Pictured is a rendering of the Gateway Lofts project meant to transform the former Chautauqua Hardware Factory into a 110-unit, multi-family affordable housing complex. Submitted file photo

The Gateway Lofts project has been ongoing in the city of Jamestown since before the COVID-19 pandemic, and this project has returned to the members of the Planning Commission for discussion.

On Tuesday, Lindsey Haubenreich with the Phillips Lytle law firm presented the project to the commission on behalf of the firm’s clients, Southern Tier Environments for Living. The Gateway Lofts Project is designed to renovate the Gateway Center, which is the former Chautauqua Hardware factory, into a 110-unit, multi-family affordable housing complex, which will be anchored by supportive wrap-around services. The $67 million project is a collaboration among Community Helping Hands, the YWCA of Jamestown, and STEL, and has been in the works since 2020.

Haubenreich began her presentation to the Planning Commission with the project’s history, saying that the project has undergone a two-year review by the city, beginning in about May or June 2018, and received final approval in June 2020.

“Since that time there hasn’t been any changes to the project itself, the issue is that this project, like what happened to many others, because of COVID, it lost its investor,” Haubenreich said. “So, it had to rethink financing for this project, and that has just taken time.”

While financing has been the biggest issue, Haubenreich said the project has progressed and while they’re still at the beginning stages, they have returned to the Planning Commission with a new application for an old project that has not changed. They are at the final stages with the New York State Housing Finance Agency, the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency and the New York State Empire State Development, to secure finances for the project to move forward into the redevelopment stages. A financing application is due at the end of March and Haubenreich said if they do not have approval for the project they will have to wait another year to apply.

Additionally, Haubenreich said through STEL’s efforts the Gateway Lofts building can now also be included on state and national historical registries, which allows for the building to be reused and refurbished for the planned apartments instead of demolished.

“In total there will be 110 units, in a makeup of studio one, two and three bedroom apartments,” Haubenreich said. “56 of those units will be supported by funding through the New York Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, which is reserved for persons with special needs. The other remaining 54 units will be provided for low and moderate income residents.”

The site itself is also set for a number of improvements, which will include the demolition of some of the ancillary buildings and smaller structures, as well as some residential structures at 53 and 54 Water Street. New construction will include a playground area, an expansion of green space, walkways, picnic areas, and Haubenreich added the overall project is meant to complement the Chadakoin Riverwalk. There will also be improvements to the parking area.

Support services will be provided to residents as part of the project, such as care management, and employment services.

Haubenreich said the project also needs to go before the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals for approval of two variances, which are something she said were in the project before and have not changed.

“I will note and want to make it clear that we have not yet met with planning staff, given this March deadline and the timeline here, we wanted to meet with this commission first and get any feedback you have,” Haubenreich said. “We’re then going to have our meeting with planning staff, and hopefully take any comments that come out of both of these meetings, incorporate them and if there are any project changes, present them to you in March with hopefully the received funding approval.”

Right now the Mental Health Association and Community Helping Hands remain on the first floor of the building, and it was noted that both organizations will still be there, and that Community Helping Hands will remain a 50% owner of the building. St Susan’s kitchen is also in the building, though with the option of another site it was not known if they would stay, and some services to be provided in the building will be provided by the YWCA, along with STEL. Both organizations will have offices on site.

Some questions came up from the Planning Commission in regards to the change in financing and the SEQR agreement, both of which were said that they do not have concrete answers on at this time but would before the project would be voted on.

Public Works Director, Mark Roetzer, noted that a culvert replacement project will also be going on in this area in 2026. Discussion from the Planning Commission included questions about some of the parts of the original project that would be included in the new application, parking lot changes, and that another meeting can be scheduled after the meeting with planning staff. Haubenreich said they can also send a full copy of the site plan to the Planning Commission besides what they brought to the presentation.