During the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency meeting, Rahsann Graham with Jade Empire LLC, discussed his plans for 106 Fairmount Ave. The building is probably best known as the former home to Joyce’s Keg Room and the bands that played there, though it has largely sat vacant over the years.

Rosie Strandburg with the county IDA said Graham is proposing to renovate the 12,00 square foot building into a “thriving family-friendly destination” that will have water sports rentals, office space, vacation rentals and other rental sales. The project is expected to cost $2,231,300.

The IDA is being asked to explore various tax breaks and agreements.

Graham, who was at Tuesday’s meeting, said he resides in New York City but grew up in the Jamestown and Busti area. He was active in 4-H and his father started Chautauqua Striders.

The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency is exploring tax breaks at the former Joyce’s Keg Room building in Jamestown. P-J photo by Eric Tichy

Graham said he regularly visits the county to see family and friends. “Every time I came back I saw one more vacant building,” he said.

Seeing these vacant structures inspired him to do something. Graham had been planning on doing some redevelopment work in Texas, but instead chose to use those funds for a project in Jamestown.

Graham bought 106 Fairmount Ave. in November, 2020. “My goal was just to be a hometown kid who came back to help and develop,” he said.

Graham said he wants the building to be used like a “business incubation” center, where small businesses can start there and eventually leave to another area in the city. “The idea for the business is … if you’ve outgrown the street fair downtown, but you’re not ready to lock into a full lease in another building, yet,” he said.

The basement area, which is different from the office areas, would have kayak storage and rentals. “I’ve already talked to a tenant would like to run the operation,” Graham said.

The top area would be for short term rentals.

Strandburg said Jade Empire LLC is applying for a 15-year adaptive reuse Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreement, along with sales tax abatement and property tax abatement.

The Resource Center was the previous owner of the building, but never did anything with it. County Executive PJ Wendel, who was at the meeting, said it’s been vacant for at least five years, maybe longer.

Graham was asked about the vintage Coke sign that’s on the outside. “Because we have to tuckpoint and redo the building, including power wash the building, it (sign) is not going to stay,” he said, acknowledging the Facebook campaign for the sign to remain. “To be perfectly honest, the entire building is going to look different and I don’t know that it would look as cool in the new version of the building.”

Mark Geise, county IDA director and chief executive officer, said this area is key to the city. “With the new skate park, with McCrea Point, all the stuff going on at Lawson (Boat and Motor), … I think that area is going to really start to thrive, based primarily on the tourism,” he said.

Graham said he is hoping to have an anchor tenant who will specialize in skate and bicycle repairs. He also wants to have a restaurant there.

Graham is planning to call the development Prendergast Landing.

Daniel Heitzenrater, who is the president of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce and a board member with the county IDA, expressed his support for the development. “It’s an exciting project and we’re glad you’re back here today,” he said.

The county IDA Board of Directors passed a “due diligence” resolution, which allows the IDA staff to begin examining potential tax break agreements, investigate environmental impacts, and hold a public hearing. The project would need to come back to the IDA Board of Directors for any tax breaks to be authorized.

Graham said ideally he would like to open Prendergast Landing sometime in the spring of 2024. Along with the IDA, he is working with various Jamestown city organizations for loans and other approvals.