Jamestown Zoning Board of Appeals meeting (July 13, 2022)

The Jamestown Zoning Board of Appeals has approved a variance extension request related to the Gateway Lofts Project.

Southern Tier Environments for Living‘s Attorney, Charles Grieco, submitted the extension request for two variances; one regarding the number of proposed parking spaces and one regarding proposed automotive use setbacks on the parcels associated with the project on Water Street. Both variances had been granted back in 2020 and were granted an extension in 2021.

Grieco said the additional extension is needed as the Gateway Lofts Project is still working on getting financing together in order to start construction. He said all elements of the project were significantly impacted by the Pandemic, “The construction industry obviously has been severely impacted, to supply chain issues, inflation issues have been very significant and that has created some difficulties, delays I guess I should say, in finalizing the financing. The client is seeking and is in the process of obtaining a bridge loan for that purpose.”

The Jamestown Planning Commission approved the $31 million project in June 2020. The Gateway Lofts project calls for creating 110 total units, although 56 of them would be intended for homeless individuals who currently don’t have any other long-term housing options available. That means a total of 54 new units would be intended for renters, most of which would be on low or fixed income.

Grieco said he anticipates that all financing will be in place by December 2022 and that construction will be able to begin in 2023.

City Historian Ashley Senske said the Empire Worsted Mills was in operation at that location from 1896 to 1955, “They specialized in turning untreated wool into finished articles of men’s suit wear and women’s garments. They were the third largest worsted milling firm in Jamestown during the late 19th and 20th centuries, employed hundreds of people, mostly English immigrants. And when the mill closed in 1955, this facility spanned 5 to 6 acres in Jamestown’s industrial corridor along the Chadakoin River here.”

Mayor Eddie Sundquist said the now Gateway Center currently houses the Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County, Saint Susan’s, and Community Helping Hands, “As we move forward over the next few years, this wonderful building will be transformed into the Gateway Lofts. And I am happy to say that the adaptive reuse of one of the largest buildings in Jamestown is both a huge undertaking but a massive boost to the city. And will provide affordable housing and direct access to services for those who need it.”

The former Empire Worsted Mills building was named to the National Registry of Historic Places in January 2020.

• AUDIO ALSO AVAILABLE AT SOUNDCLOUD

Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist​ checks in for an interview on Community Matters and gives an update on city operations during the pandemic, discusses a recent outreach meeting with community youth organizations and the Jamestown Justice Coalition, and also talks about the city receiving a $350,000 housing abatement payment as part of the Gateway Lofts project.

(image provided by city of Jamestown)

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Council has voted to give food trucks and other mobile food vendors more flexibility in operating within the city, but the vote wasn’t unanimous.

The council held its monthly voting session Monday night video video conference and approved a Mobile Food Vendor pilot program for the operation of food trucks by a vote of 7 to 2.

The pilot program will allow food trucks to operate in the city if they are set up at least 125 feet away from an existing brick-and-mortar restaurant. However, if the vendor is also located in Jamestown, they would be allowed to set up immediately outside of their base of operation without having to abide by the 125 ft distancing mandate. All mobile food operations would have to pay for a license to operate ($150 for Jamestown-based vendors and $300 for out-of-city vendors) and also have to follow health and safety guidelines.  Once a permit is granted, they would be allowed to operate between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.  They could also operate past 8 p.m. if part of a special event application or if granted a variance from the city.

• VIEW ALL FOOD TRUCK PILOT PROGRAM GUIDELINES

A map of the downtown, with the circles representing areas where a mobile food vendor could NOT set up, unless it received permission from the affected brick-and-mortar restaurants.

Prior to the voting session the council held a work session and discussed the program, including addressing concerns about the impact the program would have on existing restaurants.  Also during the voting session, City Clerk Jennifer Williams read through seven comments from the public, all dealing with the food truck issue. All but one of them was in favor of allowing mobile food vendors to operate. Some of those who spoke in favor of allowing the program to get underway were downtown businesses, including Forte Restaurant, Jamestown Skate Products, and The Sprinkle Cone.

Only one letter requested the council table the resolution, but that was signed on behalf of the owners of several downtown restaurants.

In the end, the council voted to approve the resolution, with council members Kim Ecklund and Jeff Russell both voting against it. Council president Tony Dolce did say at the end of the meeting that there will be an opportunity to evaluate and adjust the pilot program.

“We’re probably not going to get a lot of feedback or information on how it will work, particularly during the next month and the remainder of the summer,” Dolce said. “But as we get into next year we’ll have a better idea and lets hope and pray that we have a normal summer with normal activities and we’ll have a better handle on what works, what doesn’t work, what needs to be changed, and what could possibly be changed and do what’s best for the city – both the brick and mortar businesses and the food truck businesses as well.”

Also last night the council approved accepting a $350,000 payment from Southern Tier Environments for Living (STEL) in order to help pay for the removal of blighted homes in the community. That funding was being provided as part of a negotiated agreement with STEL that stemmed from the $31 million renovation and conversion of the Gateway Center on Water Street into the Gateway Lofts housing project.

And the council also gave approval on the Board of Public Utilities borrowing up to $2 million as part of its $5 million water line replacement project. The low-interest borrowing will come out of the state’s drinking water revolving loan fund. The remaining $3 million of the project comes from the New York State Drinking Water Infrastructure Improvement grant program.  The BPU had also approved the project earlier in the day on Monday.

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

JAMESTOWN – The effort to convert a former factory and current community center into a 110-unit housing project has cleared a major hurdle.

During Monday’s Jamestown City Council meeting, councilman Tom Nelson announced that the city Planning Commission had approved the site plan for the $31 million Gateway Lofts project, which is being sponsored by Southern Tier Environments for Living (STEL), the YWCA of Jamestown and Community Helping Hands.

Nelson  who serves as council liaison to the commission – said the unanimous approval was given one week ago, on June 23, during a special meeting of the commission, which was conducted online via zoom due to COVID-19.

No public notice regarding the special meeting was going to be held was sent to local media or the general public, which is why the approval of the housing project wasn’t reported on, until now.

The latest action by the planning commission comes after it had denied approving the project site plan on two past occasions – once in October 2018 and again in February of this year. Both times the planning commission had called for a complete Environmental Impact Statement to be completed, in order to address environmental concerns with the project, including that it would go against the city’s 2010 Neighborhood Revitalization Plan, which calls for a stabilization in housing within the city, due to a declining population that has led to a glut in the housing stock.

Following the February meeting, the law firm representing the project – Bond, Schoeneck & King – requested the commission rescind its positive declaration for a full environmental impact statement, saying it would require too much time to complete and jeopardize the project from moving forward. In response, the planning commission rescinded the positive declaration and also created a task force to work through all concerns.

“Chairman [Greg] Rabb asked for volunteers from the Planning Commission to participate in a small task force charged with developing a mutually agreeable mitigation plan that would address the concerns that the Planning Commission had regarding the introduction of additional housing units into an over-saturated housing market,” explained City Development Director Crystal Surdyk.

Surdyk said an agreement was soon made that STEL and other organizations would acquire, abate and demolish 96 bedrooms in units elsewhere in the city to help offset the addition of the new units provided by the Gateway Lofts.

“An important distinction between the new and existing housing is that there is an overwhelming number of substandard and/or deplorable condition that is uninhabitable, that would be offset by the new housing options created by the Gateway Lofts project,” Surdyk explained to WRFA via email. “The mitigation plan lays out a strategy for the city to coordinate with the Gateway, STEL and Chautauqua County Land Bank to undertake a program to acquire, abate and demolish 96 bedrooms in vacant and uninhabitable housing units elsewhere in the city that also supports STEL’s prioritization of a future project to include a scattered site infill development in Jamestown, with the assistance of the land bank and similar to STEL’s Dunkirk Renovation and Ownership program.”

Surdyk also said the Planning Commission approval is contingent on two area variances that will be reviewed by the city zoning board on Wednesday, July 1. One variance is regarding the number of proposed parking spaces and the other is regarding proposed automotive use setbacks.  The zoning board meeting will take place at 5 p.m. Wednesday and will be streamed live at the city website.

Anyone will be given an opportunity to be heard for or against the granting of the variances by submitting their comments in writing via U.S. mail to the City Clerk’s Office, 200 East Third Street, Jamestown, NY 14701 or via email at clerk @ cityofjamestownny.com.

The Gateway Lofts project calls for creating 110 total units, although 56 of them would be intended for homeless individuals who currently don’t have any other long-term housing options available. That means a total of 54 new units would be intended for renters, most of which would be on low or fixed income. Project sponsors say the project will be beneficial to residents because of the various human service agencies that also operate in the building. However, some concerns have been raised regarding the concentration of so many residents in a relatively small area, as well as the lack of fresh, healthy food sources being available – with the nearest supermarket nearly a mile away at the Foote Ave. plaza.

The $31 million price tag to renovate the former Chautauqua Hardware factory would be covered through a combination of state and federal tax credits that can be sold to investors, along with community investment funds and grants.

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

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown Planning Commission has once again put up a roadblock for the proposed $31 million Gateway Lofts project at the Gateway Center building in Jamestown.

On Tuesday afternoon the commission met with representatives from Southern Tier Environments for Living (STEL) to discuss the updated project and also to consider a State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) assessment as well as approving the final site plans.

After an hour-and-a-half of discussion (complete audio available at the WRFA soundcloud page), the commission ultimately gave unanimous approval for a positive declaration of the SEQR assessment, meaning STEL would have to complete an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the project before it could move forward.  It was the second time the commission made such a declaration on the project. In October 2018, it also gave a positive declaration on the original plans, which resulted in STEL updating its plan in an effort to address concerns put forward by the planning commission.

Much of Tuesday’s conversation involved the number of new housing units the project would be bringing online versus the number of units that would be removed in an effort to ensure the project complies with the city’s 2010 Neighborhood Revitalization Plan.  Among other things, the plan states that in order to ensure investment in neighborhood properties and prevent devaluation, an effort should be made to avoid adding any new housing development unless other housing is also removed.

The Gateway Lofts proposal calls for creating 110 total units, although 56 of them would be intended for homeless individuals who currently don’t have any other housing options available. That means a total of 54 units would be intended for renters, most of which would be on low or fixed income. In an effort to address the Neighborhood Revitalization Plan, the project also provides an estimated $315,000 in funding to help remove 21 housing units in other areas of the city through an agreement with the County Land Bank.

But commission members, including John LaMancuso, raised concerns not enough units were being taken off line to justify adding 54 new ones in a concentrated area.

“We talked about this before and I apologize for belaboring the point, but that’s where my concern comes from,” LaMancuso said while participating in the meeting via conference call. “As the planning commission, I think we ought to be very concerned about our plans that we’ve adopted in the city and that’s one of them. That’s the plan that we adopted 10 years ago to make our city better. I think a lot of the problems that the experts identified in that plan are still evident today.”

Attorney Steven Ricca of Bond, Schoeneck & King and representing STEL shows updated site plans for the proposed Gateway Lofts project during an October 2018 public hearing in the Jamestown City Council Chambers.

Attorney Steven Ricca from Bond, Schoeneck and King is working with STEL to get the project completed. He argued that while there isn’t a true one-to-one ratio for units being added versus those being removed, the commission should also be considering other benefits that the project brings to the table, which includes $6.4 million for Riverwalk development, preservation and beautification; Brownfield clean up; green space development; a brand new parking lot around the entire building; and facade improvements.

“This is a unicorn. This is a project that is not going to make everybody happy on every conceivable issue. But to suggest that the project would only be a win for the city if there was a one-to-one ratio, I think doesn’t give nearly as much weight to the many positive benefits that it will give. A one-to-one requirement as sort of a standard I think would be pretty challenging. So I implore the commission not to agree with everything I’m saying but to agree with the proposition that on balance this is going to benefit an awful lot of people,” Ricca said.

Despite Ricca’s request for the negative declaration and approval of the plans, the commission’s vote was unanimous on the positive declaration, meaning the EIS would have to be completed before any final site plan approval could be considered.

Following the meeting, City Development Director and Principal Planner Crystal Surdyk explained why she felt an EIS is necessary.

“It’s a lengthier process but it’s a much more in depth process that forces them to really justify all of the questions that we have. I understand that it costs money and takes time, but I think this is too important of a project, too big of a project, and it has too many implications on our entire community to not complete it,” Surdyk said.

In response, Ricca said the EIS won’t resolve the main issue that was discussed during the commission’s meeting involving the number of new units being put online versus those being removed. As a result, he requested that the project be brought back to the commission for further discussion during its next meeting.

The Jamestown Planning Commission met on Dec. 17, 2019 and reviewed updated plans for the Gateway Lofts project.

JAMESTOWN – A proposal to create 110 new housing units at the Gateway Center on Water St. in Jamestown will once again come before the City Planning Commission when it meets Tuesday afternoon at city hall.

The commission meeting actually has three items on the agenda. For the Gateway Lofts housing project, developers are proposing a multifamily housing development along with exiting commercial uses at the Gateway Center location, all of which are permitted at the location under the current zoning law.

Southern Tier Environments for Living (STEL) is spearheading the development effort and is seeking Planning Commission approval of the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) determination as well as site plan approval. The project was initially proposed in 2018 but the city planning commission gave that plan a positive declaration, meaning the developers had to address a number of environmental issues and also better illustrate how the project aligns with the city’s Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. Since then the project has been adjusted and those new plans were presented to the planning commission in December.

The current plan is to develop 70 one-bedroom apartments, 21 two-bedroom apartments, 15 three-bedroom apartments, and 4 Studio apartments. Exterior site improvements will include the construction of both an interior and exterior playground area, walkways and picnic areas along the Chadakoin River, improvements to the parking lot as well as improvements to the water and sanitary sewer services, and also site drainage.

Other projects going before the planning commission today is the plan to build a Dollar General retail store at the corner of Winsor and Crescent Streets. And the commission will also review the Board of Public Utilities’ proposal to build an 80′ x 50′ Sanitation Vehicle Barn.

Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting begins at 3:30 p.m. on the 4th floor of city hall in the mayors conference room and is open to the public.

The Jamestown Planning Commission met on Dec. 17, 2019 and reviewed updated plans for the Gateway Lofts project.

JAMESTOWN – The city of Jamestown will be the lead agency for the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) for the Gateway Lofts project.

The approval came after commission members met  with the attorney, architect and officials behind the project, which would involve converting the current Gateway Center (the former Chautauqua Hardware building) on Water St. into a 110 unit housing complex.

In 2018 officials with Southern Tier Environments for Living (STEL), Community Helping Hands, and the Jamestown YWCA first came forward and proposed renovating much of the building in order to develop 79 apartment units on the second, third, and fourth floor of the building known as the Gateway Lofts Project. Those units would be used by a variety of tenants, including single parent families recommended by the YWCA, those with disabilities, and also those who would be referred from the county jail diversion program.

In October 2018 the planning commission initially voted to prevent the project from moving forward, based on the project not being fully in line with the Neighborhood Revitalization Plan, along with several other environmental concerns that were raised about the project.

During Tuesday’s meeting, project representatives stated that they have altered some details of the plan. That included eliminating the jail diversion component that was initially proposed, adding additional and enhanced green space around the building, removing commercial space from the first floor to make room for additional housing units, and allowing the property to generate tax revenue for the city. Additionally, 30 more units were added to bring the total number of units up to 110.  The group also plans to acquire nearby property in order to ensure that any children living at the Gateway Lofts would have an appropriate playground area to use.

An environmental review of the property must take place before any final approval occurs. city Planner Crystal Surdyk said after the meeting the SEQR process could take several months to complete. The Gateway Lofts developers said they are hoping to get permission on the project prior to the summer of 2020, when they would ideally like to begin the renovation effort.

TATTOO PARLORS DISCUSSED

The commission also had a discussion on updating the city zoning laws to provide more options for prospective tattoo parlor business.
Right now they can only operating in a light manufacturing zone.

Zoning Board of Appeals chair Ellen DiTonto talked with the planning commission members about the repeated variance requests from prospective tattoo business that have been turned down. She suggested that maybe its time the city adjust its zoning to be more accommodating for tattoo shops.

Two members of the local tattoo community also were on hand to explain how the tattoo business has changed over the years and has become more of an artisan profession.

Planning commission member John LaMancuso seemed to be receptive to making a recommendation to the Jamestown City Council to adjust the city code and expand the areas where tattoo shops can open, saying the city shouldn’t be turning away people who want to open new businesses downtown.

The commission said it will look further into the issue in the next couple of months and could likely have a recommendation for the city council early next year.

Members and staff of the city planning commission meet in city hall on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018 to discuss the Gateway Lofts project. At the time the commission determined the project could not move forward until after the project better was aligned with the city’s Neighborhood Revitalization Plan.

JAMESTOWN The Jamestown Planning Commission will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Dec. 17 and among the items on the agenda is a review of new plans for the proposed Gateway Lofts project.

In 2018 officials with Southern Tier Environments for Living (STEL), Community Helping Hands, and the Jamestown YWCA proposed renovating much of the Gateway Center building on Waters Street in order to develop 75 apartment units on the second, third, and fourth floor of the building known as the Gateway Lofts Project.

The Gateway Center on Water St. in Jamestown

The proposal went into a holding pattern after the Planning Commission determined in October 2018 the project does not comply with the spirit or intent of the city’s Neighborhood Revitalization Plan, adding that as proposed, “the Gateway Lofts will create a significant impact on the environment that will perpetuate the cycle of devaluating, disinvestment, neglect and abandonment identified in the Neighborhood Revitalization Plan.”

As a result of the positive declaration made by the commission, the project was put on hold and since then, the project developers have reportedly been working with the city planning department to address the issues and the new plan will be presented Tuesday afternoon.

A discussion of the city’s zoning code is also on this month’s agenda.

The meeting begins at 3:30 p.m. in the mayor’s conference room, 4th floor of city hall and is open to the public.

The Gateway Center on Water St. in Jamestown

JAMESTOWN – A manufacturing landmark that is now the location of several human service agencies has been nominated to be added to the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced on Wednesday that a dozen historic locations around the state were nominated for listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, which can provide owners with grants and tax credits to support rehabilitation projects.

The only location in Chautauqua County to be nominated this year is the Gateway Center building on Water St., which was originally built to house the Empire Worsted Mills in Jamestown. Hundreds of people worked at the Worsted Mills during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The mills closed in 1955 and then became the Chautauqua Hardware Corporation Factory, which remained in operation until the mid 2000s.

• READ THE DRAFT APPLICATION

Once recommendations are approved by the state historic preservation officer, the properties are listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places. Properties are then nominated to the National Register of Historic Places, where they are reviewed and, once approved, entered into the National Register.

The Gateway Center is currently home to several agencies, including the Mental Health Association, the St. Susan Center and Community Helping Hands.

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

In 2018 officials with Community Helping Hands, the Jamestown YWCA and other organizations proposed renovating much of the building in order to develop 75 apartment units on the second, third, and fourth floor of the building known as the Gateway Lofts Project.

• RELATED: HEARING ON GATEWAY LOFTS PROJECT RECEIVES MOSTLY POSITIVE COMMENTS [OCT 2018]

However, that proposal is currently in a holding pattern after the Jamestown Planning Commission determined in October 2018 that the proposed project does not comply with the spirit or intent of the city’s Neighborhood Revitalization Plan, adding that as proposed, the Gateway Lofts will create a significant impact on the environment that will perpetuate the cycle of devaluating, disinvestment, neglect and abandonment identified in the Neighborhood Revitalization Plan. As a result a positive declaration was made by the Commission, halting the forward movement of the project.

Since October 2018, the developers of the Gateway Lofts project have reportedly been working with the city planning department to address the issues outlined in the positive declaration and will likely resubmit their proposal at some point in the future.

In addition to the dozen locations being nominated to the State and National Register of Historic Places, another ten projects received 2019 State Historic Preservation Awards – though none are located within Chautauqua County.