On Tuesday, the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency Board of Directors approved a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes agreement and other incentives to Homesteads at Dunkirk Landing. Regan Development Corp is building a total of 78 apartment units at two different locations in the city.

The developer is purchasing property at both Washington Avenue and East Fourth Street for the projects. IDA officials say 10 of the 12 parcels are not on the tax rolls.

For the Washington Avenue project, they’re looking to place it at 208-214 Washington Avenue as well as 220 Washington Ave., where Paradis Fencing and Flag is located. The building has many boarded windows and has a bad roof. This apartment complex will have 30 units.

For the East Fourth Street location, the developers will tear down 10,000 square feet of a shopping plaza.

A 30-unit apartment complex will be constructed on Washington Avenue by Homesteds at Dunkirk Landing.

That section is currently vacant. The remaining 50,000 square foot plaza will remain in place.

This section will have 48 units. Plans include a daycare facility there as well.

Of the 78 units overall, 11 units will be built as fully accessible and adapted for residents with mobility and/or hearing/vision impairments, and 16 units will be set aside for a state program called Soldier On, which helps homeless veterans find housing and provides supportive services.

Gabe Regan with Regan Development said their goal is to close on everything March 13. Once that happens, they plan to do demolition and remediation of the properties starting as soon as possible, hopefully by April.

Regan said they want to be open for occupancy by October or November 2027.

The Homesteads at Dunkirk Landing Project will provide about 70 jobs during demolition and construction. Once completed, two full-time jobs directly associated with the housing portion will be created, along with additional jobs for the Soldier On program and for the independent daycare operation once that’s established.

The financial assistance will include sales tax, mortgage recording tax, and property tax abatements over 30 years, with $691,368 in new total PILOT payments paid to the affected tax jurisdictions during the same period.

The project will also receive state funding from the recent Downtown Revitalization Initiative grant awarded to the city of Dunkirk in 2023, as well as the New York State Empire State Development County Infrastructure Grant Program.

Local and county officials praised the project.

“This project will provide needed workforce housing for the City of Dunkirk along with on-site daycare operations, which are key components to attracting young, working families to our county,” said Mark Geise, Chautauqua County Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CEO of the CCIDA. “It will also serve as a transformative project for the city by removing blight and supporting walkability and vitality to the City’s urban core.”

“This investment is a win for our residents, our communities, and our future,” said Paul “PJ” Wendel, Chautauqua County Executive. “The Homesteads at Dunkirk Landing project will not only create quality homes for our residents but also support local jobs and economic development. Strengthening housing and infrastructure is critical to keeping Chautauqua County competitive and livable.”

“The City of Dunkirk has stood firmly behind this project from the beginning and are excited to see all the necessary support finally come together to make it a reality,” said Kate Wdowiasz, Mayor of Dunkirk. “The Homesteads project is very much needed in our city as local employers, including Wells, ramp up their employment. There’s a lack of good, affordable, and safe rental housing in Dunkirk so this project is a godsend.”