Developers hope board OKs tax break for Hanson St. project; some don't like deal

Developers added brick to the facade to make the property look more in line like many other downtown buildings (Courtesy rendering)

ROCHESTER - The developers of a mixed use property at 38 Hanson St., the site of the former Robbins Auto Parts store, said on Tuesday that their 12-unit apartment building will have shovels in the ground within 30 days if the City Council OKs their 79-E tax break at its Dec. 2 meeting.
Developers John O'Neill and Robert Baldwin are asking the council to approve seven years of tax forgiveness on the increase in value the property sees during that timeframe.
Rochester Economic Development Director Mike Scala said the current $254,000 assessment will begins when and if the council approves it next month.
He expects the project, which will include 12 apartments upstairs and commercial businesses on the first floor, will cost around $2.5 million to complete and it could be open to occupancy in 20 months.
Baldwin said they added brick to the facade to make the property look more in line like many other downtown buildings and have heated pavement in the parking lot to alleviate shoveling during the winter.
Prior to the presentation by the developers, the council held a public hearing during which Rochester resident Ray Wayman challenged Scala to explain when the taxpayers who are footing the bill for the developers' tax break would see their benefit.
"I know you say this is a benefit to the city, but what is the benefit to our tax base; how and when will the taxpayers feel those benefits? That information should be published by the city."
City Councilor-elect Susan Rice added that she felt the seven years is too long of a tax break.
"I think five years is too much, seven years is definitely too much," she said, adding the would like to see a provision inserted into the agreement that as the developers make substantial progress in the project, that the amount of valuation be added to their property, and their property tax would increase by a certain amount.

"That way it doesn't fall all on the taxpayer," she added.

City Councilor David Walker also said that seven years was too much for the 79-E tax break.

Both said the city should release the approximate total price taxpayers are paying to fund 79-E developer tax break projects, and that the city should publish the data for the public to see.