Pictured is a drawing of the proposed senior housing to be constructed where the former Silver Creek High School is located. Plans call for the former school to be torn down and the apartment complex to be built at that location.

SILVER CREEK — The developers of a senior housing complex in Silver Creek say they want to tear down the former high school, instead of trying to restore the building.

During the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency meeting Tuesday, Allen Handelman with Park Grove Realty in Rochester and Ashley Switzer with Southern Tier Living Environments discussed the project. They are seeking assistance from the county IDA through tax breaks and Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreements.

Handelman said they would like to demolish the building, which has been vacant for possibly 40 years, and construct 54 apartments for senior citizens. “We’ve been through it. Others have been through it. It’s past its life cycle and then beyond,” he said.

Handelman said Park Grove Realty specializes in affordable housing and has done a number of projects across New York state. He said they’ve done the market research and believes there is a need in the Silver Creek area for this type of facility.

In order to make the project a reality, they are seeking Home and Community Renewal Funding from New York state. The state had previously awarded $1 million to the project when Region 9 was trying to remodel the building. According to county IDA Chief Executive Officer Mark Geise, that funding is still available.

The building has been an eyesore in the village for years something Handelman acknowledged. “It sends the wrong impression of what Silver Creek is and certainly what it could be,” he said.

The plans call for the construction of 51 one-bedroom and three two-bedroom apartments. Fifteen of the units would be for “frail elderly.” Those residents would receive services from People Inc.

There would also be a community room, a fitness room, laundry facilities and an on-site property manager. Plans also call for about 70 parking spaces. Handelman said it is not expected all residents of the apartment complex would own their own vehicle. “That’s one of the benefits of its location. It is walking distance to goods and services. There’s a sidewalk network, etc. To the extent that 15 of the units are reserved for frail elderly, the percentage of those will not be vehicle owners,” he said.

Handelman said HCR funding is very competitive and not easily obtained. The application is due in early November.

Handelman said to help their application, he is seeking potential assistance from the county. He recognized that with the quick timeline, he can’t get final approval yet, but to show that they are seeking assistance form the local community would help.

The county IDA approved a “due diligence” resolution, allowing them to investigate possible mortgage and sales assistance, as well as possible PILOT agreements. Final approval could come at the end of November.

The county legislature is also scheduled to vote Wednesday to sell the building to Park Grove Realty and STEL for $1, provided the organizations receive the necessary tax credits to construct the senior housing.

Handelman said after the application is filed, they would hear the results three months later. If they are successful, they would like to break ground in the fall of 2024 and be open in the beginning of 2026.

IDA attorney Milian Tyler said part of the problem Region 9 ran into was the State Historic Preservation Office wanted the facade kept. “I’m glad to hear that SHIPO now seems to realize what everyone else has realized for decades, that’s not going to happen,” he said.

Handelman said the proposed facade and building structure would be similar in nature to the former school in its glory days, so if constructed, it would fit in with the neighborhood.

This is the third time the IDA has been involved in getting senior apartments located at the former school. Region 9 backed out in February. Before that STEL tried on its own to get housing credit several years back but was unsuccessful.

IDA Board Chairman Gary Henry acknowledged they’ve been working on this for awhile. “Some of these projects have been going on a long time and we’ve gone through these multiple times trying to get it across the finish line. It’s just as much work to keep doing it. You never know if it’s going to work or not, but if we’re diligent and we stay at it, eventually we’ll be able to get this moving forward. It would certainly be a big benefit to the county and to the village of Silver Creek,” he said.

The due dilligence resolution was unanimously approved.