The Cobleskill Partnership isn’t giving up on Newberry’s.
And if anything, they’re thrilled the Town of Cobleskill, which decided against into moving into the building as well as against buying 107 Union Street for offices, even looked at downtown, said CPI President Brian Kaiser.
“I want to make it clear, we don’t consider the town the ‘bad guy,’” Mr. Kaiser said.
“Naturally, we would have welcomed them at Newberry’s or downtown in general, but we’re encouraged by their willingness to even consider it.”
Mr. Kaiser said CPI will continue to work to spruce up the building in an effort to make it more attractive to some other tenant—or owner.
The building is privately owned by Harry Iaonnou.
Mr. Kaiser said CPI wants to continue to work with Mr. Iaonnou through its matching façade program to replace the broken windows—likely a $6,000-$7,000 job—and expose things like the pillars that once framed the front doors and signs for things like “men’s wear” that hung over it.
“We want to give the community as well as prospective tenants and buyers a better idea of what the building could be with a little TLC,” he said.
A supporter of those efforts has already purchased some of the restaurant equipment in the building on the condition that that money go toward window replacement, Mr. Kaiser said, and the person who broke the latest Newberry’s window has been ordered to make restitution.
“So we have some money pledged,” he said. “We may have to hit Main Street, though those people have already been very supportive of our Community Plaza plans. The are small grants available…One way or another, we’ll make it work.”
Though some criticize using public money on a private building, Mr. Kaiser said restoring Newberry’s is crucial to downtown’s economic revitalization.
“We can either bring it back online or tear it down,” he said.
And he remains optimistic CPI can help make that happen.
“We’re optimistic that with some additional time it can be a viable option for someone, maybe even the town.”