IDA News

Audit Committee Meeting - February 6, 2012

Notice is hereby given that the Audit Committee of the Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency in the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York will hold a meeting on Monday, February 6, 2012 at 8:00 a.m., in Room 101A at the Town Offices, 445 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, New York.
See Meeting Schedule for agenda.

Annual and February Regular Meetings rescheduled for Friday, March 2 at 8am

The Bethlehem IDA Annual Organizational Meeting as well as the February Regular Meeting has been rescheduled from February 24 to March 2 at 8am.

January Meeting Date Change

The Regular January Meeting has been changed to January 20, 2012 at 4pm.

Progress at Vista

If you drive past the future site of the Vista Technology Park on Route 85, it is tough to get a good look at what’s happening behind the two large hills blocking the construction site.
Enter the development zone, and it’s clear to see that there’s plenty of progress being made.
During a recent tour granted to The Spotlight, officials with the construction company in charge of work at the site detailed their plans heading into 2012.

Read More

Vista Public Hearing 11/1/2011 at 6pm - Tier One Application for SRS Bethlehem LLC

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
ON PROPOSED PROJECT
AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
RELATING THERETO

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing pursuant to Section 859-a(2) of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York (the “Act”) will be held by Town of Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency (the “Agency”) on the 1st day of November, 2011 at 6:00 o’clock p.m., local time, in Room 107 of the Town of Bethlehem Town Hall located at 445 Delaware Avenue in the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York in connection with the following matters:

SRS Bethlehem LLC, a New York limited liability company (the “Company”), has presented an application (the “Application”) to the Agency, a copy of which Application is on file at the office of the Agency, requesting that the Agency consider undertaking a project (the “Project”) for the benefit of the Company, said Project consisting of the following: (A) (1) the acquisition of an interest in an approximately 7.80 acre parcel of land located at 41 Vista Boulevard in the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York (the “Land”), (2) the construction on the Land of an approximately 65,000 square foot building and related improvements (collectively, the “Facility”) and (3) the acquisition and installation therein and thereon of related fixtures, machinery, equipment and other tangible personal property including without limitation tenant improvement and finish (collectively, the “Equipment”) (the Land, the Facility and the Equipment being collectively referred to as the “Project Facility”), the Facility and portions of the Equipment will be owned by the Company and leased to Shop-Rite Supermarkets, Inc. (the “Tenant”), and the balance of the Equipment to be owned by the Tenant, all of the foregoing to constitute retail, supermarket and service facilities; (B) the granting of certain “financial assistance” (within the meaning of Section 854(14) of the Act) with respect to the foregoing, including potential exemptions from certain sales and use taxes, real property taxes, real estate transfer taxes and mortgage recording taxes (collectively, the “Financial Assistance”); and (C) the lease (with an obligation to purchase) or sale of the Project Facility to the Company or such other person as may be designated by the Company and agreed upon by the Agency.

The Agency is considering whether (A) to undertake the Project, and (B) to provide certain exemptions from taxation with respect to the Project, including (1) exemption from mortgage recording taxes with respect to any documents, if any, recorded by the Agency with respect to the Project in the office of the County Clerk of Albany County, New York or elsewhere, (2) exemption from deed transfer taxes on any real estate transfers, if any, with respect to the Project, (3) exemption from sales taxes relating to the acquisition, construction, renovation and installation of the Project Facility, and (4) in the event that the Project Facility would be subject to real property taxation if owned by the Company but shall be deemed exempt from real property taxation due to the involvement of the Agency therewith, exemption from real property taxes (but not including special assessments and special ad valorem levies), if any, with respect to the Project Facility, subject to the obligation of the Company to make payments in lieu of taxes with respect to the Project Facility. If any portion of the Financial Assistance to be granted by the Agency with respect to the Project is not consistent with the Agency’s uniform tax exemption policy (the “Uniform Tax Exemption Policy”), the Agency will follow the procedures for deviation from such policy set forth in Section 874(4) of the Act prior to granting such portion of the Financial Assistance.

The Company has applied for a Tier 1 enhanced real property tax abatement schedule pursuant to Section 1707 of the Agency’s Uniform Tax Exemption Policy.

If the Agency determines to proceed with the Project, the Project Facility will be acquired, constructed, reconstructed and installed by the Agency and will be leased (with an obligation to purchase) or sold by the Agency to the Company or its designee pursuant to a project agreement (the “Agreement”) requiring that the Company or its designee make certain payments to the Agency.

The Agency has not yet made a determination pursuant to Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law (the “SEQR Act”) regarding the potential environmental impact of the Project.

The Agency will at said time and place hear all persons with views on either the location and nature of the proposed Project, or the Financial Assistance being contemplated by the Agency in connection with the proposed Project. A copy of the Application filed by the Company with the Agency with respect to the Project, including an analysis of the costs and benefits of the Project, is available for public inspection during business hours at the offices of the Agency. A transcript or summary report of the hearing will be made available to the members of the Agency.

Additional information can be obtained from, and written comments may be addressed to: Terrence W. Ritz, Executive Director and CEO, Town of Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency, 445 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, New York 12054; Telephone: 518-439-4955.

Dated: October 17, 2011.
TOWN OF BETHLEHEM INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
By: /s/ Terrence Ritz
Executive Director and CEO

Vista Public Hearing 11/1/2011 at 6pm - Tier One Application for Columbia Bethlehem SEF LLC

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
ON PROPOSED PROJECT
AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
RELATING THERETO

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing pursuant to Section 859-a(2) of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York (the “Act”) will be held by Town of Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency (the “Agency”) on the 1st day of November, 2011 at 6:00 o’clock p.m., local time, in Room 107 of the Town of Bethlehem Town Hall located at 445 Delaware Avenue in the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York in connection with the following matters:

Columbia Bethlehem SEF LLC, a New York limited liability company (the “Company”), has presented an application (the “Application”) to the Agency, a copy of which Application is on file at the office of the Agency, requesting that the Agency consider undertaking a project (the “Project”) for the benefit of the Company, said Project consisting of the following: (A) (1) the acquisition of an interest in an approximately 1.0 acre parcel of land located at 12 Vista Boulevard in the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York (the “Land”), (2) the construction on the Land of an approximately 2,500 square foot building (the “Facility”), (3) the further construction on the Land of related parking and other infrastructure improvements (collectively, the “Improvements”) and (4) the acquisition and installation therein and thereon of related fixtures, machinery, equipment and other tangible personal property including without limitation tenant improvement and finish (collectively, the “Equipment”) (the Land, the Facility, the Improvements and the Equipment being collectively referred to as the “Project Facility”), all of the foregoing to be owned by the Company and leased to a tenant for use by the tenant as a financial branch center for banking services and other related uses; (B) the granting of certain “financial assistance” (within the meaning of Section 854(14) of the Act) with respect to the foregoing, including potential exemptions from certain sales and use taxes, real property taxes, real estate transfer taxes and mortgage recording taxes (collectively, the “Financial Assistance”); and (C) the lease (with an obligation to purchase) or sale of the Project Facility to the Company or such other person as may be designated by the Company and agreed upon by the Agency.

The Agency is considering whether (A) to undertake the Project, and (B) to provide certain exemptions from taxation with respect to the Project, including (1) exemption from mortgage recording taxes with respect to any documents, if any, recorded by the Agency with respect to the Project in the office of the County Clerk of Albany County, New York or elsewhere, (2) exemption from deed transfer taxes on any real estate transfers, if any, with respect to the Project, (3) exemption from sales taxes relating to the acquisition, construction, renovation and installation of the Project Facility, and (4) in the event that the Project Facility would be subject to real property taxation if owned by the Company but shall be deemed exempt from real property taxation due to the involvement of the Agency therewith, exemption from real property taxes (but not including special assessments and special ad valorem levies), if any, with respect to the Project Facility, subject to the obligation of the Company to make payments in lieu of taxes with respect to the Project Facility. If any portion of the Financial Assistance to be granted by the Agency with respect to the Project is not consistent with the Agency’s uniform tax exemption policy (the “Uniform Tax Exemption Policy”), the Agency will follow the procedures for deviation from such policy set forth in Section 874(4) of the Act prior to granting such portion of the Financial Assistance.

The Company has applied for a Tier 1 enhanced real property tax abatement schedule pursuant to Section 1707 of the Agency’s Uniform Tax Exemption Policy.

If the Agency determines to proceed with the Project, the Project Facility will be acquired, constructed, reconstructed and installed by the Agency and will be leased (with an obligation to purchase) or sold by the Agency to the Company or its designee pursuant to a project agreement (the “Agreement”) requiring that the Company or its designee make certain payments to the Agency.

The Agency has not yet made a determination pursuant to Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law (the “SEQR Act”) regarding the potential environmental impact of the Project.

The Agency will at said time and place hear all persons with views on either the location and nature of the proposed Project, or the Financial Assistance being contemplated by the Agency in connection with the proposed Project. A copy of the Application filed by the Company with the Agency with respect to the Project, including an analysis of the costs and benefits of the Project, is available for public inspection during business hours at the offices of the Agency. A transcript or summary report of the hearing will be made available to the members of the Agency.

Additional information can be obtained from, and written comments may be addressed to: Terrence W. Ritz, Executive Director and CEO, Town of Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency, 445 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, New York 12054; Telephone: 518-439-4955.

Dated: October 17, 2011.
TOWN OF BETHLEHEM INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
By: /s/ Terrence Ritz
Executive Director and CEO

Vista Public Hearing 11/1/2011 at 6pm - Tier One Application for Columbia Bethlehem Berk LLC

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
ON PROPOSED PROJECT
AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
RELATING THERETO

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing pursuant to Section 859-a(2) of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York (the “Act”) will be held by Town of Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency (the “Agency”) on the 1st day of November, 2011 at 6:00 o’clock p.m., local time, in Room 107 of the Town of Bethlehem Town Hall located at 445 Delaware Avenue in the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York in connection with the following matters:

Columbia Bethlehem Berk LLC, a New York limited liability company (the “Company”), has presented an application (the “Application”) to the Agency, a copy of which Application is on file at the office of the Agency, requesting that the Agency consider undertaking a project (the “Project”) for the benefit of the Company, said Project consisting of the following: (A) (1) the acquisition of an interest in an approximately 0.57 acre parcel of land located at 11 Vista Boulevard in the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York (the “Land”), (2) the construction on the Land of an approximately 2,500 square foot building (the “Facility”), (3) the further construction on the Land of related parking and other infrastructure improvements (collectively, the “Improvements”) and (4) the acquisition and installation therein and thereon of related fixtures, machinery, equipment and other tangible personal property including without limitation tenant improvement and finish (collectively, the “Equipment”) (the Land, the Facility, the Improvements and the Equipment being collectively referred to as the “Project Facility”), all of the foregoing to be owned by the Company and leased to a tenant for use by the tenant as a financial branch center for banking services and other related uses; (B) the granting of certain “financial assistance” (within the meaning of Section 854(14) of the Act) with respect to the foregoing, including potential exemptions from certain sales and use taxes, real property taxes, real estate transfer taxes and mortgage recording taxes (collectively, the “Financial Assistance”); and (C) the lease (with an obligation to purchase) or sale of the Project Facility to the Company or such other person as may be designated by the Company and agreed upon by the Agency.

The Agency is considering whether (A) to undertake the Project, and (B) to provide certain exemptions from taxation with respect to the Project, including (1) exemption from mortgage recording taxes with respect to any documents, if any, recorded by the Agency with respect to the Project in the office of the County Clerk of Albany County, New York or elsewhere, (2) exemption from deed transfer taxes on any real estate transfers, if any, with respect to the Project, (3) exemption from sales taxes relating to the acquisition, construction, renovation and installation of the Project Facility, and (4) in the event that the Project Facility would be subject to real property taxation if owned by the Company but shall be deemed exempt from real property taxation due to the involvement of the Agency therewith, exemption from real property taxes (but not including special assessments and special ad valorem levies), if any, with respect to the Project Facility, subject to the obligation of the Company to make payments in lieu of taxes with respect to the Project Facility. If any portion of the Financial Assistance to be granted by the Agency with respect to the Project is not consistent with the Agency’s uniform tax exemption policy (the “Uniform Tax Exemption Policy”), the Agency will follow the procedures for deviation from such policy set forth in Section 874(4) of the Act prior to granting such portion of the Financial Assistance.

The Company has applied for a Tier 1 enhanced real property tax abatement schedule pursuant to Section 1707 of the Agency’s Uniform Tax Exemption Policy.

If the Agency determines to proceed with the Project, the Project Facility will be acquired, constructed, reconstructed and installed by the Agency and will be leased (with an obligation to purchase) or sold by the Agency to the Company or its designee pursuant to a project agreement (the “Agreement”) requiring that the Company or its designee make certain payments to the Agency.

The Agency has not yet made a determination pursuant to Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law (the “SEQR Act”) regarding the potential environmental impact of the Project.

The Agency will at said time and place hear all persons with views on either the location and nature of the proposed Project, or the Financial Assistance being contemplated by the Agency in connection with the proposed Project. A copy of the Application filed by the Company with the Agency with respect to the Project, including an analysis of the costs and benefits of the Project, is available for public inspection during business hours at the offices of the Agency. A transcript or summary report of the hearing will be made available to the members of the Agency.

Additional information can be obtained from, and written comments may be addressed to: Terrence W. Ritz, Executive Director and CEO, Town of Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency, 445 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, New York 12054; Telephone: 518-439-4955.

Dated: October 17, 2011.

TOWN OF BETHLEHEM INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

By: /s/ Terrence Ritz
Executive Director and CEO

At long last, groundbreaking set for Vista

Bethlehem — Four years after the stamp of approval was placed on the Vista Tech Park plans, ground will be broken on the massive development in just a few days’ time.

#The first steps of construction on Vista Boulevard, the ¾-mile road leading into the tech park, will be taken Monday, Oct. 3. This should quickly lead to work on the first round of buildings, which will be mostly retail and office uses.

Read More

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: Vista

Special Meetings Scheduled for October 7 at 7am and October 17 at 9am

Notice is hereby given that the Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency in the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York will hold special meetings on Friday, October 7, 2011 at 7a.m. and Monday, October 17, 2011 at 9a.m., in Room 101 at the Town Offices, 445 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, New York.

Vista gets another victory

Date floated for groundbreaking as retail buildings approved

Read More

Vista campus’ phase 1 set to go

The company behind the long-planned Vista Technology Campus is proposing an initial wave of construction that would include seven buildings, including a supermarket.

Read More

Finance Committee Meeting, September 23, 2011

Notice is hereby given that the Bethlehem Industrial Development Agency in the Town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York will hold a Finance Committee meeting on Friday, September 23, 2011 at 8 a.m., in Room 214A at the Town Offices, 445 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, New York.

WHAT’S GOING THERE? (VISTA)

Roadwork and other infrastructure construction was supposed to begin in July at Vista Technology Campus off Route 85 in Slingerlands, but it hasn't worked out that way just yet. (Times Union)

Read More

Vista on the horizon

Players in the development of the Vista Technology Campus say a groundbreaking is looming on the much anticipated, often delayed project.

Jonathan deForest, vice president of BBL Construction Services, said he expects his crews to be starting work on Vista Boulevard, the 3/4-mile road into the tech park, in a matter of weeks. (Spotlight News)

Read More