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Oct 16, 2024

Cattaraugus IDA eyes Field of Dreams, concrete plant project aid | News | oleantimesherald.com

City Editor This file photo shows construction of independent living cottages at Field of Dreams in Allegany. ELLICOTTVILLE — The developers of three projects worth over $12.5 million in the southeast

City Editor

This file photo shows construction of independent living cottages at Field of Dreams in Allegany.

ELLICOTTVILLE — The developers of three projects worth over $12.5 million in the southeast corner of Cattaraugus County are seeking tax breaks.

The Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency on Tuesday reported that applications have been received for a $9.81 million expansion at Field of Dreams in Allegany, a $2.5 million project to bring a Jamestown Macadam Inc. ready-mix concrete plant to a Homer Hill brownfield and $200,000 to expand production of uniforms and other apparel at Sports Locker on West State Street.

Olean Manor Inc., the owner of Field of Dreams, applied for sales tax abatements and a payment in lieu of taxes agreement in August, planning to add 40 additional single-unit cottages on a recently acquired lot adjacent to the main campus on Seventh Street. The work includes $9.81 million in investments.

A public hearing was held Oct. 7, and local officials have publicly backed the project. The town of Allegany in September voted to allow the village to annex the property — which sits across the previous town line from the main campus in the village limits — to help the development process.

The IDA assisted owner Nick Ferreri with the first project a decade ago, IDA Executive Director Corey Wiktor said, and the previous PILOT has about four years left before the site pays full property taxes. Since then, developers have built a 140-bed assisted living facility and a number of cottages nearby for independent living.

"Every project facet he promised us has been delivered," Wiktor said. "He's a dynamic guy who has promised us everything — and he's delivered. You can't deny that."

Jamestown Macadam Inc. is seeking to convert the former Benson Construction site at 229 Homer St. into a ready-mix concrete plant. Originally home to part of the Socony-Vacuum oil refinery, the site later passed to Felmont Oil Corp. and then to the IDA in 1981. The site was sold to Benson Construction in 2001. The state Department of Environmental Conservation certified the site as remediated in 2018.

Company officials reported that they have a similar facility in Falconer, but the location is not ideal to serve customers in southeastern Cattaraugus County or surrounding areas. Wiktor noted the firm also operates a quarry in Randolph.

“It adds new tax base, new jobs to an existing brownfield,” Wiktor said. “It’s a really exciting project to bring to Olean with the investments and new jobs.”

Sports Locker, at 711 W. State St., employs around 40 people and has been expanding its production for items like sports uniforms and custom merchandise.

“This has nothing to do with the retail side of the store,” Wiktor said, adding the equipment would help with production. “This is the kind of project to help a small business.”

The incentives, including a commercial renovation PILOT and sales tax abatement, total under $99,000 and are exempt from a public hearing like larger IDA projects.

City Editor

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