Syracuse Industrial Development Agency Board of Directors Meeting - June 16, 2026

The Syracuse Industrial Development Agency (SIDA) Board of Directors met on June 16, 2026, at 11:55 AM to consider three agenda items: five local access policy waivers for the North Side Genesee project (The Rosie), three waivers for the Swanson Fulton Street project (311 Gannett), and an extension of the agency's agent appointment for the 250 Harrison Street project. All requests were approved unanimously. The board then entered executive session to discuss litigation and adjourned without further action.

Consent Calendar

• The board unanimously approved the minutes of the previous meeting held May 19, 2026.

Discussion Items

North Side Genesee Project (The Rosie) – Five Waiver Requests

• Item Presented By: Sue (SIDA staff) and Otis de Luca, Huber Brewer Construction (project sponsor).
• Overview: The project, located on East Genesee Street and now called "The Rosie," is a large mixed-use development covering an entire city block. Leasing is scheduled to begin July 1, 2026, with project completion targeted for that date. The sponsor requested five waivers from SIDA's local access policy, totaling approximately 2.5% of total project costs.
• Waiver 1 – Applied Coatings (West Winfield, NY): Spray-applied fireproofing for structural steel. Contract amount: $259,900 (0.4% of project costs). No local company can handle the scale. Local MWBE RH Fire confirmed lack of capacity.
• Waiver 2 – Certified Commercial Installations (New Jersey): Residential cabinets and countertops. Contract amount: $988,336 (1.5% of project costs). Five bids received; two local bids did not cover the full scope. Local cabinet makers were not interested in partnering for the knockdown-style units.
• Waiver 3 – Upside Innovations (Ohio): Prefabricated canopies for entry doors. Contract amount: $47,910 (0.1% of project costs). No local company was identified for this work.
• Waiver 4 – Valiant Products (Ithaca, NY): Trash chutes and waste compactors. Contract amount not explicitly stated; approximately 0.4% of project costs. No local company provides this specialty equipment.
• Waiver 5 – Wilcox Building Specialties (Ithaca, NY): Toilet, bath, and mail specialties (division 10 items such as toilet paper holders, mailboxes). Contract amount not stated; the five waivers collectively total 2.5% of project costs. No local companies are active in this specialty.
• Votes: Each waiver was moved and seconded (Ken and Ricky) and approved unanimously.

Swanson Fulton Street Project (311 Gannett) – Three Waiver Requests

• Item Presented By: Sue (SIDA staff) and Lowell Niemitz (project sponsor, address 640 Fellows Ave, Syracuse).
• Overview: Historic renovation of the building at 311 Gannett. Work includes abatement, demolition, and rough-in of mechanicals.
• Waiver 1 – Rai Gone Foundations (Waterford, NY): Cast-in-place concrete foundations and slabs. Contract amount: $457,926 (2.2% of project costs). Only one of two bids covered the full scope; local contractors were saturated due to the I-81 and Micron projects.
• Waiver 2 – CFE Roofing (Endicott, NY): New roofing, insulation, membranes, wood blocking, and parapet walls. Contract amount: $682,626 (3.4% of project costs). Four bids received; the lowest local bid did not include full scope. CFE was most competitive and the only bidder to capture all roof components.
• Waiver 3 – Erie Contracting (Lancaster, NY, WBE-certified): Historic and non-historic windows, storefront glass and glazing, skylights. Contract amount: $889,874 (4.4% of project costs). Three bids; only Erie bid the full scope including historic windows at a cost meeting budget.
• Votes: Each waiver was moved and seconded (Ricky and Ken) and approved unanimously.

250 Harrison Street – Extension of Agent Appointment

• Item Presented By: Sue (SIDA staff).
• Request: The project sponsor requested an extension of their appointment as SIDA's agent for completing the project. The current deadline is June 30, 2026; the extension would go through December 31, 2026. No additional financial assistance is requested; a small amount of sales tax exemption remains.
• Rationale: Without a PILOT agreement, leases are tied to the construction period. Extending the leases to year-end allows SIDA to retain its interest so the sponsor can continue acting as agent.
• Vote: Motion by Dirk, seconded by Ken. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All waiver requests approved without opposition: Five waivers for North Side Genesee (The Rosie) and three waivers for Swanson Fulton Street (311 Gannett).
• Agent appointment extended for 250 Harrison Street through December 31, 2026.
• Board entered executive session to discuss litigation, with no further action expected except adjournment.
• Next steps: Projects to proceed with approved out-of-area contractors; The Rosie leasing begins July 1, 2026.