ELLICOTTVILLE, N.Y. — Nicholas Ferreri, who operates an assisted living facility in Jamestown, has been working for more than two years to bring something similar to the Olean area.
On Tuesday, he made a presentation to members of the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency for inducements to build and operate a $17 million senior assisted living campus in Allegany.
IDA Chairman Thomas Buffamante called the proposal “exciting,” while Executive Director Corey Wiktor said it was “monumental.”
Ferreri said he has purchased a 30-acre site at Seventh and Maple streets to build a 140-bed facility, including a 90,000 square-foot building and six to ten 1,400-square-foot cottages, that will be called Olean Manor. There is an option to purchase an additional 14 acres.
The property, located on the border of the village and the town, is expected to to be annexed by the village, which recently received a $350,000 state grant to extend water and sewer services to the site of the facility and area residents.
Ferreri said Kinley Corporation of Allegany will be the general contractor on the project and that he hopes to break ground in the spring. Bids are being readied to be let in February.
As many as 100 local craftsmen are expected to be hired during the construction phase, which is expected to last 16 to 18 months. Ferreri plans to hire at least 72 full-time employees in the first phase of the project. He said there are plans under consideration to eventually expand the number of beds to 200.
The main facility will be two and three-stories that will include shingled roofs meant to blend with the neighborhood. Outside, there will be a park area and a pond where some of the cottages will be located.
Ferreri said the facility will be licensed to care for dementia residents who do not require skilled nursing services of a nursing home. Those licensed services are not currently available in the county, he said.
Because of the demand for dementia care, which Ferreri told IDA members was “huge,” he said there will be several beds in the new facility.
Ferreri said services provided at Olean Manor will include independent adult living, extended levels of care, an assisted living program, respite care and adult day services. Day care services would be available for $80 a day.
Asked by IDA member Joseph Higgins about costs, Ferreri said, “If you have money, fine. If you don’t have money, you will be treated the same. Dignity is the name of the game.”
When a senior runs out of funds for private pay, they would qualify for Medicaid, he explained
Wiktor said that at $17 million, the Olean Manor Project “is probably the biggest project we’ve done since the Olean General Hospital
Wiktor said Ferreri is looking for a sales tax exemption, commercial payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement and a mortgage tax exemption. He did not specify the value of the inducements Ferreri was seeking for the project.
Ferreri said he expects a never-ending number of activities at Olean Manor.
”As they age, (it) doesn’t mean they can’t have fun,” he said of seniors. “It will be like it is in Tanglewood (in Jamestown). It will be a showcase. There has to be a perfect mix of residents. There is a huge demand. This is going to be a very unique thing.”
The IDA board agreed to set a public hearing on the proposed project this month in Allegany and approved a resolution, saying the project would not have a significant effect on the environment under the state Environmental Quality Review Act.
Board members also gave final approval to a $5.5 million proposal by Kreinheder Properties LLC and S&W Company LLC to build a brewery and pub in a vacant facility in Little Valley. The company plans to create more than 30 full-time jobs.
Ellicottville Brewing Co. plans to move its core brewing operation to the Little Valley site, the former Salamanca Area Beverage Corp. facility on Second Street.
The project will receive sales tax exemption, a PILOT and mortgage recording tax exemption.
