CCIDA CEO, Deputy County Executive Mark Geise and Chautauqua County Partnership Economic Development Specialist Kristy Kathman Show Proposed Upgrades to Chadakoin River Basin (October 5, 2021)

An initiative to increase public access and encourage economic activity around the Chadakoin River has received $361,00 in state funding.

The City of Jamestown received the funding from Empire State Development for the Chadakoin River Basin Activation Initiative. The City had initially only requested $301,000.

The monies will be used to make enhancements to the north shore of the Basin including a signature garden, mural, tiered seating space, and place-making items. The south shore will see the addition of a kayak launch, dock, and welcome center for visitors.

The city had two consolidated funding applications that did not recieve funding in this eleventh round of ESD grants. Those included a $361,473 request for the Chadakoin River West Brownfield Opportunity Area project and a request for $20,000 so the City can enter into the New York Main Street Program.

The Village of Sherman also was approved funding by ESD, receiving $358,283 to assist in the renovation of commercial and mixed-use buildings in the historic downtown commercial core on East & West Main Street.

Jamestown Director of Development Crystal Surdyk addresses City Council on Restore NY Grant application request (September 26, 2022)

A request to apply for a $500,000 Restore New York grant to redevelop the Furniture Mart Building has been approved by Jamestown City Council.

Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said Savarino Companies of Buffalo would be the developer of the building at 111 West Second Street. She said they have a negotiated offer to buy the 172,217 square foot building from owner Art Bailey along with at least two other nearby parcels. The property is currently assessed at $800,000.

Surdyk said other properties were looked at downtown for the Restore New York program, but only the Furniture Mart Building project was far enough long to meet criteria to apply to Empire State Development Corporation.

She said that criteria includes the building being vacant, or 50% not occupied, “The community must be qualified as a disadvantaged community, it must be in a Brownfield Opportunity Area, it also needs an Empire Zone qualification, feasibility and readiness need to be completed, committed financing, expected to start within 12 months, induce commercial investment, and improve local housing, and leverage other state and federal programs.”

Surdyk said the property will be mixed use with low-income and market rate apartments, “As far as the rest of the building program, they’re anticipating a mix of apartments, a boutique hotel, and then the rest will be commercial.”

Surdyk addressed a concern raised by citizen Pete Miraglia about parking in the area, “There are two other parcels that are part of the package. So, as Mr. Miraglia mentioned, in the past there had been discussions about doing a parking ramp. That is still part of this plan and would not fall on the city. That would be part of the development and the developer would be responsible for that parking ramp.”

The Furniture Mart Building project did receive $1,346,000 in Consolidated Funding Application monies in 2019 which Surdyk said is unexpended. She said Savarino will have access to use that funding addition to whatever grant funds received. She anticipates they also will be applying for Historic Tax Credits in addition to other funding for the project.

If the Restore New York grant is awarded, the City of Jamestown would be required to provide a 10%, or $50,000, match. Surdyk did not say where that funding would come from at this time.

The funding was announced as part of New York State’s Regional Economic Development Council Consolidated Funding Application awards.

JRC will use the funds to renovate 106-108 Fairmount Avenue for re-use as a mixed-use development. The historic building, which is currently vacant, will include first floor retail and café space, second floor co-working space, and third floor residential lofts.

The building is located at the corner of Fairmount Avenue and Eighth Street near the Riverwalk and Chadakoin River.

Round Eleven of the funding process through the Regional Economic Development Council was launched in May.

It includes core capital and tax-credit funding that will be combined with a wide range of existing agency programs totaling approximately $750 million dollars. The core funding includes $225 million dollars in grants and tax credits to fund high-value regional priority projects.

An emphasis will be placed on project readiness and alignment with each region’s strategic plan. Additionally, projects within each region will also be eligible for a share of $75 million in Excelsior Tax Credits to help attract and grow business in the region. Projects from all 10 regions submitted through the CFA will be eligible for over $525 million in other state agency funds, which are available on a set timeline. Regional Economic Development Councils will review these projects and provide scores that reflect how well a project aligns with a region’s goals and strategies.

The CFA applications must be submitted online, with most programs having an application deadline of 4pm, July 30th.

Those interested in applying can contact County Economic Development Coordinator Nate Aldrich at aldrichn@chqgov.com with questions.

The Furniture Mart building on the corner of Washington and W. Second Streets in Jamestown.

MAYVILLE – Two recently proposed development projects in Chautauqua County – including one in Jamestown – have been designated with a priority status for state aid by the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council.

According to County Executive George Borrello, the Furniture Mart Building renovation project and the Empire State Brands hops and barley program were given the designation as part of the 2020 round of Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) grant requests to Empire State Development.

In July, the Gebbie Foundation submitted a CFA in the amount of $1.8 million to redevelop the Furniture Mart Building in Jamestown, N.Y. The funding would be part of a $15 million renovation effort that would see the building converted to a mixed-use, nine-story commercial building with associated parking to support the new development and the growing need in downtown Jamestown.  The building is located on the corner of West Second and Washington Streets directly across from the National Comedy Center.

The Empire State Brands program was formerly being called Grow Chautauqua Hops and Grains. It involves a $2.9 million CFA request to assist in the re-purposing of an existing building in Chautauqua County for a fully integrated hops, barley, and grain processing facility, with the total project cost approximating $14.7 million. A recent study calculates an economic impact of $91 million and 404 jobs created from the development and growth of the new business.

The two CFA requests, along with several others that were submitted earlier this summer, will now advance to Albany for review and pending approval. The final announced funding totals for all 2019 CFA projects will likely be announced in December.

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council has given its endorsement to the submission of three applications for the latest round of development funding from New York State Empire Development’s Consolidated Funding Application program. The endorsements include a last-minute resolution involving a $1.5 million grant submission for the redevelopment of the historic Furniture Mart building in downtown Jamestown.

• LISTEN TO INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR TERESI VIA SOUNDCLOUD

The Jamestown City Council during its June 24 voting session.

According to the resolution added under new business Monday night, the grant application is being submitted by the Gebbie Foundation for the redevelopment of the Furniture Mart Building at 111 West Second Street and the construction of an adjacent multi-level parking facility.

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi said Gebbie is working with a yet-to-be-named, out of town developer on helping to secure funding for the project, which would have a total estimated price tag of $20 million. The proposed project will include a mix of commercial and residential units in the 172,000 square-foot, nine story structure, along with an estimated 300+ parking spaces.

If the project were to move forward, it would require the developer to purchase the property from the current owner Art Bailey under the name US Comm Habitat Co. According to the county tax map, the full property value is $800,000.

Before the Gebbie Foundation could submit the grant application, it had to have the city council’s support for the submission. The council voted 9-0 in favor of the resolution.

The Furniture Mart building at the corner of W Second and Washington Streets.

The Gebbie also tried to secure state funding for a redevelopment of the property in 2017 when it was included in the local list of prospective projects for the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant. That application was made on behalf of Ellicott Development Company, whose chairman is Buffalo area developer and former Gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino. It ultimately was left off of the final list of projects that would be sharing the $10 million in funding.

In addition to the Furniture Mart CFA grant submission, the city council gave its unanimous approval to two other CFA submissions.

One would be for $200,000 in funding for the Enchanted Mountain Spirits distillery to help pay for its $500,000 relocation effort from its previous location on Water St. to its new location at the former HSBC Bank building in downtown Jamestown.

The Jamestown Renaissance Corporation (JRC) is sponsoring the Enchanted Mountain Spirits relocation effort and the businesses is operated by Mick O’Neill.  O’Neill told WRFA earlier this month that if all funding for the relocation is secure, his operation will begin producing spirits out of the new location by March of next year, with a goal of employing 40+ within three years.

The other CFA application was for $100,000 for the proposed Jamestown Skatepark Project.

An artistic rendering of what the Jamestown Skatepark could look like once built (image courtesy of Jamestown Department of Development)

Earlier this year it was announced that the project was awarded a Built to Play Skatepark grant of up to $250,000 in matching funds. Built to Play Skatepark Grants are made possible through a partnership between the Tony Hawk Foundation and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr., Foundation.

The up to $250,000 award requires the Jamestown community to raise at least $50,000 in local matching funds in order to qualify for the Built to Play grant money, but includes ongoing support and guidance from Tony Hawk Foundation staff. The skatepark would be a poured concrete structure. The proposed location would be the site of the former Jamestown Trolley building between the Chadakoin River and the West Third Street to Fairmount Avenue section of the Greater Jamestown Riverwalk, fronting Fairmount Avenue.

Because the proposed site is in the designated downtown development area, it is eligible to apply for the CFA funding. In addition to the CFA grant, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation has also established a local fund for residents and businesses to donate.

Once the applications are submitted, the Empire State Development council will review and announce whether or not it will receive any or all the grant funding by the end of this year.

The council also approved submitting the 2019 Community Development Block Grant action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This year the city will get just under $1.17 million in CDBG funds and just over $315,000.

Among the items to be acted on is a resolution to approve the final plan for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home programs, which involves the use of federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help development efforts in targeted areas of the city.

• READ FULL MEETING AGENDA FOR JUN 24 MEETING

City and federal officials announced earlier this year that Jamestown is slated to receive just under $1.17 million in CDBG funds, which is slightly higher than last year. The city will also receive over $315,000 for the HOME program. A proposed plan on how to distribute that money was rolled out in May and, barring any last minute amendments to the plan, the city council will act on sending it to Washington for review when it meets Monday night.

The council will also vote on approving a plan for the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation to apply for $200,000 in state funding through the state’s 2019 Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) program in order to renovate the former HSBC bank building downtown for the Enchanted Mountain Spirits distillery project. The city will also act on approving a $100,000 CFA grant application for the proposed new city Skate Park.

The council will also vote on whether to enter an agreement for $99,000 worth of improvements to Veterans Memorial Park, with the funding coming from a state grant secured in 2017.

One application will be sponsored by the city and involves a request of $100,000 in funding for the proposed new skate park that will be located across the Jones and Gifford Avenue, from the McCrea Point Boat Landing.

The skateboard park is a project that was announced earlier this year when the city said the Tony Hawk Foundation would offer a matching grant of up to $250,000 for the new skate park.

In addition to the CFA, other funding sources for the skate park will come from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and a local fundraising effort spear-headed by Jamestown Skate Products in collaboration with the Chautauqua Regional Community Foundation.

ENCHANTED MOUNTAIN SPIRITS SEEKING FUNDING FOR RELOCATION

The former HSBC Bank location in downtown Jamestown, future home of Enchanted Mountain Spirits

In addition to the skate park, city officials also heard from Mick O’Neill from Enchanted Mountain Spirits and Peter Miraglia from the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation (JRC).

The JRC is sponsoring a $200,000 CFA for Enchanted Mountain Spirits to help pay for its $500,000 relocation effort from its previous location on Water St. to its new location at the former HSBC Bank building (previously occupied by Galactic Systems Headquarters) on the northwest corner of Second and North Main Streets.

O’Neill said if all funding for the relocation is secure, his operation will begin producing spirits out of the new location by March of next year, with a goal of employing 40+ within three years.

The city council must review all local CFA applications before they are sent to the state for review. That action will likely take place during its June voting session. All CFAs must be submitted/finalized online by 4 p.m. on July 26. The applicants will find out if they’ve received the money and just how much they will be getting by the end of the year.

As part of its 2018 regional Progress Report, the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council (WNYREDC) announced 16 priority projects have received its recommendation to advance the region’s growth objectives.

Four of those projects come from Chautauqua County and have been labelled as top priority projects by WNYREDC. The projects are located in Jamestown, Westfield, and Fredonia. They include:

• The Riverfront Property Development Proposal in Jamestown – $100,000 recommendation
• The Welch’s Building Redevelopment in Westfield – $1,000,000 recommendation
• The White Inn redevelopment project  in Fredonia – $220,000 recommendation
• The AgriAmerica projects in Fredonia – $498,6000

JAMESTOWN RIVERFRONT PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT

The project in Jamestown focuses on the purchase and development of riverfront property along the south bank of the Chadakoin River. The application for the project said it supports smart growth by concentrating investment near the newly opened National Comedy Center (NCC).

While the details of the project don’t include a specific location, city officials have said it would likely involve acquiring and relocating the Chautauqua Brick business to another area of the city so that its present location on Harrison St. can be developed for a project that caters to downtown visitors and tourism.

• Jamestown Renaissance Corporation Unite North Main Facade Project – $390,000
• Lakewood Chautauqua Ave. Green Street Retrofit – $699,511
• Lakewood Lowe Park Stream Stormwater Project – $255,951
• St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Bell Tower and Front Porch Stabilization – $500,000
• VIEW TOTAL LIST OF PROJECTS AND SCORES

The priority designations increases the likelihood the state will award Consolidated Funding Application grant money to the projects, with an announcement expected by the end of this year of just how much money all projects across the state will receive.

A special vote will also take place so the city can act on a resolution approving and endorsing the application for renovation and historic preservation grant funding by St. Luke’s Episcopal Church as part of New York State’s ongoing Consolidated Funding Application process. The special vote is required during the work session because the deadline for the grant application comes before the next regularly scheduled city council voting session.

The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in the mayor’s conference room on the 4^th floor of city hall.  The council’s committees will also meet prior to the start of the regular work session.

The regular July voting session will take place Monday, July 30.

All city council meetings are open the public.