UTICA - Demolition begins Tuesday on the Thomas Lindsey Memorial Public Safety Center. Crews have been working for the past two weeks transforming the former James Street Luncheonette into the new center.
 
There has been a few delays throughout the process, mostly due to rain. Due to these minor setbacks, the center will not open for another month and a half. Community and city officials are already formulating ideas on what to do once the construction is complete.

Workers have managed to complete the roof of the building and are now beginning to gut the place.  Public Safety Commissioner Dan LaBella says rain has caused some delays so the center will not be complete within the original eight week time frame.  He says it will be another month and a half before workers put the final touches on the center.  LaBella says that he has been in close contact with members of the James Street community in order to brainstorm ideas on how to best utilize the center.

LaBella says he hopes to stay on budget, which right now is about $60,000.  Most of the money is coming from Federal Economic Development Funds as well as small state grants.