Democrat and Chronicle staffers who work downtown will be moving to a different location by mid next year.

The D & C reported Friday that the historic Gannett Newspapers building on Exchange Boulevard is for sale. President and Publisher Michael Kane says that building has been a wonderful part of their history, but he says after 85 years, that building no longer suits the size and needs of their staff.

Kane says they are looking for a modern space for a mobile and digital-friendly workforce.

The D & C will look for a new facility within the city limits. That historic building was built by founder Frank Gannett in 1927 and 1928 to house the corporate headquarters, printing presses and the newsroom for the now-defunct Rochester Times-Union.

Additions were built in later years, and Gannett moved its corporate headquarters to Virginia in 1986. In 1997 the D & C moved the printing presses to Greece.

Mayor Tom Richards tells WHAM 1180 News that the city will do what they can to help Gannett find a buyer for that building, and assist in whatever efforts there are to re-develop that building. He says he is glad that Gannett will still stay within the city limits, since they employ more than 200 people.