Utica agency approves tax-reduction inducement for DePaul’s 66-unit Columbia Square project

The Utica Industrial Development Agency voted to approve an inducement resolution offering a long-term reduction of real property taxes for the DePaul Columbia Square project, a 66‑unit affordable and supportive housing development at Whitesboro and Saratoga streets in Utica.

The inducement resolution grants preliminary approval for financial assistance in the form of reduced real property taxes for approximately 32 years valued at $10,143,543, and authorizes the agency to conduct a public hearing. The board voted to approve the measure after a motion and a second; the vote was taken with members announcing “Aye.”

DePaul Properties’ general counsel John Pena told the agency the project will include two buildings and a mix of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, with a combination of supportive housing and affordable units targeted roughly between 30% and 50% of area median income (Pena said Oneida County’s 50% AMI is “approximately $40,000 40,500”). “We’re a not for profit. We own, develop, and manage affordable housing and special needs, supportive housing throughout New York State,” Pena said.

Pena described the development as “approximately a $35,000,000, project.” He said rents would range “anywhere between approximately $700 a month to $1,100 a month” depending on unit size; the project includes supportive units that, under the Empire State Supportive Housing program, couple housing with case management and rental assistance for people in mental health recovery or frail seniors. Pena also said the project received final site plan approval in April 2024.

Pena told the agency that DePaul owns the assembled site of about 18 parcels and plans to apply for the state funding round expected to open midsummer; he outlined a timeline that assumes awards in January–February 2026 and a construction start about 120 days after awards, with roughly 18–20 months of construction.

Pena said a tax‑reduction pilot gives the project predictability in tax payments that helps keep regulated rents stable: “Having that predictability of what the payment the tax payment will will be allows us to keep our rents, more level, and, ultimately helps us to enhance affordability.”

The resolution approved by the agency is an inducement — preliminary approval and authorization to hold a public hearing — not a final tax exemption. Agency staff and DePaul indicated the inducement is intended to support grant and tax-credit funding applications; final tax treatment will depend on later steps and public hearing outcomes.

Members asked clerical and location questions after the vote and urged DePaul to keep the agency informed as the project moves through the state funding process.