A Camillus landmark that sat vacant for years is getting rehabilitated. The former Camillus Cutlery headquarters will be turned into apartments and commercial space. There were challenges along the way, but an end is finally in sight. Iris St. Meran gives us a look inside at the construction work currently being done.

CAMILLUS, N.Y. -- Camillus Cutlery first opened as a knife manufacturer in 1902. For nearly 100 years, the company thrived, supplying pocket knives for the country's armed forces.

In 2007, it closed its doors. There were plans to redevelop it when a major fire happened.

"The fire was probably the most spectacular bad thing that could have happened," said Franklin Properties Partner Douglas Sutherland. "The facility is smaller today. We lost about 90,000 square feet when the fire occurred."

That stalled plans for a while. Sutherland says they started work on this $9.2 million rehabilitation project late last summer, and in December, the DEC certified that the cleanup requirements have been met. Thursday, crews worked inside and outside the property, including replacing windows.

"The 42,000 square feet that's left is a National Register Landmark structure,” Sutherland added. “We're restoring it to sectarian tier standards for restoration, at the same time converting it to new productive uses."

That includes 29 one- and two-bedroom market-rate loft apartments and retail and commercial space. This building has a lot of meaning to locals. Sutherland says the original signs will stay, and objects that were found will be in the building.

Construction of the building is expected to be completed by this summer, but at that point, they still have their work cut out for them.

"What we'd like to do is bring 90,000 new square feet of space back in, looking a lot like the original buildings, again for mixed-use purposes," Sutherland said.

There's no set date on when that will take place, but it will be well after Camillus Mills officially opens. With that happening soon, many are excited to have downtown booming again.