Large Turnout Anticipated for Gateway Lofts Public Hearing Tuesday Night

JAMESTOWN – A public hearing on the $34 million proposal to convert a former city factory into a 70+ unit housing program will take place Tuesday evening in City hall.

The Jamestown Planning Commission – which is the local government agency responsible for reviewing the site plans for the Gateway Lofts project and issuing the appropriate building permit – will host the hearing at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Jamestown City Council Chambers, second floor of city hall.

• RELATED: STEL, COMMUNITY HELPING HANDS, YWCA OFFICIALS DISCUSS GATEWAY LOFTS PROJECT
• RELATED: GATEWAY LOFTS DEVELOPERS PUBLICLY PRESENT DETAILS TO CITY SPPC

The hearing was agreed to following the Sept. 18 Planning Commission meeting, when commission members felt more details of the project have to be provided and public concerns and questions brought forward before any commission action can takes place.

Artist’s rendering of the Gateway Lofts project upon completion.

The development is being proposed by Southern Tier Environments for Living (STEL), along with Community Helping Hands and the YWCA of Jamestown.

It is described as a multifamily, affordable housing project that would include over 70 housing units over three stories of the Gateway Center building, which was formerly the Chautauqua Hardware manufacturing business.

Developers say the location is ideal because the Gateway Center currently houses several local service organizations, including St. Susan Center, Community Helping Hands, Love Inc., and the Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County.

Of the 70 units, 39 would offer affordable housing options, 16 would go to single-parent families assisted by the YWCA, and 25 units administered by STEL would be designated for non-violent individuals who are homeless and have a serious mental illness or a substance use disorder with a history of criminal offending or are at risk of offending.

Both the city planning commission and members of the public have expressed questions and concerns about proposal and a significant turnout from the community is anticipated for Tuesday night.

The public hearing will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday night in the city council chambers.