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West Main Mercantile owner described proposed project

West Main Mercantile owner described proposed project

FALCONER – The owner of the West Main Mercantile building is hoping Falconer's NY Forward Grant will help make her building an even bigger centerpiece of the village's business district.

Members of the Falconer NY Forward Grant Local Planning Commission met recently, with heavy discussion of a proposal from Danielle Marra of Cardinal Property Development LLC and co-owner of the West Main Mercantile, located at 17-19 W Main St.

"When my husband and I purchased this property in October 2022, we had three specific goals in mind," said Marra. "First, to create a retail destination showcasing locally made products, giving residents and visitors a reason to shop in downtown Falconer. Second, to establish an accessible community space for art classes, workshops, meetings, and events. And third, to rehabilitate the four upstairs apartments to provide quality housing for professionals supporting our local workforce, including healthcare, manufacturing, and other regional industries. We've already made significant progress toward those goals through West Main Mercantile. But the next phase of our investment addresses something equally important: the long-term safety, stability, and preservation of the building itself."

The buildings on either side of 17-19 W. Main St. were damaged by fires in 2018 and 2018, leaving the building surrounded by empty space. Marra said that has also created a need to rehabilitate the exterior of 17-19 W. Main St.

"Because our building was originally constructed alongside the neighboring structure, its demolition left previously protected brick and mortar exposed to the elements. Without proper rehabilitation, that exposure threatens the building’s long-term integrity. It also left an unprotected rooftop perimeter adjacent to the apartments, creating a serious safety concern. Our proposal addresses these issues through masonry rehabilitation, a protected secondary residential exit, and the restoration of four apartments that have remained vacant for years. We've also taken the necessary steps to have our property professionally evaluated by our architect, and we’ve submitted the proposed improvements to LaBella through this process. Our proposed façade improvements are equally important. This is not simply a cosmetic renovation. Alterations made decades ago to the storefront and residential entrance created structural and functional challenges that remain today; Our goal is to improve those conditions while providing a clearly defined, well-lit, secure residential entrance, energy-efficient storefront windows and doors, and a welcoming Main Street appearance. We recognize that future development of neighboring properties could transform this block, and we sincerely hope that happens."

Marra’s proposal includes the existing commercial storefront with residential space above, which aligns well with statewide funding considerations.

"NY Forward would allow us to build upon that investment, address critical building preservation and safety needs, and return four vacant apartments to productive use, strengthening both our downtown and our local workforce," she said. "We are not asking New York Forward to create our vision for downtown Falconer. We are asking it to help us complete the vision we have already invested in."