Sandra Swanson, a resident in the Town of Stafford, will be leading a citizens group to look into solar farms and solar power plants.

Swanson said she hopes to have a group of people to help her and brief the Stafford Town Board toward the end of July.

“We have until February,” Swanson said, “but we should be ending it in January. There is a huge amount of information to look at.”

Swanson attended a Genesee Finger Lakes Regional Council meeting in Pittsford in May, and went to three sessions about solar energy.

“There’s a huge amount of information about solar and people all over the country to talk to,” Swanson said. “I think it [helps] us to get as much information as possible.”

In May, the Stafford Town Board passed a nine-month moratorium on solar farms and solar-powered plants in the town. The moratorium prevents solar companies from submitting applications for a permit to construct a solar farm or power plant within the Town of Stafford.

“We would like to commend the town for entering a moratorium,” said Dan Compitello, the zoning and outreach manager for Cypress Creek Renewables. “It’s a very good, solid path to take."

Compitello attended the town board meeting, held on June 12, to offer his services, representing some of the landowners in Stafford. He said he provides workshops for towns that are in moratorium or in the process of updating codes.

He said he would be happy to assist the town board with through the process.

“The first thing to do would not be to have the business man tell us how to do it,” Swanson said.

Press release:

Buxton Avenue in Batavia will have road closures between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on June 26.

Verona Avenue in Batavia will have road closures between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on June 27.

While work is being performed, the roadways will be closed to all through traffic. Local traffic will be permitted to and from their residence, but people should plan accordingly for delays.

All residents within the work areas are asked not to park on the roadway during the day.

This is weather-dependent work. If work is postponed it will progress the next workday.

Please, plan accordingly and contact the Bureau of Maintenance with any questions.

Thank you for your cooperation in advance.

A 39-year-old West Main Street woman was arrested on a Grand Jury indictment for allegedly distributing cocaine. 

Denielle Mancuso faces two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, and one count of criminal nuisance, 1st. 

She was jailed on $25,000 bail or $50,000 bond. 

Mancuso's arrest stems from an investigation by the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force. She is accused of supplying cocaine to an agent on two seperate occasions. 

At 12:35 p.m. Byron Road was shut down in the 9300 block area. Mercy EMS responded to a medical call. There is a man with a head injury. Mercy Flight was requested and is in route. It is set to land in nearby alfalfa field.

Last June, downtown Batavia was in the spotlight as an on-location site for the new movie, "Marshall," which stars Chadwick Boseman as a young Thurgood Marshall, an attorney for the NAACP who later became the first African-American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

At that time, I wrote a story for The Buffalo News, and it started out as follows:

BATAVIA – If you happen to be in a movie theater late this year (or possibly in the fall of 2017, depending upon the release date), watching intently as Chadwick Boseman in his portrayal of Thurgood Marshall climbs the 17 steps to a 1940’s Oklahoma courthouse door, here’s some insight into that scene: It took place in Batavia, New York around 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 1.

The crew of Marshall Movie Inc., about 70 strong, shot a trial scene and an entrance scene for the feature film, “Marshall,” at the old Genesee County Courthouse at the intersection of Route 5 and 63 in downtown Batavia.

Fast forward to today, and we've learned that the film will open in theaters on Oct. 13. A trailer, which includes a quick shot of the old courthouse, has been released and can be viewed by CLICKING HERE.

The movie focuses on a pivotal case in the career of Marshall, who served on the nation's highest court from 1967-1991. He died in 1993.

In the first shooting at the Old County Courthouse, Boseman – who starred as Jackie Robinson in “42”, James Brown in “Get on Up” and T'Challa in the Marvel Studios film “Captain America: Civil War” – walked up to the courthouse door with a bounce in his step, showing that he was ready to defend his client in the Oklahoma County of Choctaw courtroom.

In the second, he had to walk past five “locals” who formed a wall in front of the steps.

Director Reginald Hudlin said he wasn’t sure which scene would be used, saying he shot the second one after something told him to try a different angle.

“I’m leaning on the first one,” said Hudlin, who said the crew’s two days in Batavia, as well as their time filming in Buffalo, has been a tremendous experience.

The scenes from the Oklahoma trial are a very small piece of this story -- about three to five minutes of a case Marshall defended while traveling across the country for the NAACP.

The runway at the Genesee County Airport will be able to accommodate larger planes once the center portion is replaced.

The runway hasn’t been resurfaced since 1978, according to Tim Hens, the highway superintendent.

“It’s basically original to when they built the airport,” Hens said. “It’s actually a limiting factor on the size of the airplanes that we can bring into the airport right now.”

After the reconstruction, Hens said a medium-sized business jet will be able to land on the runway.

The 3,000-foot stretch that will be reconstructed is in between the extension that occurred in 2005 and the restoration in 2007. The pavement depth varies from five to nine inches, Hens said.

The reconstruction will be covered under 95 percent federal and state aid.

“This is very similar to other airport projects we’ve done,” Hens said.

Northeast Paving, in Lancaster, was the lowest bidder for the project, at just over $3.1 million.

C&S engineers provided a construction inspection contract, at a little over than $305,000.

Both bids are contingent on receiving the grant, which will likely be given in August, Hens said.

“They usually expect us to turn it around in five days,” Hens said.

Hens said the construction will be phased so there will always be a portion of the runway open.

“We’ve limited the actual shutdown,” Hens said. “There will a one-week period of time where we have to shut down the entire runway, but that will be during the night only.”

There will still be 2,000 feet of the runway available for use when the construction is going on, Hens said.

“If they do it right, we’re hoping we can get another 40 years out of the pavement,” Hens said. “So we won’t have to do it again, at least not in my lifespan.”

An Elba husband and wife who have been keeping two young horses at their residence on South Main Street in the village for the past three months have until this Saturday to find new homes for the animals.

That was the ruling of Elba Town Justice E. Douglas King on Wednesday night in connection with the unauthorized stabling of the horses by Mark and Bunny Stoneham.

At proceedings at the Oakfield Community and Government Center on Drake Street, King asked Mark Stoneham if the horses were still on his property. Stoneham said yes, adding that the couple has been looking at two different places.

When Stoneham said he would have the horses moved by a week from Saturday (July 1), King countered by stating the animals needed to be removed by this Saturday.

“If not, I am going to impose a $50 fine per day for each day until they are removed,” King said. “And when they are (being moved), you must contact Mr. (Mark) Mikolajczyk for inspection.”

A phone call this morning to Mikolajczyk, the town’s code/zoning enforcement officer, had yet to be returned at the time of this posting.

King told Stoneham that he was “sorry” that he had to impose the deadline, but added “we have these codes for a reason and we have given you ample time to get these two colts to a proper place.”

Elba’s zoning laws state that there shall be no stabling of farm animals or storage of manure, fertilizer, etc., within the R (Residential) District, within 500 feet of an R District and within 100 feet of a lot line.

The Stoneham’s house is located a short distance north of Elba Central School, and the school’s athletic fields are situated behind the Stoneham’s property line to the east.

Following the proceedings, Bunny Stoneham said she and her husband rescue horses and these two horses “came to us in an emergency situation” and needed 24-hour care.

“We took them in – a little boy and a little girl -- because they need each other to rely on or else they would have died,” she said. “We were getting ready to move them but the purchase of a farm fell through.”

The Stonehams are affiliated with Clydesdale Breeders of the U.S.A. and said they own eight other horses at different locations. The two horses in question in Elba currently are being kept in the couple’s garage/converted office when not in a fenced-in yard behind the house.

Their next door neighbors, Crosby and Mari-Ellen Lamont, filed a complaint with village officials on March 28 “but the zoning officer didn’t believe it,” Mrs. Lamont said.

Eventually, law enforcement was notified and the matter went before Town Court on May 21. At that time the Stonehams were given a 30-day adjournment to remove the animals from their property.

Mrs. Lamont (who provided the photos above) said the situation has resulted in a bad smell coming from the yard and the presence of mice, rats and horseflies in the neighborhood.

Mrs. Stoneham disputed those claims, stating that her husband gets up early every morning to clean the area and transport manure from the property.

Needless to say, the situation has resulted in hard feelings and a heightened tension between the neighbors.

The Batavia Town Board on Wednesday night passed six resolutions that set the wheels in motion to improve sewer districts along West Main Street Road, Oak Orchard Road and West Saile Drive.

Following public hearings (which failed to draw public comment), the board approved measures to authorize capital improvement projects and funding through the issuance of serial bonds for Sewer District No. 2 and West Main Street Road Sewer District as well as the North Commerce Sewer Improvement Area.

The board’s action now makes it possible for the municipality to apply for grants to offset the nearly $750,000 price tag of the projects.

The improvement plans for District No. 2 and West Main Street Road Sewer District, which includes Lewiston Road and Colonial Boulevard, generally will consist of upgrades to the Kings Plaza Pump Station in the Town at an estimated maximum cost of $390,706.

“By approving the bond resolution to borrow money for the improvements, every sewer district and improvement area will share in the costs, but it also enables us to go after grant funding,” said Town Engineer Steve Mountain.

Mountain said that improvements at the Kings Plaza Pump Station include the installation of new pumps and controls, updated electronics and replacement of an old “force main” (pipe that moves wastewater under pressure by using pumps or compressors).

For the North Commerce Sewer Improvement Area that covers sections of Oak Orchard Road and West Saile Drive, the Town proposes to install 1,700 linear feet of 12-inch force main and make other renovations. The cost is estimated at $347,294.

Mountain noted that it could be two to three years before the projects are completed.

In other action, the board:

-- Appointed Brian A. Thompson to the position of court security officer on an “as needed basis” at the rate of $18.54 per hour.

-- Retained Hurricane Technologies Inc., for website hosting and GFI monitoring services, approving a three-year contract at a monthly cost of $113.95.

-- Contracted with Champion Asphalt Maintenance of Williamson to seal and restripe the Town Hall parking lot at a cost of $4,084.

-- Approved the installation of a street light at the corner of South Ag Park Drive and Route 63, near O-At-Ka Milk Products, at an annual cost of $156.51.

-- Granted a permit to Genesee Speedway on East Main Street Road to hold a fireworks display on July 6.

-- Supported a community service application submitted by Dominic Brown of Boy Scout Troop 6069, who proposes to improve the picnic shelter and swim platform at Galloway Road Park for his Eagle Scout project. All supplies and materials will be provided by the scout troop except for stone and its delivery by the Town (at an estimated cost of $200 to the Town).

Two people were injured this morning after the vehicle they were in allegedly failed to yield to a dump truck on Route 20 in Pavilion.

Injured were driver Lynnette Duckworth, 48, of Callan Road, Le Roy, and George Duckworth, 35. Both were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital.

The accident was reported at 9:52 a.m.

According to an accident report prepared by Deputy Joe Loftus, Lynette was driving south in a 2016 Toyota SUV on South Street Road when she failed to yield to an eastbound dump truck driven by Caitlin Morsch, 28, of Avon.

Through Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s BRIDGE NY program, Genesee County received two grants to rebuild two local bridges in Pembroke and Byron.

According to the governor’s website, the state is making $200 million available in enhanced assistance for local governments to rehabilitate and replace bridges and culverts statewide.

The Pratt Road bridge over Tonawanda Creek in Pembroke was structurally red flagged and load posted for 5 tons.

Highway Superintendent Tim Hens said the bridge over Tonawanda Creek is one of the top bridges in terms of need for replacement.

“It’s not a high-volume road,” Hens said. “But it is a key connector.”

The bridge replacement will be $178,000, with 95 percent being federally funded. 

The Searles Road bridge over Spring Creek in Byron will also be replaced.

Hens said the capital project established would amount to $133,000 for the Searles Road bridge, with 95 percent being federally funded.

This fall they will go through the design process and both bridges should be ready for construction in 2018.

“By time the state executes their part of the grant, the clock starts ticking,” Hens said. “We have to have the bridge under construction in 18 months.”

Press release:

BATAVIA, NY – Start-Up Genesee announced that the group will hold the next “Think & Drink” event on Thursday, June 22 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Participants should plan to meet at the Bergen Village Hall on 11 North Lake Ave. and be prepared for an entrepreneurial walking tour.

The theme of the event is “Doing Business on Main Street- An Entrepreneurial Walking Tour” that will provide attendees the opportunity to tour the successful Bergen business district, tours of existing space for sale and lease, a recreational trail tour and a stop at the Bergen farmer’s market in the park.

The event will begin with remarks from Bergen Mayor Anna Marie Barclay, who has made downtown business development and recreation a top priority for the village. Following remarks from the Mayor, attendees will go on a tour of vacant buildings for sale and lease that could be ideally suited for startup business and entrepreneurs.

During the downtown business district tour, attendees will stop at various businesses including Pivot Acupuncture and Physical Therapy, Morgan’s, Gregory’s, L Salon, Reynolds Auto Parts, Craft Supplies Unlimited, Ralph & Rosie’s, the Bergen School of the Arts, and Harris Wilcox offices. The event will conclude at Hickory Park to experience the interactive exercise trails and disk golf course and a then visit to the new downtown farmer’s market.

Sponsors for the event include Canandaigua National Bank & Trust, FreedMaxick, Merrill Lynch, Del Plato Casey Law Firm LLP, the University at Buffalo New York State Center of Excellence in Material Informatics and Bioinformatics & Life Sciences, Tompkins Bank of Castile and Tompkins Insurance and West Main Wine and Spirits Liquor Store. For more information or to RSVP please contact Rachel Tabelski at 585-343-4866 or rtabelski@gcedc.com.

Photo submitted

At 6 months old, Halani Rolle isn't through with chemotherapy, but her grandmother said she's doing well.

“She looks good considering she has leukemia,” said Marian Massaro, a Batavia resident.

Halani was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) on May 9. Massaro said it came as quite a shock, especially to Halani’s parents, with there being no history of leukemia in the family.

Massaro said Halani is in remission, but needs a second round of chemotherapy.

“She had the first round, which was 28 days,” Massaro said. “The doctors said she did all right first round.”

In addition to chemotherapy, Massaro said Halani needs shots in her legs due to a blood clot.

“Her immune system is shot,” Massaro said. “But she’s going to have to have another round of chemo.”

Her parents, Jason and Crystal Rolle, drive back and forth to Buffalo to see Halani, and take care of two other kids, Julian, 8, and Harlem, 5.

“It’s hard,” Massaro said. “They’ve missed a lot of school.”

Massaro said Jason and Crystal both had jobs, but are currently out of work, taking care of the children.

Their vehicle is unsafe to drive, Massaro said. They have been borrowing hers, in order to drive back and forth.

Massaro recently wrote to an area car dealership, with the hope of receiving a donation of a car.

“When you have no money coming in, no vehicle and a sick kid, there’s got to be somebody in this town that would help out and do something,” Massaro said.  

Those wishing to donate can do so on the current Go Fund Me page located here.

Massaro said she is not sure how to fundraise next.

"The problem is, fundraisers take a lot of work and a lot of people," Massaro said. "There just isn't a lot of people to do something like that."

Today was an exciting day for the Jackson Primary first-graders. It is moving up day. They received certificates of continuation from administrators during a ceremony in the Batavia High School auditorium in front of their fellow classmates and cheering families. The students will now move on to John Kennedy Intermediate School and graduate from high school in 2028.  

Town of Batavia planners on Tuesday night approved a special use permit and site plan review for Fleet Maintenance Inc., a 16-bay truck repair facility that will be situated on State Street Road, adjacent to the New York State Thruway.

"We did a lot of work on it (this project) and investigated the neighbors' concerns over water drainage and traffic," said Kathy Jasinski, planning board chairperson. "I believed we addressed them all and while some may not be happy with everything, we think this is a good fit (for that area)."

The special use permit was needed to address the hours of operation for the business, which, according to Jasinski, have been set at 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, "expanded hours" on Saturday and closed on Sunday.

Planners voted 6-1 in favor of granting the special use permit, with Paul McCullough voting no, and unanimously approved the site plan.

Jasinski said that owner Debbie Gawron, of West Seneca, indicated that there would be around 10 to 12 trucks at the facility per day.

Previously, the owners went before the Genesee County Planning Board.

Reportedly, the business will employ around 35 people. No timetable for construction was given, Jasinski said.

In another development, the board set a public hearing for July 18 for the Muckdog Solar II Project, a 2 megawatt solar farm proposed for Pearl Street Road, across from Hopkins Road.

Jasinski said a special use permit is required since the project is entering a second phase. 

The Byron-Bergen Public Library is seeking a Community Development Block Grant, with the hopes of making the library handicap accessible.

Don Cunningham, the Bergen town supervisor, said the project is estimated at a total of $267,630.

“There would be a matching portion on the town’s obligation,” Cunningham said. “The library is also looking at possibly getting Nioga grant support for the same project, but that has yet to be determined.”

Cunningham said the plan includes significant renovations to the bathrooms, access to the library and the library counter.

“This is a win-win situation for the town and us,” said Nancy Bailey, the library manager. “It will help not only handicap people, but also young people with children in strollers.”

Bailey said the grant is in the beginning stages, but she is optimistic that construction could start next fall.

“I’d love to have the ability for easier access to the library,” Bailey said. “Just changing the scope of that and redesigning the space to meet the needs of the community is a great thing.”

Bailey said if they don’t receive the grant this year, they will apply again.

“I’m excited, but apprehensive,” Bailey said. “I don’t think we have a plan B if we don’t get the grant, so that might be why.”

A midweek show brought music lovers of all ages to Darien Lake Performing Arts Center to hear platinum album artist Train played in front of a lighter crowd of more than 6,000 fans. The band made a few stops of their Northeast tour, including this past Sunday in Saratoga Springs, last night in Darien Center and Toronto, Ontario, Canada tomorrow evening. The roadshow kicks off their “Play that Song Tour 2017.”

The two-time Grammy award-winners won the crowds over on a cooler night in Darien Center.

Some of Train’s top hits included "Drops of Jupiter," "50 Ways to say Goodbye," "Hey Soul Sister," "Drink up," "Marry Me" and "Play that Song." Lead singer (pictured above) Patrick Monahan kept the crowd singing, dancing and also even borrowing cell phones to take selfies with the owners from the stage to pit distance, which many enjoyed.

O.A.R. and Natasha Bedingfield opened for the platinum recording artist. Train has sold more than 10 million albums and 30 million tracks worldwide since their debut in the music industry in 1998.

Some members of O.A.R. pictured below:

There is still time to sign up for one of the many weeklong summer career exploration camps through the Genesee County Business Education Alliance (BEA).

Karyn Winters, the director, said they will be accepting registrations through the end of this week.

Kids from grades six through nine are eligible to register for culinary, animal and medical camps, while those in grades six through eight are eligible for a math, science and technology camp. Older students from grades eight through 10 can participate in a camp about careers in construction.

“These camps just offer a great opportunity for [students in middle school] to get a little experience under their belt,” Winters said. “They can learn from instructors who are in those fields and industries. They just have a great time and can have fun while they’re doing it, too.”

The BEA’s mission is to foster a partnership between Genesee County businesses and schools.

“We want to really assist and prepare students for the world of work,” Winters said. “We want to retain the student population that we have here to remain in Genesee County to ensure the economic development of our county.”

“Culinary Camp I” runs from July 10 through 14, from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the GVEP Batavia Campus. Participants will learn how to cook and bake with Chef Tracy Burgio. They will make a variety of recipes using fresh, healthy ingredients. Graduates of Culinary Camp 1 can expand on their skills learned, and participate in “Culinary Camp II” from July 17 through 21, from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at the GVEP Batavia Campus.

For students that enjoy animals, there is an “Animal Science and Vet Camp” running from July 17 until 21, from 12 until 3:30 p.m. at the GVEP Batavia Campus. They will learn about small and large animals, anatomy, food production, and animals in agriculture. Winters said they are also planning a trip to Seneca Park Zoo.

“All About Dogs” is a camp that runs from July 10 through 14, from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., or 12 until 3:30 p.m. at the GVEP Batavia Campus. At this camp, participants will explore careers working with dogs, from training to grooming, to rescuing service dogs. They will also learn how to make their own dog toys.

Students that are interested in the medical profession can participate in the camp from July 24 until 28 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. They will explore available career options in the medical industry and visit two hospitals.

Winters said her favorite camp is the “MST Camp,” which explores the world of math, science and technology with hands-on activities. Participants learn about renewable energy, aerodynamics, aviation, astronomy, robotics and GPS mapping.

“It’s a really cool camp especially if your kid likes to fidget with things or has an interest with those STEM skills,” Winters said. “STEM careers are something that is not going to go away.”

The MST Camp will be held from July 17 until the 21 from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the GCC Batavia Campus.

For older students, “Camp Hard Hat” runs from July 31 until Aug. 4 at the Genesee County Park. The camp is taught by two instructors from construction backgrounds. Students will be making a walkway and a bridge over the Genesee County Park.

Each camp costs $95, but Winters said she is happy to work with families that have financial restrictions.

“Exposure to these camps and participation in these camps is helping kids to become well rounded adults,” Winters said.

For more information and to register for a camp, you can contact Winters at 343-7440 x1025 or kwinters@geneseeny.com

Update:

A planned public hearing at Tuesday night's City Planning & Development Committee meeting was postponed until next month to give Ellicott Station offiicals more time to deal with State Environmental Quality Review and other issues, said Duane Preston, chair of the planning board.

"We did a sketch plan review and overall it seems to be a great project," Preston said.

He said questions from the board focused on the height of the five-story apartment building -- "it will result in a bit of an up-and-down skyline," Preston said -- as well as the amount of parking and the size of a glass front facade.

---------------

No one from the public spoke at a public hearing on Tuesday afternoon at City Hall where $1.5 million in mortgage, sales and property tax abatements for the Ellicott Station project were presented.

The hearing was officiated by Chris Suozzi, Genesee County Economic Development Center vice president of business development. The completion of the public hearing now sets the stage for the GCEDC Board of Directors to approve the tax incentives as outlined in a press release below.

Samuel Savarino, president of Savarino Companies and developer of Ellicott Station, attended the public hearing, along with Julie Pacatte, Pier Cipollone and Mary Valle of the Batavia Development Corporation.

Savarino noted that he would be at the meeting of the Batavia Planning & Development Committee tonight, along with the project's architect and site engineer.

The Buffalo businessman said he has encountered numerous "challenges" with the project, but the biggest one -- getting proper financial aid -- already has been overcome.

"We have surmounted the major hurdle, closing the $5 million gap with help from Empire State Development and new market tax credits to make this happen," he said. "Overarching development costs make it difficult to make the economics work (without state assistance)."

Savarino also pointed out that the site of the former Santy's Tire Sales and Soccio & Della Penna Construction companies also presents flood hazards, is part of the Brownfield Opportunity Area (which warrants remedial work) and sits on top of what is being called a "grand canal" or tunnel that runs from the corner of Ellicott and Jackson streets right through the Ellicott Station property.

A portion of the canal, which is being utilized by the city, is located directly under where one of Savarino's apartment/retail buildings would be constructed.

On a positive note, he said he has encoutered similar problems in his many years as a developer and is optimistic that engineers will be able to work around this water-filled obstacle.

Savarino added that he has lined up investors and lenders, and hopes to start demolition and construction by this fall, with an eye on being "open for business" in the fall of 2018.

The mixed-use development will consist of a retail brewery/restaurant operated by Resurgence Brewing along with 16,800 square feet of office space and a five-story apartment building.

Savarino said rent for a one-bedroom, top floor corner unit will be around $1,200 per month while a two-bedroom unit with two full bathrooms will go for around $1,600 per month. Each apartment will feature a washer and dryer and a balcony, and the 51-unit building will include a fitness center and ground floor parking.

Pacatte said the BDC is looking at Ellicott Station as its "beacon of hope" for the city's bid to receive a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative award (see story below).

"We're using Ellicott Station as the anchor for our DRI proposal, focusing on the quality of life piece -- especially on the south side of the city," she said.

Valle, owner of Valle Jewelers on Jackson Street, said that major improvements on Ellicott Street "will raise the bar for all of us" in regards to building upkeep and maintenance.

Press release:

The Genesee County Economic Development Center will hold a public hearing at 4 this afternoon to consider financial incentives for the Savarino Companies for the redevelopment of Ellicott Station in downtown Batavia. The public hearing will take place at City Hall.

The approximate 64,000-square-foot development will be a mix use of residential, office and retail spaces; a brewery; small beverage warehouse and hops processing facility; entertainment and event area; outside seating; and integration of the new Ellicott Trail pedestrian pathway.

The $17.6 million project is estimated to create up to 60 good paying full-time jobs.

The proposed incentives include $897,293 in sales tax savings, $128,232 mortgage tax savings and $537,398 in property tax savings. 

The project is being done through the “Batavia Pathway to Prosperity” (BP2) program which was created through an inter-municipal agreement between the City of Batavia, Genesee County, the Batavia City School District, the Batavia Development Corporation and the GCEDC.

BP2 was conceived to pool resources in order to invest in distressed areas in the City of Batavia. The BP2 program will be implemented though PILOT increment financing (PIF), referred to as the “BP2 fund,” which is the first of its kind in New York State where all local taxing jurisdictions are participating. 

Supported by the redirection of 50% of new project PILOT payments, the BP2 fund will play a critical role in generating development within the Batavia Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA), a 366-acre area within the City of Batavia containing five strategic redevelopment sites.