The Utica Industrial Development Agency on Aug. 6 held a public hearing on a proposed lease-leaseback to support construction of a 66-unit affordable and supportive housing facility at Columbia Square in Utica.

Jack Spieth, executive director of the Utica Industrial Development Agency, said the proposal from DePaul Columbia Square, LP would involve the agency assisting with acquisition of 18 parcels totaling about 1.9 acres at addresses on Erie, Whitesboro and Saratoga streets, demolition of existing structures, construction of the multifamily facility and acquisition of furniture, fixtures and equipment.

The project would be owned in fee by DePaul Columbia Square Housing Development Fund Corporation as nominee, the applicant would be the beneficial owner and initial operator, and the company would sublease residential units to tenants. Spieth said the agency is contemplating a lease to the company for approximately 32 years and a leaseback to the agency for the same term as part of the proposed transaction.

Applicant representative said the agency would provide financial assistance in two parts: abatement of real property taxes for about 32 years using the assessment for the 2025 taxable status date, and, following construction, payments for 30 years equal to 7% of the facility's effective gross income. The applicant representative described the latter as a deviation from the agency's Uniform Tax Exemption Policy.

The applicant representative said demolition would depend on receiving an award and any required resident relocations; if an award is received in February or March 2026, earliest demolition would likely be late May or early June 2026. The applicant representative also said applications are due Sept. 11 as part of the current funding round.

No members of the public attended or spoke during the hearing, and the agency chair closed the hearing after noting the absence of public comments. No formal vote or resolution was taken during the hearing itself.

Discussion-only items included the proposal details above and scheduling constraints tied to external funding awards. Directional items captured in the hearing included the agency noting the application and receiving input; there was no formal action recorded in the transcript.

Project addresses described in the application include 1021 and 1023 Erie Street; multiple Whitesboro Street addresses (1022, 1024, 1030, 1032, 1034'1036, 1040, 1048, 1110, 1114) and 12'14 Saratoga Street in the city of Utica, Oneida County. The applicant said the acquisition, demolition and construction are intended to create affordable and supportive housing and to "enhance economic development and retain employment in the city of Utica," language used in the application presentation.

Next steps were described as agency review and internal scheduling toward a final consideration; the transcript records staff follow-up but no final approval date.

Because the transcript records the applicant describing a departure from the agency's Uniform Tax Exemption Policy (a 7% effective gross income payment for 30 years rather than standard tax-exempt PILOT calculations), the agency would need to document and justify that deviation in accordance with its policy and applicable public-notice requirements before executing assistance.