Developers of the refurbished Merchants Commons building in downtown Syracuse is the new beneficiary of a National Grid brownfield grant. The money comes from the utility giant's rate payers. National Grid awarded $300,000 to the private developer of the project Washington Street Partners.
The money is to be used for asbestos removal and environmental remediation on the two building project that includes the former Merchants Bank and Snow buildings on Warren Street.
The criteria in National Grid's details of the grant are:
Demolition that results in the clean-up and re-use of a contaminated site or building;
Electric & gas infrastructure improvements; and,
Costs associated with the local match for NYS DEC Environmental Restoration Program (ERP) and the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program (BOA).
Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments
Merchants Commons is being renovated for a mix of residential and business space. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
