FLINT - Now more than 50 years old, the presses currently printing the Flint Journal may be the oldest of their type still operating in the nation.

But that's not necessarily a source of pride at the Flint Journal, a daily paper which serves about 89,000 readers in Genesee County.

"We're probably about 20 years past when, optimally, we would have replaced (the presses)," said Roger Samuel, the Journal's publisher. "It seemed like every time we got close to a decision on new presses, we took a step back in our local economy. It is certainly time. Both our readers and advertisers deserve what we will be providing on these new presses."

In 2001, the Flint Journal made the commitment to build a new press facility, and now general contractor Christman Co. and the building trades have most of the building's iron up and are in the process of roughing in the mechanical systems. Christman and the building trades are expected to complete work on the project in September, and the new presses on the $9 million project (construction cost) are expected to start rolling early next year.

The new 85,000 square-foot building is being erected just east of the existing Flint Journal building on First St., and the newspaper now owns two square blocks of contiguous downtown real estate. The new building will consolidate press operations, distribution, newsprint storage and advertising circular insertions in one location.

"We're doing great, no surprises so far," said Rick Rushton, Christman's project superintendent. "The printing presses are the most important part of this building, so we're making sure everything is lined up and coordinated with the owner's reps for installing the presses. The building trades have been great to work with." There are currently about 75 construction workers on the job.

Most of the site served as an employee parking lot before construction started, and a one-story building on the land was razed to make room for the new construction. Rushton said there were old foundations "up the wazoo" on the land that they had to deal with.

According to the Flint Journal, about 50 full- and part-time employees will move downtown from the warehouse when the new building is complete. The new presses will allow for the use of full color on all pages, something not possible with the current presses. "The biggest advantage is in the reproduction," said Samuel, who described it as "very crisp, with improved readability, and full color available on every page."

THE FLINT JOURNAL'S new press facility is being erected on land that was formerly a brownfield site downtown.

INSTALLING THE PLUMBING for a bathroom at the Flint Journal press facility is Rod Clor of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 370 and Goyette Mechanical.