Still, the project has attracted powerful government backing, particularly because of the wire factory's central location in two economic development zones.

The wire factory that is open has a sign out front: "No Help Wanted."

Upon retirement, Lawrence went to work as a quality controller back at the same wire factory he had briefly worked during his youth.

The Yonkers site, a former wire factory, also has a building with a 100-foot ceiling, sans columns, although it is smaller, at 30,000 square feet.

Starting in the 1920s, a sheet metal and wire factory was built in the municipality.

It also has one multinational copper wire factory which is the biggest in the country.

Furthermore, he said, the wire factory employed more than 100 local workers who spent money 12 months a year in the community.

It is on a block of turn-of-the-century homes built by immigrants who worked at a wire factory down the street.

Upon returning to New York, he took work in a wire factory for several years.

The former wire factory, built in 1882, has units at $80,000 to $100,000.