By Mike Pettinella
For Video News Service
Tenants of the 29-acre Harvester Center are reeling after being informed that they have one month to vacate the 29-acre industrial complex on Harvester Avenue in the city.
A letter dated May 27 from Harvester Center management to the 20 or so owners renting space at the business incubator indicates that their existing lease will not be renewed and will be terminated as of June 30, 2025.
This action comes as a shock to tenants and local officials, including Tammy Hathaway, director of the Batavia Development Corporation.
“We did not expect this,” said Hathaway, adding that she is trying to assist tenants in finding new locations.
“In an effort to support the businesses in our community, I have reached out to other business owners who may have vacant space, created a database of that space and what it would offer to some of those businesses (affected by the termination letter).”
Text of the letter is as follows:
Over the course of the last several months, a plan has been formulated to re-position the “56 Harvester Avenue” building as part of larger redevelopment project. To achieve the ultimate re-positioning and marketing plan, it is best to facilitate this project without tenants in the building given the challenges of the project.
Management is going to provide transition leasing opportunities into other buildings that are on the Harvester campus. Should you wish to receive more information, please email AP@havesterbatavia.com (spelling of harvester is incorrect).
Should you require support moving out, there will be services available provided by Harvester at an hourly rate, and including load-out services requiring forklift. Inquiries should be directed to AP@havesterbatavia.com (again, spelling of harvester is incorrect).
We thank you in advance for your cooperation as we begin the next phase in the development of the Harvester Center.
Amerinac Holding Corp., which purchased the campus in 2021, has been involved in a legal dispute with the City of Batavia since 2023 over a number of code violations.
Information obtained by Video News Service revealed that AHC is due back in City Housing Court at 1:30 p.m. June 16.
When asked if the letter is connected with the code violation issue, Hathaway said she did not know and is hoping to gather more information.
According to a Video News Service story last November, Harvester Center officials submitted a corrective action plan that addresses violations, as follows:
Link to previous story: BATAVIA/Harvester Center to become Uptown Batavia? – Video News Service
— Unsafe structures, unsafe conditions: Buildings 3, 4, 5, 8, 20 and 21, located behind the main building on Harvester Avenue. Action plan indicates removing or a complete demolition … with first building to be demolished early Fall 2024 … continuing through Spring 2026.
— Exterior structures, Unsafe conditions: Building 1, the main building along Harvester Avenue. Action plan indicates knocking off loose concrete for preventative maintenance of loose façade by end of July 2023.
— Exterior structures, unsafe conditions: Southeast lift tower. Action plan indicates hiring structural engineers for inspection and recommendation by September 2023.
Video News Service has learned from several sources that AHC did not receive a Restore NY grant to assist in the demolition of up to six buildings and renovation of the campus. Batavia City Council helped facilitate the application for the $1 million grant.
Earlier this month, an exterior wall of one of the buildings collapsed, illustrating the extent of deterioration of parts of the complex.
Despite the bad news, John Canale, owner of Canale’s Drum Studio, vows to keep his business going.
“It makes for some interesting times … 30 days to find a new studio space and move 20 years’ worth of stuff. I’m not sure I needed that at (age) 65,” said Canale, a former City Council member. “But the drumbeat will not stop!”
Canale said he has appointments to look at other venues on Monday and is talking with multiple property owners.