West NY News

Before and after images of the former Dunkirk Moose Lodge property in Silver Creek, NY. The lodge sat vacant and abandoned for several years before the Chautauqua County Land Bank Corporation was able to acquire the property and assist with the removal of the structure, resulting in the reuse of the lot by Xmas Dave, LLC warehouse and distribution center. (Submitted Photos)

SILVER CREEK, NY – A long-abandoned and unsafe structure in downtown Silver Creek was demolished last week with assistance from the Chautauqua County Land Bank Corporation (CCLBC), the County of Chautauqua Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA), and Chautauqua County.

The demolition marks the final stage of a two-part strategy. The first stage occurred in June 2022 when CCIDA approved sales tax abatement incentives for Xmas Dave, LLC to renovate the former 130,000 square-foot Petri Baking Products building at 18 Main Street in Silver Creek. Xmas Dave is owned by Dave Gordon of Erie County, New York. Gordon made improvements at this location to operate a warehouse and distribution center for his internet fulfillment operations business, Christmas.com. The facility also collaborates with other major retailers, selling seasonal holiday decorations, patio furniture, pool accessories, and more. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in January 2023 following extensive renovations. PILOT incentives were applicable for this project.

The former Silver Creek Moose Lodge building was located at 259 Central Avenue, adjacent to the Xmas Dave warehouse. A fixture in the community since the early 1900s, it had been vacant for over a decade and deemed unsafe by professional inspectors. In recent years, it had been gutted and vandalized. The building was conveyed to CCIDA in 2022 via Chautauqua County’s tax foreclosure process with approval from the Chautauqua County Legislature. CCIDA then transferred ownership to Xmas Dave soon thereafter with plans to demolish it and expand operations.

Following extensive asbestos abatement work stalled due to complications that significantly increased demolition costs. CCLBC and CCIDA stepped in to assist; CCLBC secured funding from county grants designated for this purpose covering most demolition costs while Xmas Dave covered remaining expenses.

The additional property will aid shipping operations for Xmas Dave's facility as tractor trailers now have direct access into and out of their warehouse facility. Additionally, Gordon intends to use part of it for expanded parking assets.

“The structure was a public hazard that simply could not be left in its condition,” said Gina Paradis, CCLBC Executive Director.

Mark Geise, Chairman of Land Bank & CEO at CCIDA echoed similar sentiments: “The CCIDA facilitated Mr.Gordon’s business expansion into Silver Creek back in '22; equally pleased facilitating transfer/demolition neighboring unsafe unsightly Moose Lodge bldg since then; no prop taxes paid on bldg; add’l real prop tax revenue benefits all taxing jurisdictions many yrs.”

About CCLBC - The Chautauqua County Land Bank Corporation is a nonprofit operating under New York State authority assisting communities within Chautauqua addressing blight issues caused by vacant/abandoned/condemned/foreclosed properties aiming reversing declining prop values further deterioration housing/commercial stock stabilizing neighborhoods encouraging private investment improving quality life citizens throughout county more info visit CHQLandBank.org

About CCIDA - The CCIDA economic development organization authorized empowered state making better place work live visit facilitates development attracting new businesses promoting retention expansion existing ones assistance form incentives enhancing opportunities job creation retention businesses more info visit ChooseCHQ.com