{"id":33157,"date":"2020-02-19T10:28:23","date_gmt":"2020-02-19T15:28:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/?p=33157"},"modified":"2020-02-24T10:44:28","modified_gmt":"2020-02-24T15:44:28","slug":"gateway-lofts-project-requires-full-environmental-review-before-moving-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/gateway-lofts-project-requires-full-environmental-review-before-moving-forward\/","title":{"rendered":"[LISTEN] Gateway Lofts Project Requires Full Environmental Review Before Moving Forward"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Artist’s rendering of the Gateway Lofts project upon completion.<\/p><\/div>\n

JAMESTOWN – The Jamestown Planning Commission<\/strong> has once again put up a roadblock for the proposed $31 million Gateway Lofts<\/a><\/strong> project at the Gateway Center<\/strong> building in Jamestown.<\/p>\n

On Tuesday afternoon the commission met with representatives from Southern Tier Environments for Living<\/strong> (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.<\/p>\n

After an hour-and-a-half of discussion (complete audio available at the WRFA soundcloud page<\/a><\/strong>), 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.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/strong>.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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

“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.”<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

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.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Attorney Steven Ricca<\/strong> from Bond, Schoeneck and King<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Following the meeting, City Development Director and Principal Planner Crystal Surdyk<\/strong> explained why she felt an EIS is necessary.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

In response, Ricca said the EIS won\u2019t resolve the main issue that was discussed during the commission\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":26153,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[2,4],"tags":[8639,6631,931,7953,1156,1267,8841,8598,8607],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Gateway-Lofts.png?fit=711%2C388&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3YlJ4-8CN","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":32087,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/revised-gateway-lofts-project-goes-before-city-planning-commission-tuesday-afternoon\/","url_meta":{"origin":33157,"position":0},"title":"Revised Gateway Lofts Project Goes Before City Planning Commission Tuesday Afternoon","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"December 17, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Gateway-Center.jpg?fit=789%2C526&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Gateway-Center.jpg?fit=789%2C526&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Gateway-Center.jpg?fit=789%2C526&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Gateway-Center.jpg?fit=789%2C526&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26152,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/city-strategic-planning-and-partnership-commission-hear-details-on-gateway-lofts-project\/","url_meta":{"origin":33157,"position":1},"title":"City Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission Hear Details on Gateway Lofts Project","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"August 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"JAMESTOWN - The proposed Gateway Lofts project at the Gateway building on Water Street in Jamestown was the focus of discussion during Thursday morning\u2019s Strategic Planning and Partnership Commission meeting in city hall. The project is described as a multifamily affordable housing project that would include 70 housing units. Of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Gateway-Lofts.png?fit=711%2C388&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Gateway-Lofts.png?fit=711%2C388&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Gateway-Lofts.png?fit=711%2C388&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Gateway-Lofts.png?fit=711%2C388&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":33126,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/gateway-lofts-project-goes-before-city-planning-commission-tuesday-afternoon\/","url_meta":{"origin":33157,"position":2},"title":"Gateway Lofts Project Goes Before City Planning Commission Tuesday Afternoon","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"February 18, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Planning-Commission.jpg?fit=960%2C569&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Planning-Commission.jpg?fit=960%2C569&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Planning-Commission.jpg?fit=960%2C569&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Planning-Commission.jpg?fit=960%2C569&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26834,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/gateway-lofts-proposal-goes-before-planning-commission-tuesday-afternoon\/","url_meta":{"origin":33157,"position":3},"title":"Gateway Lofts Proposal Goes Before Planning Commission Tuesday Afternoon","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"October 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"JAMESTOWN - The Jamestown Planning Commission is meeting Tuesday in city hall and will continue its review of site plans for the proposed Gateway Lofts project. The meeting comes just one week after a public hearing was held focusing on the project and with more than 80 people in attendance.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/public-hearing-planning-commission.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/public-hearing-planning-commission.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/public-hearing-planning-commission.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/public-hearing-planning-commission.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/public-hearing-planning-commission.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":26531,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/city-planning-commission-to-review-details-of-34-million-gateway-lofts-proposal-on-tuesday\/","url_meta":{"origin":33157,"position":4},"title":"City Planning Commission to Review Details of $34 Million Gateway Lofts Proposal on Tuesday","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"September 18, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"JAMESTOWN - The Jamestown City Planning Commission will review details of the proposed multi-million dollar Gateway Lofts project when it meets Tuesday, Sept. 18 in city hall. The project $34 million project is an effort by Southern Tier Environments for Living, Community Helping Hands and the YWCA of Jamestown to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Gateway-Lofts.png?fit=711%2C388&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Gateway-Lofts.png?fit=711%2C388&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Gateway-Lofts.png?fit=711%2C388&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Gateway-Lofts.png?fit=711%2C388&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":27017,"url":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/gateway-lofts-developers-seek-clarification-on-recent-planning-commission-decision\/","url_meta":{"origin":33157,"position":5},"title":"Gateway Lofts Developers Seek Clarification on Recent Planning Commission Decision","author":"WRFA Radio","date":"October 31, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"JAMESTOWN - The effort to create the Gateway Lofts multi-unit housing program at the Gateway Center in Jamestown is moving forward. Steven Ald, director of real estate development at Southern Tier Environments for Living (STEL), tells WRFA that STEL is seeking clarification from the city regarding the planning commission's recent\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Local News"","block_context":{"text":"Local News","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/category\/news\/local-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Gateway-Lofts.png?fit=711%2C388&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Gateway-Lofts.png?fit=711%2C388&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Gateway-Lofts.png?fit=711%2C388&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Gateway-Lofts.png?fit=711%2C388&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33157"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33157"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33157\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33249,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33157\/revisions\/33249"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33157"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33157"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33157"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}