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Committee authorizes lease for county campus at 310–322 East 3rd; developers outline buildout and security plans
Summary
The Chautauqua County Human Services Committee approved a resolution authorizing a lease with 310–322 East 3rd Ventures LLC for a proposed county campus. Developers and county staff described a three‑floor, ~85,000 sq ft building with roughly 54,000 sq ft available for county use; the county will take space "as is."
The Chautauqua County Human Services Committee voted to authorize a lease with 310–322 East 3rd Ventures LLC for space the county intends to use as a consolidated county campus.
Developer Jeff Wareski, who identified himself to the committee, described the property as “about 85,000 square feet” with three floors and two parking lots across the street. He said the county could occupy roughly 54,000 square feet of currently unleased space and that the site includes existing infrastructure such as a generator and hardwired data rooms. “My name is Jeff Wareski, and I'm here with Joe Roussa, Roussa Development to secure the lease for the Chautauqua County Campus,” he said.
Diana Songer, deputy director of finance, told the committee staff had reviewed the plan and earlier in the meeting had asked to withdraw an unrelated resolution after caseloads declined. Wareski and other presenters said some small tenants in the building hold short termination rights and that developers plan to work with those tenants to accommodate county needs. Wareski said approximately 10 tenants currently occupy the building and estimated overall occupancy at about 30%.
Committee members asked practical questions about security and build‑out costs. Committee discussion noted an existing key‑card access system and separate entrances on different streets that presenters said can be secured to provide confidentiality for social‑services functions. The developers said the county would take its leased space “in as is condition,” and that certain areas (including a staffed call center portion) already have heating, air conditioning, lighting and racking suitable for county use.
A county official who spoke about consolidation framed the lease as part of a multi‑year plan to consolidate county campuses and bring more public‑facing services together in Jamestown. The chair then called the resolution to a vote; an aye was voiced and one committee member announced an abstention. The chair declared the resolution carried. The transcript does not record a named mover or seconder for the recorded vote.
What happens next: presenters offered to arrange a walkthrough and to coordinate follow‑up discussions on tenant relocations, security needs and specific departmental fit‑outs. No firm schedule for a full move or build‑out timeline was provided at the meeting.
