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Getting The Go-Ahead

Incentives To Renovate Lillian V. Ney Center Approved

The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency’s Board of Directors approved incentives to support the development of Jamestown Brewing Company at Tuesday’s meeting. The board also approved an Al Tech loan for development along the lakeshore in Dunkirk. P-J photo by Jimmy McCarthy

County incentives are on the way to support the development of Jamestown Brewing Company.

The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency’s Board of Directors approved sales tax and mortgage recording tax incentives for GPatti Enterprises LLC during Tuesday’s meeting in Jamestown. Incentives will go to support inside renovations and facade enhancements to the Lillian V. Ney Renaissance Center building, which is being bought by George Patti.

The building will be transformed to house a three-floor brewery and restaurant that will be known as Jamestown Brewing Company. The microbrewery and restaurant business is being developed by the father-son team of John McLellan Sr. and Jr.

The sales tax incentive is valued at $250,000 while the mortgage recording tax is going to be $31,250, according to Carol Rasmussen, business development manager for the IDA.

“It’s a project that’s ready to go,” she said, adding the McLellans will also take advantage of sales tax incentives for their portion of construction and equipment. “Like everyone else, they’re waiting for Downtown Revitalization Initiative money to be announced to see how much they’ll get. Otherwise, the financing is in place.”

Vince DeJoy, city development director, came before the board of directors to speak on behalf of the project. He said the project placed a request of $1 million from the DRI for interior buildout, equipment and facade improvements.

“It’s a great project,” DeJoy said. “It will create a great amount of vibrancy downtown. The future looks bright for this project.”

In other matters, the board approved an Al Tech loan for development along the lakeshore in Dunkirk. Charles Pringle, who bought the marina in Dunkirk last year, also purchased the former Bertges property. Kevin Sanvidge, administrative director and CEO for the IDA, said it all goes back to 2010 when the Dunkirk Local Development Corporation bought the former Bertges property.

The Al Tech loan totals $216,000 for 15 years at a 4 percent interest rate. Sanvidge said the IDA’s Loan Review Committee met last week and approved the loan request.

“It completes the area for him west of the pier in Dunkirk,” Sanvidge said. “This is a good thing.”

Rich Dixon, chief financial officer for the IDA, said there’s a tax lease on some of the property that Pringle has bought. Dixon said Pringle’s not sure exactly what he’ll do at this point, but he plans to develop all parcels he purchased.

“He’s engaged the architect that did the (Dunkirk) Boardwalk and talked about maybe putting a building that looks similar to that,” Dixon said. “He’s very excited about Dunkirk.”

The IDA will also contribute $5,000 for a feasibility study for a possible excursion train that would run between Jamestown and Buffalo. Sanvidge said the IDA’s Executive Committee met and agreed to participate. The feasibility study will identify infrastructure needs and cost to make train travel possible. DeJoy thanked the IDA for their participation in the endeavor. DeJoy said the city of Jamestown will fund $30,000.

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