NYSARC buys Main Street building

CANTON — St. Lawrence NYSARC has purchased 95-101 Main St., where it already rents much of the space.

The nonprofit agency eventually plans to take over the entire building at Main and Court streets, probably moving its administrative offices from Commerce Lane and opening up that facility more for programs.

All leases for tenants, which include the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and the Church & Community Worker Program, will be honored until they end. None of the leases expires in the next year.

“As the leases expire, we’re hoping to take over that space,” said Daphne A. Pickert, executive director of NYSARC.

The building is in two parcels but is attached. NYSARC bought one parcel for $400,000 from Brian W. Staples and Ted Lawrence, both of Canton. It purchased the second parcel for $150,000 from Mr. Staples, Mr. Lawrence and Jay F. Schechter, Potsdam.

NYSARC had rented the second floor for some time and later expanded into portions of the third and first floors. The agency recently opened its Gallery of Art and Learning on the first floor.

“When you’re leasing that much space, you have to wonder whether you should buy,” Ms. Pickert said. “This opportunity came up.”

NYSARC’s strategy is to cut down on the amount of space it leases around the county and centralize where it can take advantage of space it owns to cut down on overhead.

“We’re pleased with the purchase,” Ms. Pickert said. “I feel we can bring a lot to the downtown.”