Homer developer’s vision for Main Street area takes hold

HOMER — Builder and developer Thomas R. Niederhofer has had a vision for refurbishing the North Main Street area of Homer ever since he bought a nearby factory there in the mid-1990s. Now, it’s coming to fruition. 

Niederhofer, owner and manager of TN Custom Homes, recently invested in the former Briggs Hall Memorial Home, Homer Laundry and Cleaners Inc., and two connecting buildings on the laundry building.

Funeral home

Niederhofer started looking into the Briggs Hall funeral home when he purchased the Marathon Line Factory, in 1995, which is connected to the grounds of Briggs Hall. As in most real-estate negotiations, the owner, Bud Hall, and Niederhofer went back and forth before settling on a price. 

Niederhofer explains, “Mr. Hall and I had talked on several occasions, so he knew I had always been interested in the property.” The former funeral home is about 6,500 square feet, he says. It is situated on 1.67 acres at 11 N. Main St. and valued at $200,000, according to Cortland County real property tax records. 

Renovation 

With great detail, Niederhofer’s crew and sub-contractors reconstructed the roof, windows, and the inside of the former funeral home in March 2011, while also repainting the exterior. 

“I call this ‘curb appeal’. I do the outside of the building first to brighten up the building and to get a response from the community,” Niederhofer says. 

Niederhofer has been working with the First National Bank of Dryden throughout his home-building and remodeling career in Homer. During the Briggs Hall renovation, Niederhofer took out a loan from the bank for the purchase price of the building and invested $100,000 of his own money into the project. 

The improved former Briggs Hall funeral home will now cater to a reception hall on the lower level and two apartments on the top level. Niederhofer is the landlord and project manager of Briggs Hall. He is bringing the building up to code while remodeling the upstairs apartments. 

The structure will be able to accommodate 100 people and is leased out to another individual whom Niederhofer declined to name. He says another $80,000 will be invested into the downstairs portion of the property.  The tenant will be able to remodel the space to his specific needs, according to Niederhofer.

The apartments are refurbished with new windows but still maintain the original older design. “I hope to keep as much of the old appeal that the building comes with as possible,” Niederhofer says. 

He hopes to bring in revenue from future tenants as soon as possible. 

The Laundry and Cleaners

The second piece of Niederhofer’s Homer development includes buying the Homer Laundry and Cleaners Inc. as well as the two connecting buildings. While remodeling the former Briggs Hall funeral home, he was asked by the previous owner of the adjacent buildings about purchasing the property. The structures share a parking lot between the Sherman block and Briggs
Hall. 

Nierderhofer says he has negotiated and completed a purchase offer with the owner. He adds that his loan application was approved by the First National Bank of Dryden for the purchase as well as the remodeling.

The property has five storefronts in addition to the three apartments upstairs. “I plan on remodeling it into five retail stores and I already have interest from people in the community wanting to rent space from it…,” Niederhofer says. He will begin with the upstairs apartments first and then work on the exterior of the buildings after that. What Niederhofer calls the “Sherman Block,” has 1,500 square feet of space. 

Niederhofer sees this remodel as a positive step for the community of Homer. “As Homer’s business district becomes more vital and attractive, more business owners are drawn to it. Local business owners benefit from the increase in customers and the surrounding homeowners are happy because the value of their property increases,” he explains. 

Niederhofer saw this advancement potential for the community after the Center for the Arts of Homer was established in 2001. According to the mission statement on its website, center4art.org, the center hopes “to enhance the quality of life for the people of Central New York by engaging them in a broad offering of arts education and entertainment that preserves and enriches the local culture, and provides stewardship for a historically significant site.” 

Niederhofer sees this positive organization as the beginning of Homer’s success. He marks this as evidence that businesses can thrive in the community. Niederhofer was a board member for three years, then vice chair for two years, and chair for his sixth year of involvement with the nonprofit. According to Niederhofer, “After two consecutive three-year terms, you have to leave the board.” He is now back as a board member. 

Niederhofer’s background 

Tom Niederhofer is from the Homer area, where his family has been involved in the community for many years. Tom grew up watching his father and grandfather build homes and remodel previously owned buildings. 

According to the TN Custom Homes business plan for 19 and 21 N. Main Street, “For over 70 years, starting with Tom’s grandfather, Niederhofers have built hundreds of homes in Central New York, which have increased in value many times their original investment.” 

Tom started building homes with his family following his high-school graduation. While in Erie, Pa., Tom and his older brother started up a homebuilding business, Colonial Contracting, which grew into the largest exterior remodeling business in Erie. Tom then moved back to his hometown and is now the owner and sole proprietor of TN Custom Homes on Water Street in Homer. 

TN Custom Homes employs four people full time. Niederhofer declined to disclose annual revenue.