Clarkson outlines costs for Snell Hall

POTSDAM — If the town decides to move its offices to Clarkson University's downtown Snell Hall, it could pay $45,000 annually for rent and utilities.

That's about $17,000 more a year than it costs to run the town's current 35 Market St. headquarters, but the town would gain 1,500 square feet for its operations, as well as plenty of parking.

Nancy E. Kin, the college's chief financial officer, said Clarkson would charge $6 per square foot for the municipality to rent a wing of the historic academic building. She discussed the terms in a closed meeting with town officials Friday afternoon.

"All we're looking for is to have our costs covered. We're not looking to profit off the town," she said. "When we say we want to partner, we do."

Clarkson charges about $9.50 per square foot for businesses to rent space in its downtown buildings.

The town is eyeing Snell's first-floor north wing — which totals about 7,500 square feet — for its offices, while the adjacent east corridor is being considered for a court that could be shared with the village. That section is about 7,000 square feet.

The college's rate would include all utilities and maintenance. The town would be expected to obtain liability and renter's insurance, and any signs would have to be approved by the university, Ms. Kin said.

That's on top of the estimated $750,000 it would cost to renovate the first-floor north wing to house the town hall, according to Supervisor Marie C. Regan.

Ms. Kin said that her goal is to rent out all of Snell within four years. Twenty college employees still work in the 89-year-old landmark.

"We've been saying that we want to partner with government agencies and with businesses in the community to attract more businesses and help the community become even more viable than what it is," she said. "The university will always have a presence downtown."

Mrs. Regan said she will discuss the Town Council's conversation with Ms. Kin at the next joint court-sharing committee meeting.

"It was a very cordial and productive meeting. Most of our questions were answered. We will continue to negotiate several items in the proposed contract," the supervisor said.