Tag: 1211 Empire Blvd.

The developers of a proposed new 60-unit apartment community along Empire Boulevard in Penfield will go before the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency later this month, seeking just over $1.5 million in tax incentives to move forward with the project.

Howitt Bayview LLC, an entity owned by the Jack and Harirette Howitt family, plans to begin construction in the spring on the development at 1211 Empire Blvd., with a target date for completion of March 31, 2025, according to documents filed with COMIDA.

The four-story building, parking and necessary roadwork was approved by the Penfield Planning Board in 2020. Howitt Bayview is asking for COMIDA to provide a sales tax exemption ($541,545), a mortgage recording tax exemption ($82,500) and real property tax abatement through a PILOT agreement (payment in lieu of taxes) worth $1,121,211, according to the Application for Assistance filed with COMIDA.

A public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 15 at Penfield Town Hall, with the vote regarding approval on the agenda for the Dec. 20 monthly board meeting.

The $13.4 million project will include 15 ground-floor units for residents 55 and older. Of those units, seven will meet the COMIDA definition of affordable housing (household earnings don’t exceed 60 percent of the county median income). Another three will be ADA accessible.

As a contingency for approval by the planning board, the developer must pay for construction of a left-turn lane on Empire Boulevard to Wilbur Tract Road.

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