The Schuyler County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) has nearly finalized a lease agreement with Lucky Hare Brewing for the former site of Horseheads Brewing at Seneca Harbor Marina. IDA CEO Judy Cherry announced during Wednesday’s meeting that the lease should be executed within 48 hours, paving the way for renovations and the eventual opening of Lucky Hare at the marina.
The decision follows a detailed review process that began in December 2023, when the IDA chose not to renew Horseheads Brewing’s lease following a competitive proposal process. Lucky Hare narrowly outscored Horseheads Brewing in a scoring rubric applied to their proposals, leading to their selection for the new lease.
The transition has been marked by legal challenges from Horseheads Brewing, which filed a lawsuit against the IDA. The dispute centers around a claimed right of first refusal in the previous lease, which Horseheads contends was ignored. A court date is set for May 17th in Schuyler County Supreme Court to address these issues.
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