Former Truck-Lite facility in Falconer

The former Truck-lite facility in Falconer is being sold to The Krog Group.

The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency Board approved a $900,000 Al Tech Loan, mortgage tax abatement, and sales tax abatement. The total project cost is $3,655,000.

IDA Business Development Manager Carol Rasmussen said Peter Krog plans to purchase and lease out the 160,000 square foot facility for office and manufacturing space. He will be doing some renovation work as well.

The IDA board also approved an updated payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement for the Welch’s Building project in Westfield.

Chief Financial Officer Rich Dixon said 2 Portage LLC previously had been approved for a 15-year PILOT by the IDA, “The developer was talking with his investors and with people who were making him the loan. They were hoping they could get more certainty as to what the tax payments would be after year 15. They originally came to us and talked about maybe a 30-year, 25-year (PILOT). We ended up with a compromise that I think is very fair.”

Dixon said the agreement is for a 20-year PILOT that has the same terms for years 0 through 15 as the current PILOT and then years 16 through 20 are at 100% tax at a fixed rate.

The Welch’s Building project previously received a $475,000 AL Tech Loan Fund as well as $1.5 million in Restore New York funds for the $18 million project.

Dixon said there is no change to the project other than the change to the PILOT.

The IDA Board also approved an Al Tech loan of $100,000 for BP Endeavors LLC to purchase Wildwood Acres Campground on Brown Road in Bemus Point. The total project cost is $668,000.

Rasmussen said the current owner, who has ran the campground for 21 years, is selling the property due to illness. The new owners plan to open up 20 to 30 new sites on the ground for rent.

Views of proposed work on front and side of Hotel Lenhart

The future owners of the Hotel Lenhart have big plans in store for the historic structure.

Bill and Jill Curry presented their renovation proposal to the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency Board as part of their request for a $500,000 Al Tech loan.

Bill Curry said he’s been a design builder for over 40 years with Jill being in the hospitality industry with Marriot and Hilton for over 25 years.

Curry said the Lenhart is in need of significant upgrades, “Stair towers, sprinkler system, and fire alarms. We also want to provide full access for anyone who comes to our campus. So we will have access for anybody at any level of need. We plan to add a rooftop area, which is the center area, which will have an elevator to it. So anybody who walks in the front door can get to that spot and enjoy the view from the roof.”

Curry said the laundry facility will be turned into a standalone bakery and creamery and that a spa will be added to the building the has employee housing. He said that housing will be moved to a different floor. Other amenities planned include a heated pool and dropping the number of rooms from 57 to 40 so that all rooms have a private bathroom.

Curry said they hope to close on the property by the end of April, with it likely taking nine months to do work.

The cost of the project is $9.8 million. The village of Bemus Point has applied for a $2 million Restore New York grant for the project and another $2 million grant request has been made to the state.

The IDA Board approved the Al Tech loan request as well as a 15-year PILOT. The Curry’s said the project will have 65 temporary jobs during construction, 46 full time employees when the hotel reopens, with 58 total employees by year three.

Welch Administration Building, Westfield, New York

Redevelopment of the former Welch’s Building in Westfield is moving forward.

The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency said that 2 Portage LLC is now the owner of the historic structure and will begin the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the 51,000 square foot building.

2 Portage LLC received a $475,000 AL Tech Revolving Loan Fund through the IDA for the $18 million project.

Upon completion, the building will include 46 mixed-income residential units. In addition, there will be 3,700 square feet of commercial space located in original commercial space at the corner of Portage Road and Main Street. The commercial space will be targeted at a mix of tenants, including a food and beverage/retail operator in the street-level space, and other professional service office spaces on the ground floor.

The redevelopment of this building will provide needed housing in the Village, and street level retail, both of which will support the walkability and vitality of the Village.

Construction is expected to begin mid-2023 after final Historic Landmark status is approved by the National Parks Service. The property will be renovated and managed by Savarino Companies.

The project will create an estimated 70 construction jobs and three post-construction full-time equivalent jobs.

In addition to loan financing for building acquisition, the CCIDA Board of Directors also previously approved a Tax Lease/PILOT incentive agreement, which includes real property, sales, and mortgage recording tax abatements. The project also received $1.5 million in Restore New York funds from the state toward the historic rehabilitation and adaptive use of the building.

Former Silver Creek School (Google Maps)

The developer set to renovate the former Silver Creek School into senior housing has walked away from the project.

The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency sent out a release saying that Region Nine Housing Corporation made the announcement at a recent meeting with town, county, state and IDA officials.

Region Nine Director of Development Mark Comroe said the company is ceasing its involvement in pursuing all low-income housing tax credit development, “Unfortunately, despite our commitment as a non-profit to take no development fees or money from the project, the dramatically increased renovation costs have made the building and maintenance of this project untenable. Available grants, tax credits, and tax credit rental limits combined could not meet the costs associated with converting this historic school building into affordable homes for seniors.”

The Village of Silver Creek Senior School Apartments project involved the substantial rehabilitation, conversion, and an addition to a vacant, nearly 100-year old abandoned former school into a facility with 47 units of affordable rental homes for seniors ages 62 and older.

The project had been awarded $1 million in Restore New York funds in December 2022.

State and local officials are hopeful that another developer will be able to step in to move forward with the project.

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

Jamestown City Council has approved moving forward with a $2 million Restore New York application to redevelop the Furniture Mart Building.

Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said they increased the request amount to $2 million because that’s the limit. The original Restore New York Application approved in September 2022 only requested $500,000 in grant funding.

Gebbie Foundation Executive Director Greg Edwards said the redevelopment project is estimated to cost over $18 million. He said if the investment happens, it will have a dramatic impact on the city, “Right now, it’s projected to be high-end residential, plus some modest level residential, hotel property in the middle of the structure… it’s nine floors… in the first and second floors, maybe the third floor, and maybe commercial retail.”

Edwards said they’re also working with the developer to add more parking, “We’re working really hard in partnership with the city to convince the developer to also add a multi-level parking structure adjacent to and attached to the Furniture Mart building to enhance its positive impact on the city. Because, clearly we need substantial growth in our parking capacity.”

Edwards said other funding in place includes a $1.34 million Empire State Development grant.
Savarino Companies of Buffalo is in negotiations with the current owner, Art Bailey, to purchase the 172,217 square foot building.

A public hearing on the Restore New York application will be held today at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. It is open to the public and will be livestreamed on jamestownny.gov.

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

Jamestown City Council will hold a special voting session tonight to vote on a Restore New York funding application.

The City of Jamestown is applying to Empire State Development for $2 million in Restore New York Communities Initiative funding to redevelop the Furniture Mart Building.

This application replaces a previous application requesting $500,000 that Council approved in September 2022. Director of Development Crystal Surdyk said that application was not submitted due to not being ready.

At the September 26 meeting about the previous Restore New York application request, Surdyk stated that 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.

The special session will take place at 6:45 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located on the second floor of City Hall. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed on jamestownny.gov.

If the measure passes, a public hearing will then be held at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 24, 2023, in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.

The White Inn in Fredonia has received $1.25 million toward the renovation and reopening of the former hotel and restaurant.

In the village of Westfield, the Welch’s Building will receive $1.5 million toward its historic rehabilitation and adaptive use of the building. The project will create 46 new housing units in the village.

The City of Dunkirk will receive $1 million for its Central Avenue Transformation project. That project will address vacant properties in the 400 block of Central Avenue in Downtown Dunkirk. Local investor Allan Steinberg, who bought 411 Central, plans to create a “Broadway Market” type of space where kiosks could be rented and a butcher shop reopened. A two-story building located at 423-427 Central Avenue also would be developed into four new apartments.

And the Village of Silver Creek Senior School Apartments project has been funded with $1 million. The project at 60 Main Street involves the substantial rehabilitation, conversion, and an addition to a vacant, nearly 100-year old, 57,000 sq. ft. abandoned former school into a 59,900 sq. ft. building with 47 units of affordable rental homes for seniors ages 62 and older.

Restore New York supports municipal revitalization efforts across the state, helping to remove blight, reinvigorate downtowns, and generate economic opportunity in communities statewide. The program, administered by Empire State Development, is designed to help local governments revitalize their communities and encourage commercial investment, improve the local housing stock, put properties back on the tax rolls and increase the local tax base.

A public hearing on a potential Restore NY Communities Initiative Grant Application by The White Inn in Fredonia also will take place at tonight’s meeting at 6:35 p.m.

The Legislature’s meeting takes place at 6:30 p.m. in the Legislative Chambers of the Gerace Office Building. The public is welcome to attend and the meeting will be livestreamed on Facebook.

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.

Furniture Mart Building on West Second Street

Jamestown City Council will consider tonight a resolution for the city to apply for a $500,000 grant to redevelop the Furniture Mart Building.

A public hearing will first take place at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers to gather public comment on the city’s application to the New York State Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) under the Restore NY Communities Initiative.

Council then, under new business, will consider the city’s request to apply for $500,000 to redevelop the property at 111 West Second Street for residential and commercial mixed use.

West 2nd Street had to be closed recently after part of the upper facade of the Furniture Mart Building fell onto the street.

Also, under new business, Council will vote on amending the city code on recommendation by the Board of Electrical Examiners. Chapter 131, which deals with electrical, was first adopted in 1962. According to the staff report, this section of the code provides specific educational and licensing requirements for those employed in the trade of electrical installation and installation/repair of electrically-powered manufacturing equipment.

Further, it provides a governing Board of Electrical Examiners to review and approve applications for electrical licenses and established minimum requirements for electrical inspectors. The ultimate goal of this chapter is to reduce the risk of fire by ensuring all electrical work performed within the City of Jamestown was performed by qualified personnel.

The public hearing on the Restore New York grant takes place at 6:30 p.m. with the voting session taking place at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall. The public is welcome to attend both with the public hearing and voting session being livestreamed on jamestownny.gov.