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If you’ve had visions of taking over the city police station -- more formally known as Brisbane Mansion — and carving it up into city-suggested market-rate apartments or boutique hotel rooms situated on a route with one of the highest traffic counts in Western New York, then city officials are ready to see if you’re serious.

Because they are. 

Both city management and Batavia Development Corporation staff are looking for redevelopment proposals for the much-discussed and debated mansion now serving as police headquarters until the department vacates later this year. 

There have been studies and committee discussions, architectural assessments, tours, and final analyses in recent years that city police belonged elsewhere instead of trying to rehab the site to fit departmental needs.

What those studies also showed, apparently, is that the site at 10 W. Main St., in downtown Batavia, would be best suited for 11 market rate apartments or 16 boutique hotel rooms. They would be ideal for the more than 30,000 vehicles that pass by daily as they converge onto either routes 5 or 63 to potentially stop in for a night’s stay or opt to nestle into a rental.

“At the end of 2025, the former City Hall and Police Station will be vacant, which will offer an incredible opportunity to redevelop a very visible landmark adjacent to the City’s emerging and vibrant downtown district,” city officials said in a press release. “A recent building reuse analysis suggested that the two-story building with more than 11,000 square feet of space could accommodate 11 market-rate apartments or 16 boutique hotel rooms.”

“The City and BDC desire to work with a qualified development team that has experience redeveloping historic sites,” the release stated.

That was one of the goals mentioned during a presentation to City Council by Ed Flynn of LaBella Associates and BDC Executive Director Tammy Hathaway in December.

They recommended putting the site up for an RFP to determine developer or investor interest in redeveloping the property and provide information about the existing conditions, characteristics and feasibility study options by an Insight Architecture report for use as apartments or a boutique hotel. 

“This can provide a lot of information for the developers that they'll be looking for in terms of the existing condition of building the site, as well as what are some opportunities for redevelopment,” Flynn said. “We also want to make sure we establish some community goals for the project before it goes out so the developer knows what the community goals are for the project. And the ones we kind of have listed here are, preservation of the building and site.

"It's an important historic property in the city of Batavia; it’s very visible. A lot of heritage and history to the building," he said. "And so that's kind of a key goal that we want to maintain compatibility with downtown.”

Another goal is to put it back on the tax roll, he said, for the first time since 1917 when it was established for city government, non-taxable use. 

“So, obviously, you don’t want a nonprofit to go in there, and then we want to make sure we get an experienced developer with financial resources,” he said. “So that would be part of the RFP, part of the process of reviewing the proposals when they come in, and talking to the banks and whoever they’re using for their financial back.”

What they don’t want is for someone to buy it and hold it for five years, with nothing happening to the property during that time, he said. The right developer will have the financial means and capacity to complete the renovations and be experienced in having completed other similar projects.

Demand for residential units is “incredibly high,” according to the latest county Housing Needs and Market Analysis, the RFP states. Given the shortage within the region for available, attractive, market-rate apartments and the central location of the building, adding apartments “can contribute to the resilient, walkable downtown setting which Batavia has prioritized,” it states.

An approximate annual income from these rentals with 100% expected occupancy could be $164,000, and based on a more conservative estimate of 60% occupancy for the 16 hotel rooms, which would be 10 occupied rooms, the hotel could generate about $350,000 of revenue annually, according to the RFP.

The proposal outlines location characteristics, maps, flood hazard information, and property assessment — the conditioned market value of the site was $740,000 based on an appraiser’s site visit, and the current tax assessment is $820,000 — community goals for the project, selection criteria and process, demographic details, and potential grants and financing.

There are 10 options for financing listed, including:

1. NY Main Street Program – provides up to $500,000 in grant funds for anchor building projects.

2. Restore NY Communities – grants of up to $2 million for rehabilitation, construction, demolition, and environmental remediation.

3. City Revolving Loan Fund – provide funds for building improvements that have a visual impact and facade work for rehabilitation or new build (a grant of 40% of the total project cost will be considered with a cap at $20,000 per project). Additional funding is available for strategic priority projects in the City that are making significant capital investments.

4. Genesee County Economic Development Center - loan fund and other IDA incentives available, including the Pathways to Prosperity fund for the City of Batavia.

5. NYS CDBG Economic Development Program – potentially up to $750,000 in grant funds; funds up to 40% of project costs; job requirements; competitive application.

6. NYSERDA – state matching grants for investment in energy-efficient building systems.

7. New York State and Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credits - tax credits available up to 40% of project costs (20% state; 20% federal).

8. Empire State Development Corporation – provides up to 20% of total project costs for building acquisition, rehabilitation, equipment and site development for commercial or mixed-use projects.

9. Real Property Tax exemption 485b – the City participates in the 485b exemption program, which provides a 10-year exemption for increases in taxable value starting at 50% and decreasing to 5% in the 10th year.

10. Real Property Tax exemption 485a – the City also participates in the 485a exemption program, which provides a 12-year exemption for mixed-use properties, including a 100% exemption for years 1-8, followed by additional 20% reductions until year 12. At least 40% of the sq. ft. of the building must be used for residential purposes, and a minimum of 15% of the sq. ft. must be used for commercial purposes.

The RFP is posted on the City of Batavia’s website at www.batavianewyork.com. It can also be found on the City Plans page of the BDC’s website at www.bataviadevelopmentcorp.org or by contacting Tammy Hathaway at the Batavia Development Corporation at 585-813-8054 or director@bataviadevelopmentcorp.org.

Proposals are due on Friday, May 30, 2025, and a pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for March 20, 2025, at 1 p.m. at the site.

Leah Wroten, a 2020 Batavia High School grad and special education teacher’s aide, has done battle with cancer through life-changing surgery, chemotherapy and related treatments since her diagnosis just a year ago.

She has gotten the good news of being in remission, however, having to take six months off and still more days for scans and check-ups has meant a hefty medical bill for the 21-year-old. 

Thankfully, she has an army of colleagues raising money through various efforts, including a 26 Shirts initiative, which just dropped its exclusive, limited edition design for Wroten on Monday.

There will now be less than 12 days to snatch up an original design that reads: "Introverted but willing to defend Josh Allen" on a number of clothing items, including T-shirts, sweatshirts, long-sleeved shirts, hoodies, zipped hoodies and tank tops.

Every purchase means $8 to Wroten’s cause, and  — in keeping with the company’s focus on sports-themed apparel — her fellow Batavia City School staff, students, friends and family are rooting for a touchdown to get her financially “back on her feet.”

For more information or to support the cause, go to 26 Shirts.

Press Release:

The Pembroke Teachers’ Federation (PTF) will be hosting a 5K walk/run on April 26, at 9 a.m. in the village of Corfu to help raise funds for their community. This year, the event will support Genesee County Mental Health, an organization dedicated to supporting county residents with mental illness. Through their programs, community members can meet with professionals to reach their highest level of functioning.

PTF has a longstanding history of supporting Genesee County Mental Health and is looking forward to continuing this tradition. Proceeds from the event will go directly to benefit those served by the organization through different services, including:

• CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
• ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)
• Trauma- Based Treatments
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• Forensic Services
• Care Management
• And so much more

“Providing mental health services to our community is something we take very seriously. We want to show our students, families, and colleagues that it’s okay to ask for help. It’s okay to talk to someone and it’s especially okay not to be okay,” said PTF Union President Arron Brown. “Mental health struggles aren’t something you can see by looking at someone, so our job is to make the people around us feel comfortable enough to ask for help when they need it.”

For those interested in joining PTF and the wider community to raise awareness and support mental health in Genesee County can sign up by checking out the PTF Facebook page or contacting civison@pembrokecsd.org for a registration link. Early registration is available for $15 until March 17. All registration after that date will be $20.

Press Release:

A public information meeting will be held regarding New Town Park on Wednesday, February 26, at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place at Batavia Town Hall, located at 3833 West Main Street Road, Batavia.

Project: New York Green received funding from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds administered by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo for design of a proposed new public park on a property owned by the Town of Batavia and located on Park Road in the City of Batavia. 

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds were established at the Community Foundation to provide support to four areas that were important to Mr. Wilson: caregivers, community assets, design and access, and youth sports. Endowment funds, like these created to honor Mr. Wilson, are designed to grow over time and provide funding for charitable causes according to a client’s wishes.

Agenda: At the meeting we will share and solicit public feedback on the conceptual design for the proposed new park.

Special Arrangements: All are welcome to attend this meeting. If you require special arrangements (translators, handicap accessibility etc.) please contact Steve Tanner at 585-813-7246.

Press Release:

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to welcome Dr. Michael Boston of SUNY Brockport as our next Guest Speaker on Saturday, March 1st at 11 am. Dr. Boston of SUNY Brockport will be presenting on “Female Conductors of the Underground Railroad in Western and Central New York”; Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com. 

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to announce the next presenter in its Guest Speaker Series on Thursday, March 6 at 7 p.m. Dr. Ann Bunch a forensic anthropologist of SUNY Brockport Criminal Justice Department, will be presenting on her new book,
"The William Morgan Affair: Masonic Mystery in Upstate New York." The book takes an investigative science approach to the mystery of William Morgan's disappearance to demystify and highlight ways to resolve his fate following his last known sightings in 1826. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum for the next Trivia Night @ the Museum on Thursday, March 13 at 7 p.m. This month's topic is the First Ladies of the United States. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to welcome back No Blarney for our St. Patrick's Day tradition, as they play all your favorite Irish music tunes from throughout the years. The concert will be Friday, March 14 from 7-9 pm. Admission is $5 or $4 for museum members. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com. Seating is limited so reserve your spot early.

The Holland Land Office Museum is proud to welcome back Civil War historian and author Chris Mackowski on Wednesday, March 26 at 7 p.m. This presentation has been rescheduled from its original date of January 21. Chris will be presenting on his book, "The Last Days of Stonewall Jackson" of the Emerging Civil War series. The presentation will cover Jackson's military career and the last fateful days during the Battle of Chancellorsville that led to his mortal wounding. Admission is $5 or $3 for museum members. If you plan on attending, please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com.

Join us at the Holland Land Office Museum on March 27, at 9 a.m., come hear HLOM Curator Tyler Angora for our FREE morning coffee program Java with Joe. Tyler will be explaining the newest exhibit at HLOM in greater detail and why this was the exhibit he chose to begin in 2025! Learn about his research and the clothing in the exhibit Admission is FREE, and Tim Horton’s of Batavia will provide coffee and donuts. Please contact the museum at 585-343-4727 or hollandlandoffice@gmail.com if you would like to attend.

Press Release:

The Genesee Community College History Club is proud to launch its commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord with a special Historical Horizons Lecture on Wednesday, March 5, at 7 p.m. in room T102. The event, titled A Single Blow: The Battles of Lexington and Concord, will be presented by renowned historian and author Phil Greenwalt and is free and open to the public.

In his lecture, Greenwalt will explore the pivotal events of April 19, 1775, which marked the beginning of open conflict between Great Britain and its thirteen North American colonies. Attendees will gain insight into the years of unrest that led to this historic moment and how it set the course for American independence.

Phil Greenwalt is the co-founder of Emerging Revolutionary War and is also a full-time contributor to Emerging Civil War. He is the author or co-author of five books on the American Revolution and the American Civil War. Phil graduated from George Mason University with a M.A. in American History and also has a B.A. in history from Wheeling Jesuit University. He is currently the Chief of Interpretation and Education at Catoctin Mountain Park. He has over 15 years of service in the National Park Service and has worked at De Soto National Memorial, Everglades National Park and Morristown National Historical Park before Catoctin. His first permanent ranger position was as a historian with the National Park Service at George Washington Birthplace National Monument and Thomas Stone National Historic Site. However, he started with the National Park Service as a historical interpreter intern in college at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.

Copies of Greenwalt's book will be available for purchase through the GCC Bookstore, and attendees will have the opportunity to meet the author and have their books signed after the talk.

For more information, contact Vice President of Development, Admissions and External Affairs, Justin Johnston, at 585-345-6809 or via email at jmjohnston@genesee.edu.

Press Release:

The Table Top Art Show is excited to announce our event on March 4, at Eli Fish Brewing in downtown Batavia. We warmly invite local media representatives to join us for an evening celebrating the incredible talents of our local artists and the vibrant art community we cherish.

This year, we received an impressive 184 entries from 92 artists, showcasing the creativity and passion of our local talent. The event will feature 15 pieces in our traditional gallery display, six honorable mentions, and a special judges' corner. The 15 selected pieces will also be featured on our tabletop version of the show, adorning the tables of 30+ restaurants and three libraries this year. To top it off, our online gallery will feature all 184 entries.

Join us for the Opening Reception on March 4 at 7 p.m. at Eli Fish Brewing in the heart of Downtown Batavia! After the Reveal the show runs for the month of March.

The Table Top Art Show highlights the collaborative spirit of our arts community, paired with the support of local businesses and restaurants. The media's presence at this event will help us celebrate our talented artists and promote the importance of supporting local arts in our community.

We would be delighted to provide interviews with participating artists, event organizers, and sponsors. Your coverage will help us spotlight the creativity and dedication that makes our local art scene thrive.

Please let me know if you have any questions about the show. We look forward to seeing you there and sharing this wonderful celebration of art! For more information visit https://tabletopartshow.secure-decoration.com. 

Press Release:

GLOW With Your Hands organizers are seeking additional volunteers to support the coordination of the third annual GLOW With Your Hands: Healthcare on March 17. More than 650 students from Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties will learn first-hand about exciting career opportunities in the healthcare sector by meeting representatives and professionals from a variety of healthcare organizations, careers, and training programs.

Organizations such as M&T Bank and students from the Genesee Valley BOCES Health Career Academy have signed up for this year’s healthcare event, assisting as tour guides, lunch helpers, and an extra set of hands for GLOW With Your Hands committee members. Event organizers emphasized that these career exploration events are made possible thanks to the generosity of local organizations and individuals who dedicate their time to support local youth.

“It’s a tremendous testament to the success of this annual career exploration day that we have over 650 students attending, but at the same time, it takes a lot of volunteers to manage so many exuberant youths in one place,” said GLOW With Your Hands Co-Chair Karyn Winters said. “We are fortunate to have volunteers already registered, but we need more to cover all our bases.”

Representatives from hospitals and health systems and professionals in nursing, mental health, social services, and emergency responders will be on hand to interact with students to discuss potential careers and pathways into their respective fields.  While some careers might begin immediately after high school, the students will also be able to explore educational pathways in the healthcare sector through BOCES and degrees available at local colleges and universities.

“The day after the event ends, we start to plan the next day for the event the following year which includes making sure our volunteers had the type of experience to help us again,” said Angela Grouse, GLOW With Your Hands Co-Chair. “We are so fortunate that most of our volunteers come back year after year, but you can never have enough!”

Registration for volunteers is available by emailing Karyn Winters at kwinters@geneseeny.com or filling out the volunteer form at https://www.glowwithyourhands.com/healthcarevolunteers.

A 17-year-old Corfu resident was killed Sunday evening after a bicycle he was riding on Tesnow Road in the town of Alabama was struck by a vehicle and the youth was ejected from the bike.

Arthur G. Breton, III, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Breton was riding his bike north in the northbound lane in the area of 7824 Tesnow Road at 6:38 p.m. when he was struck.

Daphne C. Sundown, 37, of Basom, with her son as a passenger, were also northbound on Tesnow, driving a 2022 black Chevy Blazer, when the vehicle crested a hill over a knoll in the road, according to the Sheriff's Office. Sundown was unable to see Breton and struck his bike with the front driver side of her vehicle. 

Sundown and her son immediately exited her vehicle and began rendering aid while calling 9-1-1.  

Alabama Fire and Pembroke Fire departments personnel, along with Mercy EMS, responded to the scene and performed life-saving measures. Breton succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Drugs and alcohol have been ruled out as a factor in the accident.

The crash is being investigated by members of the Sheriff's Office along with the Crash Management Team.

Besides emergency responders, several bystanders assisted at the scene.

UPDATE: Superintendent Matthew Calderon confirmed that Breton was a senior at Pembroke High School.  He sent the following message to the school community:

I am writing to share difficult news.

Last night, one of our high school students, Arthur Bretan III, was struck by a car while riding his bicycle, and he died as a result of the accident.  Arthur was well-liked by many and enjoyed his participation in band.  Today and this week, our district’s Trauma, Illness & Grief Team will be implementing a support plan for students and staff.  Specially trained grief counselors are onsite to assist.  This morning during first period, we informed all junior-senior high school students about Arthur's death to provide correct information and to inform them how and where to get support throughout the day if they need support.

We encourage students to remain at school where they can access grief support services.  If students ask to go home, we strongly suggest that they be supervised by adults, who can best provide guidance and support during this difficult time.  There will be a variety of emotional and/or behavioral responses, and it is normal to experience feelings of disbelief, sadness, anger, confusion or even numbness when learning about a loss such as this.  Our children will benefit from our extra love and support to process this difficult news.  The link below may provide some helpful information to assist you:

Guidelines for Supporting Your Child During Grief

Our community always comes together to love and support one another through these hard times, and I am confident we will be there for each other once again.

Press Release:

Thanks to a $750 grant from President Mike Hodgins and the Batavia Rotary Club and a $875 donation from the Batavia First Presbyterian Church, the Little Free Pantry recently took delivery of a new commercial size refrigerator which will help them support the growing needs of Batavia neighborhoods. 

The Little Free Pantry provides immediate and local aid to those with food insecurity. Their aim is to help neighbors feed neighbors and nourish the community as a whole. The mini pantry movement’s unofficial motto is “Give what you can. Take what you need.”

The Little Free Pantry is grateful to the Batavia Rotary for this most generous donation in helping the Little Free Pantry support its mission.

Press Release:

Join the Richmond Memorial Library for a musical March! 

On Tuesday, March 4, at 6:30 p.m., Brian Dooley will grace audiences with classical guitar and bagpipe music. Yes, bagpipes in the library! Brian Dooley is a guitarist and highland bagpiper residing in Asheville, NC. His concerts typically include a broad range of selections, ranging from the Renaissance to the modern day, and his own arrangements.

No Blarney returns to the Richmond Memorial Library on Tuesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. Popular duo Rich Conroy and Don Bouchard will delight audiences with classic Irish tunes in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. This spirited pair has been playing together since 1984!

Both concerts are free to attend, and all are welcome. Richmond Memorial Library is located at 19 Ross St. in the City of Batavia. For more information about the library and programs, visit batavialibrary.org.

An 18-year-old graduate of Pembroke High School, who recently made the Dean's List at the University at Albany, was critically injured in a four-vehicle accident on the Thruway in the town of Salina, according to State Police.

According to Troopers, Anneka Pray was a front-seat passenger in a 2016 Jeep Compass driven by Christopher Baker, 22, of South Glens Falls.

According to the initial investigation, a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, operated by Christopher J. Hernandez, 23, of Newark, lost control and swerved, causing a Ford F-550, driven by Barry J. Darling, 41, of Solvay, to brake and exit the north shoulder of the roadway to avoid a collision.

The Jeep rear-ended the Ford F-550 and partially entered the passing, where is was struck by a westbound Freightliner tractor-trailer operated by Sarjo Drammeh, 35, of Wisconsin. 

The tractor-trailer fled the scene but was later located at the Seneca Service Area on the Thruway.

Pray, who has been blind since birth, participated in cross country at Pembroke and was praised by her teachers for knowing what she wanted and going for it.

“Anneka advocates well for herself,” Chelsea Hale, the vision teacher at Pembroke, told The Batavian in 2018. “She wants to be as independent as possible.”

She also participated in three musicals while at Pembroke.

Pray is listed in critical condition at Upstate University Hospital.

Baker, in serious condition, was also transported to Upstate. Darling sustained minor injuries and was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital.

The accident was reported at 6:08 a.m. on Friday in the area of mile marker 284.8.

The investigation is continuing, according to State Police.

A GoFundMe.com page has been set up to assist Pray and her family. According to the page, Pray suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Press Release:

Get ready for a tail-wagging good time! Ashley Bringenberg Photography is thrilled to announce the return of Pooch Playoffs, an exciting bracket-style dog portrait competition and fundraiser benefiting WNY Heroes’ Pawsitive for Heroes program.

Now in its third year, this fun-filled event gives local dog owners a chance to show off their beloved pups while making a meaningful impact. Portrait sessions are happening from now until the end of February and the competition kicks off in late March, featuring 32 dogs vying for the title of WNY’s Ulti-Mutt Cutie!

Each round, participating pups will be paired up for head-to-head online voting, with winners advancing until one dog is crowned champion. The Final Four earn special prizes, and the top dog will claim the grand prize, along with ultimate bragging rights!

“A professional portrait of your pet is something most people don’t think to do, but pets are such cherished members of our families,” says Ashley Bringenberg, owner of Ashley Bringenberg Photography. “Pooch Playoffs gives families an opportunity to capture their pup’s personality while supporting an incredible cause.”

For a $125 donation to WNY Heroes’ Pawsitive for Heroes, participants receive:

• A custom dog portrait session
• A personalized photo keychain
• A swag bag full of goodies

Spots are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested pet parents should visit ashleybringenberg.com/pooch to enter their pup ASAP.

Local businesses are also invited to sponsor the event and be part of this heartwarming community initiative.

For more information, sponsorship opportunities, or to register your pup, visit ashleybringenberg.com/pooch or contact Ashley Bringenberg at hello@ashleybringenberg.com.

The Byron-Bergen Business and Civic Association held its annual recognition banquet on Saturday night at The Batavia Country Club. 

A theme emerged throughout the night of awards: "(Bergen) can do." The "can do" motto is a legacy of BBCA and it was a recurrent phrase of the acceptance speeches. Bergen residents "can do." They can make the community better, stronger, and more memorable through volunteering and sharing gifts and talents.

Dinner entertainment was provided by The Byron-Bergen Singing Silhouettes, led by director Joe Parish.

Anne Sapienza provided a brief history of the BBCA. 

Six members of the Bergen community were honored with awards for their service. 

Anna Marie Barclay presented an award to Ed and Ginny Adams for decades of service in a variety of ways -- from one-on-one acts of service to neighbors, to a wide array of impact through their church, to large projects instrumental to village infrastructure improvements -- such as sewers and cul de sacs, library development and leadership in the origination of Bergen Park Days.  

Charlie Cook, chairman of Liberty Pumps, presented a community service award to his colleague, director of manufacturing, Don Cunningham.  Cunningham made significant contributions to many buildings and government offices in the village, as well as the fire department, through fundraising events.  

Town Supervisor Ernie Haywood received his award and recognition from Town Clerk Teresa Robinson.  He was honored for work completed on the 500 parcel water district, The Byron-Bergen Capital Project, educational opportunities for high school students, advocacy for the fire department, youth with special needs and BOCES.  

Byron-Bergen STEP Boosters President Amy Phillips received her award from Katie Rumble.  Phillips' contributions to organizing special events for students were highlighted.  Cookies with Santa, trunk-or-treat, birthday parades during the COVID-19 pandemic, coaching youth sports through the Gillam Grant Community Center and running concessions stands at sporting events were among her noted and appreciated service.  

To wrap up the evening, Bergen Town Historian Tom Tiefel was presented an award by Lisa Teremy.  Tiefel was acknowledged for the transformation of the Harford Livery Museum.  And the work he has done curating, cataloging and sharing artifacts and historical documents.  Along with the education he provides to students and the community.

Information and photos by Jennifer DiQuattro.

Batavia's Business Improvement District hosted its annual celebration of beer and cider as it returned on Saturday, with the sun out and lots of people in a party mood.

 Photos by Howard Owens.

Ed Smart has been on a long haul to renovate his property at 4 Mix Place into a combination living and work space for himself and smartDesign in Batavia.

A series of code variances for his rezoning request, landscaping issues and neighbor concerns have turned his journey into a string of meetings with the city’s Planning & Development Committee, City Council Zoning Board of Appeals and soon the Historic Preservation Commission.

He said in June 2023 that his goal was to “see this thing restored to its glory and then some.”

“It’s just a beautiful piece of property,” he had said of his rambling site at 4 Mix Place. “I’ve invested in it even without being able to use it until I know I can use it for the use I want.”

And what he wants is to convert it into a combination residence, a small apartment and his smartDESIGN Architecture firm, requiring it to be zoned residential 3 to allow for professional offices in that section of the city between Ellicott Avenue and Oak Street.

Smart has worked to repair significant damage from prior theft and water leakage, made it past City Council for rezoning and a few trips to the city’s Planning Committee, and returned again this week to address landscaping, parking and a neighbor’s concerns. 

His plans had included 12 parking spots; however, neighbor Jessica Lankford had sent a letter of “serious concerns” about parking along their shared fence — the potential for less privacy of her backyard pool — which prompted discussion about alternatives. 

“I could probably supply 10 spaces and not provide the other two. I'm just trying to plan to accommodate people when I have a full house, which, again, doesn't happen that often,” Smart said. “I’ve had a very cooperative relationship with the Lankfords. We collaborated on the vinyl fence that was installed there. So again, there's been a good communication, good cooperation. I was not aware that she had sent this letter, happy to talk to her about it. Usually, the fears from neighbors when you're talking about automobile traffic in a parking area like this has to come with light shining into their yard. Again, that vinyl fence is six feet high, and it's solid. There's no spaces in between it.”

Code Enforcement Officer Doug Randall reminded him of the requirement for parking areas within 20 feet of neighbors: there needs to be solid screen fencing or plantings that obstruct the view. Smart said there is to be a wood stockade fence along the upper east side, placed on his property, “or we would cooperate with them.” 

Randall wanted to confirm that Smart has coordinated the plan with his neighbors. “If you’re going to put a fence on their property for maintenance,” Randall said.

Other considerations are the height of the fence — no more than 6 feet tall, and solid enough to shield nearby homes from headlight spray — and parking parallel versus perpendicular to the road, or using a row of bushes as space for parking, neither of those last two options which would work, Smart said. 

“That would be a substantial change to the landscape of the yard of this historic residence. One of the special features of this is that it's an extremely large lot in the middle of the city and highly landscaped. There's sandstone pavers that come along the back,” he said. “And also, that would impact the way you would approach the parking so, so they actually come across the entire back of the house. To have parking on the west side, in my opinion, would be a real detriment to the to the presidential character of that piece of property.”

While seemingly monotonous and detailed, these are the crux of site plans, especially in the city when accommodating neighbors’ requests and concerns. The shared fence is about 24 feet from the edge of the parking space, which seems to fit what’s required in the special use permit, committee members agreed.

The committee approved a motion for the plan, minus two parking spots for a total of 10, with the agreement that Smart has to go to the Historic Preservation Commission for approval of all exterior changes.

That was another positive step forward. Smart said he wouldn’t be able to do any construction until the approval process is complete. 

“I really want to be in it by the end of the year and make that work,” he said.

Press Release:

Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) reintroduced the Producing Incentives for Long-term Production of Lifesaving Supply of Medicines (PILLS) Act to promote the domestic production of generic medicines.

The generic drug industry is experiencing a movement toward centralizing production in India and China due to their significantly lower costs and looser manufacturing standards. This shift raises serious concerns about potential supply chain disturbances and inadequate drug safety measures. The PILLS Act offers pharmaceutical companies various tax incentives to enable them to shift all aspects of the manufacturing process for generic medicines, including materials and testing, to the United States.

"Drug manufacturing has moved overseas, putting American jobs and the security of our essential medical supply chains at risk. To address this, I reintroduced the PILLS Act, which incentivizes businesses to produce critical generic medications and antibiotics here in the U.S. By strengthening tax incentives for domestic drug production, this legislation will help prevent dangerous supply chain disruptions, reinforce our pharmaceutical security, and will create American jobs," said Congresswoman Tenney.

“Congresswoman Tenney's PILLS Act is a critical step toward reshoring America’s generic drug production and reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign suppliers,” said Zach Mottl, Chairman of the Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA). “America is facing an escalating health crisis due to chronic shortages of essential, lifesaving generic drugs, which make up more than 90% of all prescriptions dispensed in the U.S.—a crisis directly tied to our reliance on China and India. Since 2002, imports from India have increased 35 times, while imports from China have surged 165 times over that same period. Passing the PILLS Act is a necessary first step to reverse this trend, restore American pharmaceutical production, create high-quality jobs, and protect national security by ensuring a safe, reliable domestic supply of high-quality generic medicines, antibiotics, and other essential drugs.”

City management’s “hold over tenant” status has apparently been replaced with an official offer of a lease for Batavia Players to pay $4 per square foot plus back rent of at least $500 per month in an effort to move forward from an original lease in December 2019.

The nonprofit group and city officials had been communicating through their attorneys since the rent had gone unpaid due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Players’ Main St. 56 Theater shutdowns, and there was no renewal in January. 

City Manager Rachael Tabelski had asked for a five-year financial plan, and the Players had submitted and revised plans three times, Patrick Burk had said. 

The two sides were to meet after Tabelski issued a statement toward the end of 2024 that Batavia Players would be considered a “holdover tenant,” and the matter would be further discussed.

The new lease agreement is up for discussion at Monday’s City Council conference session. The commercial lease is for city properties 2, 35 and 39 in Batavia City Centre, including 11,052 square feet of “improved commercial space that was renovated by Batavia Players through a Downtown Revitalization Initiative and Anchor grant,” Tabelski said in a memo to council. “Base rent will remain $4 per square foot to be paid $3,684 monthly. Back rent will be paid $500 per month or more until the balance is satisfied. 

"The lease also recognizes the city’s capital projects for the roof and HVAC units previously approved by City Council and clarifies how the Batavia Players shall submit requests for maintenance to the property,” she said.

The lease is to take effect April 1 for a period of 60 months to March 30, 2030. The tenant would have the option to renew “so long as the tenant is not in default under the terms of this lease” for a five-year renewal term at a negotiated rent not to exceed $6 per square foot. 

If the city were to sell the premises, it would have to provide a six-month written notice of cancellation, and the tenant would be able to negotiate with the city to purchase the property at any time during the lease term, according to the lease. 

City residents that own property and pay utility costs have an opportunity to learn more and speak up about the proposed 2025-26 budget, which includes 3.5% raises for non-union, management and City Council members; a $50 increase toward city employees’ gym memberships; and 6- and 9-cent increases for water and sewer rates, respectively.

A City Council conference session set for 7 p.m. Monday includes public hearings about the proposed budget, a related tax cap override, and increases that push the water rate to $6.52 per 1,000 gallons and sewer rate to $3.23 per 1,000 gallons. The session will be on the second floor of City Hall.

During a recent council meeting, City Councilman Bob Bialkowski reminded citizens that “this is a good time” for the public to attend and speak up about the budget and related items before council members take a final vote to adopt the $38.8 million plan.

The projected tax rate is $8.46 per $1,000 assessed property value, for a 50-cent decrease from the current rate of $8.96, or a total decrease of $50 per year for a home assessed at $100,000 — if property assessments remain the same. 

The entire amount necessary, property and legal be raised by tax to defray the expenditures of the city of Batavia for fiscal year 2025-26 is $7.2 million

Total of all funds is $38,847,699, including City Centre and health insurance costs of $4,405,781, total water, wastewater and workers’ comp of $12,062,421, $511,177 for street maintenance, $486,042 for snow removal, $113,039 for street lights and traffic signals, $300,000 going into sidewalks, $130,000 for parking lots, $617,255 for parks, and $437,423 for inspection.

Other costs include:

• $43,391 for Dwyer Stadium and $18,007 for David McCarthy ice rink
• $87,847 for summer recreation programs, per a contract with the YMCA
• $5,000 for Genesee Orleans Council on the Arts and $14,585 for community celebrations
• $256,519 for administrative services, $116,699 for economic development
• $269,235 for legal services, $900,000 for general fund reserves
• $49,857 for City Council expenses, $160,517 for city manager

Employees, including the Police Benevolent Association, CSEA administrative personnel, are slated for a 2.5% increase, firefighters for a 3% increase and AFSCME, City Council, manager and non-union are to receive a 3.5% increase. 

City Council gave itself a raise in April 2022, bumping up its salary from $3,500 to $5,000 for all council members, except the president, whose role earns a larger sum of $7,000, an increase from $4,900. This raise will add another $175 for each member and $245 for the president. 

Public safety costs have increased by $800,000 for full staffing, contractual raises, technology subscriptions, additional spending on the Neighborhood Enforcement Team and retirement expenses, City Manager Rachael Tabelski said in the budget summary.

Other matters for discussion include a summer recreation agreement with the YMCA, bid awards, Empire State Development Pro Housing Incentive funding, and a lease agreement with Batavia Players.

Equal treatment in medicine has been a long struggle for Black Americans, Dr. Cassandra Williams told more than two dozen 400 Towers residents on Thursday following a Black History Celebration Dinner.

Williams is the medical director for Terrace View Long Term Care in Buffalo.

"I grew up on the east side of Buffalo," Williams said. "For the people that are not from Buffalo, it’s a predominantly black neighborhood. My dad had a high school education. My mom had an associate's degree. From as early as the fifth grade, I wanted to be a doctor. That's all I knew. There were none in my community, of course, but I wanted to do that. There was so much sickness, from my brother having lymphoma and taking chemotherapy at nine to my father being a brittle type-one diabetic and my grandmother having schizophrenia. I saw doctors as one of the ones that made people better."

(Her brother was cured, she said, which brought a round of applause. He currently lives in Fairport.)

Black History Month, Williams told the residents, has been celebrated in the U.S. since 1976, when President Gerald Ford recognized it nationally as a time to celebrate the achievements of African Americans.

It grew out of Negro History Week, which was started by historian Carter G. Woodson and others in 1926. They chose the second week in February to coincide with the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and escaped slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Then, Williams ran through important dates in medicine for African Americans.

• Dr. James Durham was born into slavery in 1762. He bought his freedom and began his own medical practice, becoming the first Black doctor in the United States. He is best known for saving more Yellow Fever patients than any other physician. 
• In 1847, Dr. James McCune Smith graduated from the University of Glasgow, becoming the first African American to earn a medical degree.
• In 1862, in Augusta, Ga., the Jackson Street Hospital was the first hospital for African Americans. It had 50 beds.
• In 1864, Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African American female to earn a medical degree. 
• In 1868, Howard University was established to educate African American doctors.

Howard University was needed, Williams said, because segregation prevented Black students from attending all-white schools. 

Also, in response to racism, in 1895, the National Medical Association was founded since African Americans were barred from other established medical groups like the American Medical Association.

• In 1936, Dr. William Augustus Hinton's book on syphilis treatment was the first medical textbook written by an African American.
• In 1968, Prentice Harrison was the first African American to be formally educated as a physician assistant. 
• In 1973, Patricia Bass was the first African American to complete a residency in ophthalmology. She later founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness.  
• In 1981, Alexa Canada became the first African American woman neurosurgeon.

"Now, if you think about that, in 1981, she's the first African American woman neurosurgeon. That's not that long ago," Williams said. "That's like, that's after I was born. So that's recent."

The legacy of racism lingers. As of 2019, only 5% of the doctors in the U.S. are Black, while 13.6% of the population is Black.

She also discussed the disparities in health outcomes for African Americans compared to white Americans.

"There remains significant racial disparities, disparities in life expectancy, maternal deaths, and infant mortality amongst African Americans," Williams said. "Again, why? Why is that? What accounts for the Black-White health disparities? Is it family formation, culture, education, neighborhood disadvantage, employment insurance? None of these fully account for the difference when making all things equal, such as location, education, income level, city or rural, African Americans continue to have worse outcomes with most medical conditions."

One potential cause may be distrust of healthcare providers in African American communities because of past practices of the white establishment. That came up most recently during the pandemic, and there was a high rate of vaccine resistance in Black communities to vaccines.

"Granted, not just African Americans but people from all races were hesitant to take the vaccine for their own reasons, but the reason for a lot of African Americans was because of a history of unethical and racially targeted experiments," Williams said. "A few examples include gruesome experiments on enslaved people, such as doing surgery without anesthesia to see what would happen. Forced sterilization of black women ... and the very infamous Tuskegee experiment, where people who had syphilis, which could lead to anything from sores to brain damage, were not treated." 

White doctors wanted to see what would happen to untreated Black patients, so while the patients thought they were receiving penicillin shots, they were actually getting injected with a saline solution.

"Penicillin is one of the cheapest, the oldest antibiotics you can get your hands on," she said.

"They were coming and coming weekly and getting shots, just like everybody else, but they were getting saline, right? They were getting nothing, but they wanted to see, but they were doing tests on them to see sores, the brain damage, to see what would happen."

That's part of the reason Blacks in America continue to distrust the medical establishment.

"Studies have found African Americans are consistently under-treated for pain, and often when they are evaluated by medical professionals, there are assumptions, such as, they are not married, uneducated or come from a poor environment," Williams said. "This is not in history. This is today. This is current data."

As a Black woman doctor, Williams has encountered prejudice throughout her career.

"In this day and age, there have been some subtle and some not-so-subtle racial and sexist roadblocks and remarks that I've had to deal with and persevere through," Williams said. "I've probably been asked if I was a CNA, the housekeeper, the nurse, the dietitian, more than others. Even though I wear my white coat all the time -- and that's the reason I wear it all the time, because the people I work with and work around look just like me. When I walk into the room, they don't know who I am so I introduce myself. I wear my white coat. I wear my stethoscope. Some people still say. "I didn't see the doctor today. "The doctor never came and saw me. They're like, 'Doctor? I'm sure she was in here.' They're like, "Oh, that was the doctor?' 'Yeah, that was her. That was the doctor.'"

Even so, Williams loves what she does.

"At this stage of my life, I love my career choice. I love the challenge. I'm grateful to be in the profession I'm in. I thank God, who is the head of my life, for guiding my steps through this journey."