Penn Yan will see more retail activity

    PENN YAN—The Finger Lakes Economic Development Center (FLEDC) met Friday, Dec. 21 and announced several area business plans for downtown Penn Yan and Lake Street Plaza.
    Chief Executive Officer Steve Griffin said Lake Street Wine and Spirits will be relocating to the vacant building at 132 Water St. Griffin said they will be occupying the first floor of the white brick building, formerly Carey’s Rental, between the warehouses and the New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) building.
    Griffin said owner Ray Spencer has no plans to change the footprint of the building, but plans on doing some renovations to help future development within the same building. Griffin said the total project cost is $425,000, retaining two full-time jobs and six part-time/seasonal jobs while creating eight construction jobs. The FLEDC board agreed to a 10 year payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement that will save the business almost $77,000 over that period of time. Griffin said Spencer has some “pretty cool ideas” for the building that may create additional jobs in the future, and the move as a whole should help contribute to the Water Street revitalization effort.
    In other business:
    • Griffin said Subway and Dark Tan would be renovating and moving into vacant storefronts within Lake Street Plaza. Griffin said the Subway will be located on the corner of the plaza where Eaton’s Jewelry use to be, while Dark Tan will move into the space formerly occupied by Radio Shack before it moved to its current location on Main Street. Griffin said the total renovation cost of the projects is $60,000.
    • The FLEDC board agreed to a 14-year PILOT with Birkett Mills’ warehouse project that will go up at 135 Seneca St. which will save $129,000 during the course of the agreement. Griffin said the total project cost is $771,800 and will retain 30 current jobs, while creating five to 10 new construction jobs. Griffin said Birkett Mills is also considering holding some packing operations at the new facility as well. He said the only increase in heavy truck traffic the village should see will be shuttling from their current location at 163 Main St. to the new warehouse.
    • A 10-year PILOT was approved for Abandon Brewing Company to renovate their property. Griffin said the board had already approved a loan for the $625,000 project last month, but the new PILOT agreement would save Abandon Brewing $41,500 over the 10 years. He also said a minimum of six new jobs would be created during the first three years.
    • The board approved a 10 year PILOT for Climbing Bines Hop Farm to renovate an 1,800 square foot barn into a brewing and tasting facility. Griffin said the total project cost is $400,000 and the total gross savings will be $32,153 during the course of the agreement. He said three full-time, 10 seasonal and eight new construction jobs will be created as a result.