Businessman changes plans for VanDuzee Street fire site

Jan. 04--Tweet

WATERTOWN -- Local businessman Jacob S. Johnson still would like to purchase some city-owned land on VanDuzee Street, even though his plans to build a brewery on the site have been dropped.

Mr. Johnson said on Tuesday afternoon that his partner, Nancy Henry, has pulled out of the deal to purchase the land to build a brewery at 424 VanDuzee St., the site of a massive fire that destroyed a series of old warehouses in November 2015.

The developer decided to look at other locations because the acquisition of the city land took too long, he said. His former partner could not be reached for comment.

But Mr. Johnson, who did not attend Tuesday's meeting, plans to proceed with plans to purchase about two acres from the city for a new project. He's looking for tenants for a building he owns at the site.

"I'll do something," he said. "Time will tell what it is."

For about 45 minutes, City Council members met in executive session to discuss the proposed deal. Afterward, Mayor Joseph M. Butler Jr. said, "Nothing has been decided. You'll learn more in a couple of weeks. Stay tuned."

Councilman Cody J. Horbacz said "a generic plan" was presented to council members on Tuesday night. A survey must still be completed on the site where a huge blaze on Nov. 3, 2015, destroyed most of the old state Department of Transportation barns.

The city and Mr. Johnson also must work out a water agreement for the property. City Engineer Justin L. Wood confirmed that the two parties have to determine who would pay for repairing a nearby pump station that would provide water to the site.

Back in August, Mr. Johnson approached the city about acquiring the property for $100,000, so he could build the brewery on the site along the Black River. The city owns 9.5 acres there.

The proposed price for the two acres was not disclosed on Tuesday night.

Recently, Mr. Johnson purchased an adjacent property, at 424 Rear VanDuzee St., from another local businessman, Richard Alexander, for $1,000. He would incorporate that land into the new project.

Mr. Johnson, who owns Jake's Garden Center and a lawn care and landscaping business on Route 11 south of Watertown Center, already owns the only remaining building still standing at the VanDuzee Street site.

More than 100 firefighters fought the 2015 blaze for hours at the scene of the sprawling property, once a series of interconnected warehouse buildings. Within a few weeks, the site was cleared and the debris hauled away.

The $750,000 that the city received from its insurance carrier was more than enough to pay for expenses associated with the cleanup, city officials have said.

Police were never able to say what or who caused the blaze.

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