The private DRI project, located next to the Pratt House, was awarded $140,000 from Empire State Development through the DRI. The 2021 original award amount provided 20% of the total anticipated investment of $700,000.
The plan includes transforming the historic, vacant building into an inn equipped with a cafe and coffee lounge. Collins shared the name of the cafe will be King’s Road Cafe and will be located on the first floor. The name of the inn will be Case-Lee Inn.
The first floor plans include restoring a dining room/parlor space, building a cafe along with a commercial grade kitchen and an ADA accessible guest suite. The plan is to have the cafe and lounge be open to the general public. The second floor, once fully restored, would include up to 6 guest suites. The third level has the potential to be one large suite.
Collins shared the project will be tackled in phases: Phase 1 includes painting and repairing the full exterior of the building by summer of 2025 in addition to site work on the property such as landscaping; Phase 2 includes building and remodeling the cafe on the first floor by fall of 2025; Phase 3 is to create additional guest suites on the second floor. A later phase may include developing the third floor level.
The Case-Lee House is the first house built in the former village of Fulton and one of, if not the, oldest standing homes in the city.
Collins shared she has personally been interested in this property for more than 20 years and was the focus of her thesis project in college.
While vandals have broken into the house and stolen piping and other metal fixtures and even demolished part of an exterior brick wall to gain access to the interior, the original character of the house is still intact. That original character inspired Collins to take ownership of the building in 2020 and do what she can to preserve history and the craftsmanship of the historic property. That craftsmanship includes Italianate-style architecture, old mason work, ornate ceramic tiling, unique wooden doors, staircase banisters, railings and many other fixtures in the house.
“It’s not just that it’s old that makes it worth preserving. It’s that craftsmanship that makes it valuable and worth keeping. Someone that came way before us put a lot of thought and care into creating the building. It’s irreplaceable,” said Collins. “This building checks all the boxes.”
While the home currently features brick with white paint, Collins said it was originally brick with a historic green paint and she plans to restore it to its original colors. The paint will be among the first changes the public will see in 2025.
She is currently in the process of getting the home listed on the National Historic Registry which is a long process. She is working with the state and federal agencies to receive the designation. In addition to its architectural history, the Case Lee family was involved in the abolitionist movement and it has been documented that Frederick Douglas visited and stayed on the property. With the historic designation, she can qualify for historic tax credits which is key to the project’s success. Collins said it is advisable not to start remodeling or restoring the property until the historic preservation tax credit is secured, otherwise, developers risk losing the credits. While she owns the property, she does not occupy the home.
Collins noted she plans to recreate from photographs what has been lost over the years so, ideally, the historic preservation will be uniform throughout the property. A major challenge, aside from interior restoration once the exterior is addressed, is eliminating lead paint that is throughout the house.
The DRI Advisory committee, comprised of local and regional stakeholders, was appointed by the Common Council. The Committee’s purpose is to keep the public updated and engaged with what is happening with the DRI, and help to gather information and advise the council on previously awarded DRI projects. For a complete list of DRI projects, visit https://fultonny.org/dri-initiative-page/.
In total, there were 16 projects awarded–a combination of municipal, non profit, and private projects with grants totalling $9.7 million. The city was initially awarded the DRI in 2019 for its vision and for project synergy but each project is contracted separately with New York State. The Fulton DRI Strategic Investment Plan can be found here: ny.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/Fulton DRI_Strategic_Investment_Plan2021.pdf
With COVID, much of the DRI was on hold. Some projects have changed since the original award.
Those serve who on the DRI Advisory Committee are: Chair and resident Marie Mankiewicz, Vice Chair and resident Brittney Jerred, Secretary and resident Caroline Shue, Superintendent of Fulton City Schools Brian Pulvino, Fire and Police Commissioner and resident David Miner, 5th Ward Councilor and resident Audrey Avery, County Legislator and resident Frank Castiglia,resident John McGraw, 3rd Ward Councilor and resident Don Patrick, Code Enforcement Officer Matthew Smith, resident and Fulton City School district representative Sean Broderick, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Oswego County Dave Turner, resident Cathy Trowbridge, Mayor Jim Rice, City Clerk Jodi Corsoniti, Director of Public works and resident C J Smith, Director of Parks and rec and resident Chris Waldron, resident David Phares, Fulton Savings Bank Vice President Tina Stephens and John Kenyon, a fourth ward resident.
To view past minute meetings, visit: https://fultonny.org/dri-advisory-committee/
To provide feedback to the committee, please send email to [email protected]. Questions, concerns and feedback will be provided to the committee for consideration or response. Members of the committee are encouraged to bring any public concerns to future meetings as well. The meetings are open to the public.
The DRI Advisory Committee’s next meeting is Thursday, September 19, 5 pm, City Hall Municipal Room, 141 S. 1st St., Fulton.