It’s another symbol of the change that’s happening in Erie.

The former Erie Malleable Iron building is being redeveloped into a mixed-use space called Ironworks Square. It is at the corner of West 12th and Cherry St. in Erie. 

“It will be light industrial, technology [and] office space,” said Tina Mengine, president and CEO of the Erie County Redevelopment Authority, the organization in charge of the project. 

“This was a critical intersection along the 12th Street corridor and one of the worst properties that existed along the corridor,” she said. 

Before they build the new addition, they need to fix what’s left of the old building. 

“Restoring it is a good challenge. It’s fun,” said Project Superintendent Taylor Gugino.

He showed us the work they’ve been doing. 

Inside, crews were busy cleaning up after demolishing part of the roof. They were doing work on the foundation outside. 

“Essentially what we’re doing here is…underpinning,” Gugino said. “We just…excavate underneath the existing foundations and pour more concrete underneath it.”

They are moving ahead with the project even though they might lose some of the federal money they got to pay for it.

“Several of our grants are in limbo right now,” Mengine said. “We are concerned about that because if they don’t come through, we’ll have a gap.”

But they will not let this stop their work. Mengine said it’s too important.

“Everybody’s come together and rallied around it. It’s going to be a showpiece next year.” 

The renovated building is expected to be complete next year. The new addition won’t be built until a tenant is found.