You might say this week was a pretty good — maybe even stellar — one for the I-Square project.
It not only received a major state grant, but also may be on the way to receiving the 25-year PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement that was sought to get the redevelopment project in the Cooper Road-Titus Avenue area under way.
After a workshop meeting with the Irondequoit Town Board yesterday afternoon, Thursday Dec. 20, it appears that the board and Mike and Wendy Nolan, who plan to build I-Square for the community, are closer to a PILOT agreement that satisfies both parties.
“I think we made good progress,” Mike Nolan said this morning. “The workshop style was far more comfortable and conversational; it was almost like sitting around a big dinner table.”
I-Square has been at a standstill since Nolan requested a 25-year PILOTand the board previously approved only a 10-year PILOT.
While the board won’t vote on the new agreement hashed out yesterday, and which attorneys will continue to fine tune, until its January 15 meeting, Nolan says they’re talking about a “15-5-5” PILOT, where the project would have to meet certain milestones at the 15- and 20-year marks for the agreement to remain in effect.
“The attorneys (the Nolans’ and the Town Board’s) have to work out the details, but we’re hoping to keep it simple and understandable,” Nolan said. “And ultimately get it (I-Square) built.”
Nolan added that if the Town Board approves the PILOT in January, he’s hoping that COMIDA, the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency, can vote on it at its February meeting and he can be “off and running” on the project, which aims to create a town center with shops, restaurants, public and arts amenities and more, at the Cooper-Titus intersection.
Nolan said his goal would be to get road work started — the project will create a new “four corners” intersection at Cooper and Titus — by early April.
“This (yesterday’s meeting) gets the wheels turning .... that’s the most important,” Nolan said. “I was happy with the outcome; both sides gave a little way.”
You might say this week was a pretty good — maybe even stellar — one for the I-Square project.
It not only received a major state grant, but also may be on the way to receiving the 25-year PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement that was sought to get the redevelopment project in the Cooper Road-Titus Avenue area under way.
After a workshop meeting with the Irondequoit Town Board yesterday afternoon, Thursday Dec. 20, it appears that the board and Mike and Wendy Nolan, who plan to build I-Square for the community, are closer to a PILOT agreement that satisfies both parties.
“I think we made good progress,” Mike Nolan said this morning. “The workshop style was far more comfortable and conversational; it was almost like sitting around a big dinner table.”
I-Square has been at a standstill since Nolan requested a 25-year PILOTand the board previously approved only a 10-year PILOT.
While the board won’t vote on the new agreement hashed out yesterday, and which attorneys will continue to fine tune, until its January 15 meeting, Nolan says they’re talking about a “15-5-5” PILOT, where the project would have to meet certain milestones at the 15- and 20-year marks for the agreement to remain in effect.
“The attorneys (the Nolans’ and the Town Board’s) have to work out the details, but we’re hoping to keep it simple and understandable,” Nolan said. “And ultimately get it (I-Square) built.”
Nolan added that if the Town Board approves the PILOT in January, he’s hoping that COMIDA, the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency, can vote on it at its February meeting and he can be “off and running” on the project, which aims to create a town center with shops, restaurants, public and arts amenities and more, at the Cooper-Titus intersection.
Nolan said his goal would be to get road work started — the project will create a new “four corners” intersection at Cooper and Titus — by early April.
“This (yesterday’s meeting) gets the wheels turning .... that’s the most important,” Nolan said. “I was happy with the outcome; both sides gave a little way.”
