Construction on the rest of the building will begin in the spring

Someday, there will be a new Victorian-style building on Main Street.

But that day will not be soon.

Work is progressing, albeit slowly, on one of the three empty lots where part of downtown burned to the ground nearly two years ago.

"It's slow but good. I got my final plans; we redid the front elevation," said Kathleen J. Novosel, owner of the lots at 15 and 17 Main St. "I've also got a building permit to do the build-out and cap it off for the winter."

The finalized plans for 17 Main St., which were designed by Brooks Washburn, a Potsdam architect, combine elements of the building that burned down with the one originally on the lot in the 19th century. It will have large bay windows on either side of the front door and diamond-shaped panes at the top of the flat-roofed building.

"It's been jazzed up quite a bit. It's more Victorian," said Ms. Novosel, whose business, Novosel Associates, used to be on the site. "We added some elements to make it look more 'Main Street.'"

Since the January 2008 fire, her business has been operating out of a room in her home.

Though it doesn't look like much is happening on the site from the road, wood-framed walls are being attached to the foundation, which is original to the building.

"We're doing basically a retrofit; we're dealing with a 100-year-old foundation and nothing's level," she said. "Everything has to be measured and remeasured and then put in."

Once the build-out is finished, the building will be fitted with a tarp to keep moisture out during the winter. Construction on the rest of the building will begin in the spring, with a fall finish date, Ms. Novosel said.

At 15 Main St., the former home of La Bottega, Ms. Novosel plans to build a retail space downstairs and an incubator for three startup businesses upstairs.

Construction on that will not begin until next year, with a 2011 finish date.

"Unfortunately, I think I tend to be a bit more optimistic as far as timing goes because I want it done now," Ms. Novosel said.

Kelly M. Greene, co-owner of Tony's Pizza and the Hair Saloon, which used to be at 13 Main St., could not be reached for comment.