ECIDA backs tax breaks for piano-manufacturing facility conversion in Tonawanda

The ECIDA on Wednesday accredited a package of gross sales and mortgage-recording tax breaks for the $23.1 million project by Michael Wopperer to renovate the 98,370-square-foot previous industrial developing at 2101 Kenmore Ave., such as both the primary six-story framework and an adjacent just one-tale section. These are portion of a a lot greater factory sophisticated that the Wopperer family has owned because 1972.

Options phone for converting the area into 55 1- and two-bedroom flats in 62,300 sq. feet of space on the higher five flooring, additionally 36,070 square ft of business area on the floor stage, anchored by a building trades incubator and coworking house, dubbed The Program Home.

That would be designed and operated by the Construction Exchange of Western New York to assistance compact construction companies with shared solutions, whilst Erie 1 BOCES will operate a constructing trades method for grownup learners.

Other than the tax breaks and a separate 485-a house-tax break arrangement with the city and faculty district, Wopperer is relying on point out and federal historic tax credits and brownfield tax credits. Function could get started imminently, with completion by late Might or early June 2024. A abide by-up project to convert an adjacent four-tale developing could be up coming.

“The household, led by Michael, has taken on this big venture, which we assume will absolutely be a reward to that region of the town, which requirements a boost,” stated Tonawanda City Supervisor Joseph Emminger. “We experience that this will help deliver a a lot more optimistic part to that place.”

The elaborate was originally built in 1902 and was applied to produce ivory piano keys and piano steps for much more than 29 producers until eventually it shut in 1970. Throughout World War II, the facility manufactured navy landing craft that had been made use of in the invasions of Nazi-held Europe. The Wopperer relatives companies, including Frontier Insulation Contractors, run out of other structures on the campus, but the constructions targeted for redevelopment are largely empty.