The Local Development Corporation (LDC) voted to publish bid documents for pad‑ready ground improvements at the Utica Harbor waterfront site and confirmed related grant and financing arrangements, board members said Thursday. The board also discussed and directed staff to send a formal deadline to the preferred developer, giving the developer until mid‑December to advance its offer or lose preferred status.

The board approved moving the contract documents into the public bidding process for “Utica Harbor Waterfront development pad ready improvement project,” which the board described as ground improvements (densely grouted columns in a grid) and water and sewer extensions from Lee Street to the development area. A board member said the pre‑bid meeting is scheduled for Oct. 27, bids are due Nov. 13 and the board expects to consider an award at its Nov. 19 meeting.

Board discussion said the project budget for site work and soft costs is approximately $1,300,000, and that there are alternates in the bid package—footings and slab installation—if base bids do not fully exhaust that amount. Board members said roughly $1,000,005 in financing is in place and that the LDC has a bank letter of support; board staff noted the LDC has arranged interim financing through a lender referenced as Adirondack while negotiating payoff of prior bank debt.

Board members also identified a state line‑item grant that supported preparing the site for development. A member said the grant was placed in the state budget by Mary Ann (last name not specified in the transcript) and noted the Daphne grant project ID is 28443 under a community resilience/economic sustainability program. According to the board, award or commitment of that grant triggers a paperwork application process managed by a state authority referenced as DASD.

Separately, the board approved executing a letter of intent related to the property sale and discussed sending a formal notice to the developer known in the meeting as Sal. Members said the board will give the developer until Dec. 15, 2025, to submit a satisfactory response to prior communications (an email from Ben Gilroy was referenced). If the developer does not meet the deadline, board members said the LDC will terminate the developer’s preferred‑developer status and proceed with the bid and selection process; members also said a developer who loses preferred status could still bid on any subsequent RFPs.

Board members discussed bank negotiations and an assignment arrangement with Adirondack so proceeds or a buyer’s purchase could be used to pay outstanding bank debt. The board also discussed other interested parties for the Harbor project and the status of nearby buildings (referred to in the meeting as the MBG Building, the 33 Building and a 17 Building), and noted previous foundation work on one structure that cost about $1 million.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to allow bid letting for the Utica Harbor Waterfront development pad‑ready improvement project: motion moved and approved (vote recorded as in favor; individual member votes not specified in the transcript).
- Motion to approve execution of a letter of intent related to the sale/transaction: motion moved and approved (vote recorded as in favor; individual member votes not specified).
- Motion to send a formal deadline letter to the preferred developer (Sal) and to terminate preferred status if inadequate response by Dec. 15, 2025: motion made (vote outcome not explicitly recorded in the transcript excerpt).

Board members said staff will publish bid documents to an online plan room (bidders register there to obtain plans) and continue to pursue additional grants and financing to cover costs. Members also said the LDC will send a thank‑you or acknowledgement letter to Mary Ann for the legislative effort that secured the line item.

The board adjourned after confirming the schedule and remaining procedural steps.