The Gateway Center at 31 Water St., Jamestown, is the longtime home of St. Susan Center. Center officials announced Monday the St. Susan Center will remain at its longtime home as part of the Gateway Lofts redevelopment project rather than move to the former Jamestown Business College campus.

The Gateway Lofts project has a new tenant with a familiar name.

After months of evaluation and financial analysis, the St. Susan Center Board of Directors has voted to remain at its longtime home in the Gateway Center at 31 Water St. and to pursue tenancy within the Gateway Lofts redevelopment project.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Conklin family for their extraordinary generosity,” said Cherie Rowland, executive director of St. Susan Center. “Their gift gave us the opportunity to explore a bold vision for expanding and enhancing our services. We remain deeply thankful for their compassion and commitment to our community.”

Over the past year, St. Susan Center completed architectural studies, site plan approvals, and detailed construction estimates for the JBC property. As planning advanced, however, projected renovation costs increased substantially — rising from early estimates of approximately $1 million to nearly $3 million when accounting for full construction scope and required upgrades, due to substantial change of use from a school building to food services. After careful analysis and a structured evaluation process, the St. Susan Center board determined that assuming this level of financial exposure would place significant long-term strain on the organization and risk the stability of its daily operations.

“Our responsibility is to ensure the long-term sustainability of St. Susan Center and the uninterrupted delivery of meals and services,” said Greg Lindquist, St. Susan Center board president. “Taking on a project of that scale would introduce significant financial risk. After thoughtful deliberation, the Board concluded that remaining at Gateway and working toward a long-term lease arrangement is the most responsible path forward at this time.”

The Gateway Lofts project, led by Southern Tier Environments for Living (STEL) in partnership with Community Helping Hands and the YWCA of Jamestown, will transform the former Chautauqua Hardware factory into a 110-unit affordable housing development with supportive services.

The project has progressed significantly and provides reassurance that the building will see long-term investment and revitalization. Steven Ald, STEL’s director of real estate development, recently told the city Planning Commission that STEL is in the process of finalizing the construction budget number.

“We are very pleased that St Susan’s Center has decided to remain at the Gateway Lofts Building. St. Susan’s Center has done a wonderful job providing for those less fortunate for the last 40 years and we look forward to working with them well into the future,” said Thomas Whitney, executive director of Southern Tier Environments for Living. “The Gateway Lofts project is uniquely positioned to provide support services to those in need with the St. Susan’s Center, Community Helping Hands, Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County, the YWCA and Southern Tier Environments for Living all contributing their expertise.”

Remaining at Water Street allows St. Susan Center to continue operating without interruption while improvements are made. It preserves accessibility and maintains the organization’s 40-year presence in the downtown corridor.

“We are pleased that St. Susan Center will continue its important work at the Gateway Center. Their presence has long been a vital part of this building and of the broader downtown community. Community Helping Hands fully supports their decision and remains committed to working in close partnership as we move forward together,” said Shawn Whitmer, executive director, Community Helping Hands Inc. “We are excited about the progress of the Gateway Lofts redevelopment and the investment it represents for this property and for Jamestown’s future.”

Rowland said the St. Susan Center will still need to fundraise for improvements at its existing space, with donations received for the proposed move to the Jamestown Business College site to be used for improvements to the Water Street space instead.

“This was not an easy decision,” Rowland added. “But it was made with careful attention to stewardship, stability, and our commitment to serve our community with dignity and consistency every day. The resources we collected up to this point will support meaningful renovations and improvements within our current space – enhancing safety, efficiency, and the overall experience of those we serve. While our project address has changed, our need for kitchen equipment and renovations has not. Previously secured donations will still be used to help us fulfill this goal. Donors who gave $1,000 or more will be recognized in our dining room at the Gateway Center. We want the community to know we are truly thankful for the continued trust and investment in our mission that continues far beyond sharing tables, it grows into futures reshaped, dreams reclaimed, and a community strengthened one life at a time.”

For more information or to support St. Susan Center, visit stsusancenter.org.