The former downtown Key Bank location, located on the northeast corner of Second and Main Streets. (google street view)

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown Planning Commission has given its approval to the Jamestown City Center project, which will focus on converting an historic downtown bank building into a multi-use facility that will be used for a dinner theater and banquet space, along with providing residential apartments and office space.

The commission met on Tuesday and reviewed the plans for the project at the former Key Bank building at 200-206 N. Main Street with a representative from LaBella Associates architecture along with project manager Lori Galster. The two were on hand to represent developer Arnold Duke, who owns the property after buying it at auction in 2016.

The commission was required to review the plans because the project involves an adaptive reuse of an existing building that is more than 5,000 square feet.

Architect David Misenheimer with LaBella goes over the site plans of the Jamestown City Center project with the Planning Commission on July 16, 2019.

The center will include office space, eight apartments, a dinner theater on the main floor, commercial kitchen, rental space for banquets, wine tasting lounge, and escape rooms.

The renovation of the four-story, 40,000-square-foot building is expected to cost a total $5 million. Earlier reports and quoted the project at $3.5 million.

Because the building is in the city’s historic district, the state Historic Preservation Office had to review and approve of the renovations.

In addition to private investment, the project will also use $1 million in state aid through the state Downtown Revitalization Initiative program and $500,000 through the Restore New York Communities Initiative program. The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency also approved a $200,000 sales tax exemption for the project in 2017.

Glastner said with the planning commission’s approval the project can now go out for bid with contractors, in addition to finalizing leases with prospective clients. Portions of the renovation could be completed by the end of this year.

The former historic Bank of Jamestown building, located on the northeast corner of Second and Main Streets. (google street view)

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown City Planning Commission will be meeting Tuesday afternoon to review plans for a new development taking place at a former bank building in downtown Jamestown.

The project is taking place at the historic Bank of Jamestown building at 200-206 North Main Street (last used as a Key Bank location).  It involves converting the four stories of the building into a multi-use space that will be known as the Jamestown City Center.

The center will include 10,000 square feet of office space, along with eight apartments, a commercial kitchen, dinner theater, adult cooking classes, clay and paint classes, rental space for banquets, wine tasting lounge, and escape rooms.

Developer Arnold Duke is overseeing the project and his team has said that if all goes according to schedule the apartments could be available for rent by the this fall. The commercial and community service space could also be ready along the same timeline.  Meanwhile the office area – which already has a tenant ready to lease the space – is expected to be completed next year.

The renovation of the four-story, 40,000-square-foot building is expected to cost a total of $3.5 million.  It has already received $1 million through the state Downtown Revitalization Initiative program and $500,000 through the Restore New York Communities Initiative program. The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency also approved a $200,000 sales tax exemption for the project in 2017.

Tuesday’s planning commission meeting will involve the commission reviewing the site plans for the new work that will be done for the project along with other details. The planning commission is required to give its authorization for the project before permits can be granted by the city and the final phase of work can begin.

Tuesday’s 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.