It may be known for its gorges, but for more than a hundred years gun enthusiasts associated the Ithaca name with well-made, stylish firearms. Long since closed, the original factory on the edge of Ithaca Falls is contaminated with lead from its basement test firing facility. Now the city and developers plan to demolish the eyesore to reclaim the prime property for new homes and public space. Fall Creek Redevelopment plans to spend some $9 million in private money, while city planners are seeking state grants to help with demolition and cleanup.

"The Restore NY Program is one piece of it but not the sole piece," said Urban Renewal Director Nels Bohn. "That'll help us demolish the buildings and reconstruct buildings but the Restore NY cannot be used for any subsurface contamination remediation. So we're going to use another program, the Environmental Restoration Program," Bohn said.

A landmark since 1880, the factory that turned out some of the finest rifles and shotguns could be gone by summer's end.