Bill Cherry is optimistic the vacant Guilford Mills plant won't be vacant a year from now.
Aggressively marketing the plant, the Schoharie County Treasurer has feelers out that may eventually fill part or all of the empty Cobleskill factory.
"I don't want to predict something will happen overnight after it's been vacant for 13 years," Mr. Cherry said Friday.
"But I think a year from now, the lights will be on and people will be working there."
He's been following the sale of the former Beech-Nut plant in Canajoharie to TD Development. TD expects to have multiple tenants, which is what Mr. Cherry hopes will happen with Guilford.
The days of one company taking all of Guilford's 465,000 square feet are over, Mr. Cherry said, so he's targeting potential tenants who might want 50,000 square feet.
Mr. Cherry sees the county retaining ownership for now and selling the plant when tenants are on board.
Such a sale could go to a real estate investment trust.
"They buy shopping centers and industrial parks," Mr. Cherry said of trusts. "But they don't buy empty ones."
Dan Simpson of CBRE, the real estate agent working with the county, agrees.
"An empty building is never ideal," Mr. Simpson said. "We're actively pursuing lease tenants.
"The lease market is fairly decent. . .not as strong as it was pre-recession, but as a region, we're ahead of some other areas in the state."
Finding a new business that would take space in Guilford is unlikely, Mr. Cherry believes, so he's hoping to draw existing companies looking to move.
He's reached out to Stewart's, Stiefel, now owned by GSX; Amazon, which is establishing grocery distribution centers; and Blenheim Pharmacal.
Although Guilford Mills' empty shell appears unattractive, Mr. Cherry believes otherwise.
The county is offering leases at $2 to $2.50 per square foot, well below the standard of $3.25 to $3.75, he said.
Besides a low lease, the site also has water and sewer service, is close to two I-88 exits and has access to low-priced natural gas.
"I'm hoping companies will do the math and see the opportunity," Mr. Cherry said. "If you're a manufacturer and can cut your overhead in half, it can work."
He's also willing to be flexible about what companies may need.
"We'll do whatever it takes," Mr. Cherry said. "Tell me what you need, and we'll make it work."
That positive attitude is helpful, Mr. Simpson said.
"Schoharie County seems to be very willing, very motivated and very understanding of the market and what we need to do moving forward," Mr. Simpson said.
"There's no silver bullet, but I'm very optimistic."
Still, Mr. Simpson added, pitching a huge building that's been vacant for 13 years isn't easy--even if that building has possibilities.
"We have to re-create and reposition our assets," Mr. Simpson said. "We have 22 truck docks and the opportunity to divide the building as tenants want it."
Like Mr. Simpson, Mr. Cherry sees Guilford as an opportunity.
"There's nothing wrong with the building," he said. "I don't see how it can miss."