Developers pressing city on Diamond property; council weighs legal limits and public access

A group that has been exploring redevelopment of the former Diamond National waterfront property has been pressing the city for a pathway to development, and residents told the council this week that a locked gate at the site is restricting public access to popular fishing shoreline and to the Maple City Trail.

Greg McNamara, a remote commenter, said he has lived in Ogdensburg for nine years and described the locked gate at the end of Madison Avenue as a recurring problem that has worsened public-safety and recreation access. “Leaving this gate closed is facilitating their mischief and escape opportunities,” McNamara said, adding that he believed the gate closure has hindered law-enforcement response and reduced safe recreational access.

Councilors and staff discussed parallel issues: several council members said developers who have prepared concept plans are waiting for the city to move forward, while management and the city attorney have raised legal questions about whether the property can be leased or sold and about prior restrictions on the parcel.

City management said the potential developer group asked only for a phone call to discuss financing and next steps and that staff had been in email exchange. The city manager told council he would contact the developers promptly. One councilor recommended seeking a formal opinion from the New York State Attorney General’s office to resolve whether leasing the property would be treated as a sale and what state-imposed restrictions might apply.

Council members emphasized process: several said a developer presentation should be deferential to pending legal work and that any RFP or RFQ process should follow due process so multiple firms have the opportunity to respond. City staff said they have walked the property and discussed infrastructure needs and will report back after receiving further legal advice and after meeting with developers and attorneys if appropriate.

Regarding short-term shoreline access concerns, staff said the gate remains closed for liability and public-safety reasons while they answer legal questions and consider options for safer public access. Councilors asked staff to revisit the gate decision once legal and safety questions are clarified.

Ending: city management will seek guidance from the city attorney and explore whether an opinion from the state attorney general is appropriate, will contact the developers who have been waiting for a response and will return to council with options for public access and for proceeding with an RFP/RFQ process if legal hurdles can be resolved.