NORWICH – For years, a three-phase plan has been in the works to relocate the Chenango County Historian’s office and archives, along with Chenango County Historical Society archives, from the basement of the current building to the newly-developed James S. Flanagan History Research Center at 43 Rexford Street.

The construction of the research center (phase I) and relocation of county and CCHS archives (phase II) will free up space to make interior renovations at the museum on the corner of Rexford and Silver Streets (phase III). The research center is 99 percent complete, said CCHS Director Alan Estus. A handicap accessible ramp is all that’s needed to obtain a certificate of occupancy. When the ramp is built, the county historian will move in.

The center’s also missing an elevator, which will be installed later. Financial setbacks are keeping an elevator out for now, estimated to cost between $50,000 and $80,000.

In a CCHS newsletter, Estus noted that money wasn’t available for this part of the project when it began.

“A conscious decision was made to begin, knowing total funding had yet to be secured,” he wrote. But donations kept the building project going as it “became apparent the organization is a ‘can do’ group.”

“I think our efforts to show that we have an open, vibrant organization are starting to work ... It’s been a big undertaking for an organization this size,” said Estus.

County Historian Patricia Evans has spent several weeks packing archives and documents, preparing to move from the CCHS building.

“We’re looking forward to the move,” she said. “This summer, we hope to be up and running again just as the office is now.”