Canandaigua’s Main Street could soon have a new bright spot as the City Council has given approval to the redevelopment plan for the former Tom’s Mobil site at 267 S. Main Street. The development will be led by developer Fred Rainaldi Jr. who has proposed a $6 million, three-story structure that will feature specialty retail operations, a restaurant, and office space. The project will also include the renovation of the corner, which city leaders believe will provide a more cohesive transition from downtown to the Canandaigua Lake area.
The development has received approvals from the City Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, with the next step being a public hearing for the sale of the property to the developer for $1. While the price tag may seem low, it is an acknowledgement that the developer had to purchase adjacent properties on Saltonstall Street to make the project work.
The $1 sale also comes with strings attached, as the developer is required to complete the project within three years of the sale. Additionally, the developer will not seek any real estate, mortgage, or sales tax breaks for the project.
City and business leaders are excited about the development, which they believe will transform what was once a blight spot on Main Street into an asset for the community. The former gas station on the site was demolished, and contamination of the site was cleaned up as part of a deal between the state and the city. Despite developers coming forward with plans for the site over the years, nothing came to fruition until now.
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