Common goals, common owners for Montreal Construction, Salt City Enterprises

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Jun 13, 2008 by Martino, Kristina

SYRACUSE - Leonard (Len) M. Montreal and Samuel T. Flatt says that owning both a general-contracting firm and a development company allows them to help revitalize the city of Syracuse's Lake Front Development area located between Armory Square and Carousel Mall.

Montreal and Flatt equally own Montreal Construction Company, Inc., based at 920 Spencer St. in Syracuse.

The 16-year-old firm's original building at 938 Spencer St. now houses Montreal and Flatt's development arm called Salt City Enterprises, LLC, which formed in 2002, Montreal says. Montreal Construction relocated to 920 Spencer St. four years ago.

Salt City Enterprises owns a total of 14 buildings in the Spencer Street area. Working with Montreal Construction, Salt City Enterprises "develops a suitable build out [for clients] and works the cost right into monthly lease payments," according to the Salt City Enterprises Web site. The owners plan to continue acquiring properties but declined to disclose details.

Len Montreal owns the 11,000-square-foot 920 Spencer St. building, according to the Onondaga County Office of Real Property Tax Services Web site. Salt City Enterprises owns six buildings on Spencer Street, according to the Web site.

"We're just going to keep expanding and hopefully revitalize the area," Montreal says. "Being that we own a construction company, this all works out."

All the Salt City Enterprises-owned properties are currently leased at this time, Montreal says.

Montreal Construction conducts renovation and decor upgrades in the Spencer Street buildings as well as for the rest of its northeast client base, the president says.

"Our specialty is work within an active store. Our guys are really good in active stores and working amongst customers," Montreal says. Active stores are already open and conducting business during a construction period.

In addition to contracting work, the 16-employee firm also prepares sites for footings, foundations, and follows through with final inspections and certification of occupancy. Montreal says the staff includes carpenters, plumbers, electricians, construction managers, and project engineers.

About 95 percent of Montreal Construction's business is repeat clients, Montreal says. Many of the company's contracts include renovation and decor upgrades for grocery stores, auto-parts stores, shopper-club retailers, and health and fitness facilities.

In 2007, Montreal Construction generated $8.4 million in gross revenue and forecasts a similar number in 2008. Annual revenue for Salt City Enterprises totaled $2.1 million in 2007.

"The outlook is good. We've got a lot of repeat business so we're not out in the market chasing work. Most of our business comes to us," Montreal says.

BOTW PROFILE

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Leonard M. Montreal

Partner and president

Montreal Construction

* Age: 46

* Education: Business administration degree from Morrisville State College

* Residence: Onondaga Hill

* Family: Wife, three daughters

* Favorite part of the job: Tackling new projects

Samuel T. Flatt

Partner and vice president

Montreal Construction Co.

* Age: 60

* Education: Business administration degree from Le Moyne College

* Residence: Fayetteville

* Family: Wife, two sons, one daughter

* Favorite part of the job: Contract administration

BOTW FACTS

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Montreal Construction

920 Spencer St.

Syracuse, N.Y. 13204

Phone: (315) 474-0108

Fax: (315) 474-1862

www.montrealconstructioncompany.com

* Type of business: Commercial contractor

* Year founded: 1992

* Employees: 16

* Headquarters square footage: 11,000

* Company officers: Leonard (Len) M. Montreal, partner and president Samuel T. Flatt, partner and vice president

* Annual revenue: Montreal Construction: $8.4 million in 2007: Salt City Enterprises: $2.1 million in 2007