million and $15 million.

The Remington Art Museum is in the Library Park Historic District, which includes 303 through 323 Washington St. and the Ogdensburg Public Library. The museum says it holds the largest collection of Frederic Remington works. The committee acknowledged the museum's importance as a cultural asset in downtown Ogdensburg.

The committee also continued reviewing other proposals, including projects involving the Presbyterian Church, properties on Ford and State streets, streetscape improvements and additions to the Ogdensburg Public Library and St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union. It recommended increasing the proposed Small Project Fund request to $600,000, the maximum amount identified as allowable under the program.

The committee's next steps include completing the project slate and incorporating it into Ogdensburg's DRI Strategic Investment Plan. The state's review and final award process is expected to continue through winter and spring 2027. Updates are available through Ogdensburg's DRI website.