There are multiple sites of businesses in the city that have been closed for many years, but work on filling them again is ongoing by the Department of Development.

Some of these specific sites include the Rite Aid on North Main Street, Blackstone Ney Ultrasonics, McDonald’s on Second Street, Big Lots and more recently, the original Tim Hortons in Brooklyn Square, along with a few others. Aili Makuch, the city’s recently hired economic development coordinator, said while some like Blackstone Ney and Big Lots have been closed more recently than others, the city knows these are big locations with high visibility and that work has been ongoing behind the scenes to fill them again.

“It is my goal, along with the mayor and the department, to bring in new businesses to fill those sites,” Makuch said. “If we could fill them tomorrow we would, but like with most things, it takes time.”

Part of her job as the economic development coordinator has been to get in contact with different lease agencies, realtors and others that own the sites. She gave an example of just recently talking with the McDonald’s corporation about what is required to do for their old space. She has also recently met with someone who will be putting in a new clothing store in the old Family Video, and had a phone conversation with the owners of Big Lots back in January.

“We have absolutely been in touch with the people responsible for these locations,” Makuch said. “I have emailed the company responsible for Rite Aid. I am dedicated to actively pursuing businesses to come into these spaces. We’ve talked with fast food companies to come fill McDonald’s. I’m not sure what is happening with the Tim Hortons that just closed, but we are in active conversations with businesses.”

Other behind the scenes conversations have included something such as a neighborhood Walmart. There has also been work on trying to push some developers, such as the upcoming developers showcase in April. Specifically, Makuch said they are working on pushing developers for Blackstone Ney because of its proximity to the Chadakoin River. Makuch added that the department wants to be available to help in the transaction and to make it so whoever moves in next into Blackstone Ney or any of the other vacant locations can be successful and use it to the highest and best purposes for everyone.

“In an ideal world we would have no vacancies in the city,” Makuch said. “Will we ever get that? Probably not, but our aim is to make a dent in these vacant properties and I am excited to help with a new approach and to actively reach out to people to fill these spaces.”

Additionally, Makuch said the Department of Development is aware of the concerns people have regarding these empty sites and that they share them and want them filled as much as everyone. She said they are working on filling them in a way that is best for the economy and community.

“We are working on it,” Makuch said. “There are many different aspects to my job, but one is trying to bring back the thriving economy of Jamestown’s past, which is my goal. There are a lot of moving parts to that.”

Makuch said there are a lot of people at the Department of Development, the Chamber of Commerce, and everyone else that they partner with that have great minds that are able to work towards solutions, but she said if anyone has a request or idea for something to be done with the sites to let them know. She encouraged people to reach out to her or the department or to come to city council meetings, saying Facebook comments are seen but that social media is not always the most reliable way of communication.

“We want that community engagement, and coming in and having that conversation is the first step,” Makuch said.