COMIDA approves incentives for Crazy Dog expansion, Pittsford apartments. Summary: * Product demand prompts expansion by Crazy Dog T-Shirts * Finger Lakes Chemical to add 12,000-square-foot building * Town Square Health will introduce new healthcare model * Developers building apartments in Pittsford and Webster Projects involving the expansion of manufacturing and office space, as well as the creation of multifamily housing, will move forward after the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency (COMIDA) board on Tuesday approved requests for tax incentives. Crazy Dog T-Shirts intends to move into a larger space, Town Square Health will introduce a new healthcare model to the region and Finger Lakes Chemical Inc. is adding another 12,000-square-foot pre-engineered metal building to its existing footprint along St. Paul Street in Rochester. In addition, housing projects in Pittsford and Webster received tax exemptions under COMIDA's Housing Plus Program. The intent of the program is to incentivize development since housing availability plays a significant role in economic development. In an application for a $104,000 sales tax exemption on a $2.4 million project, Crazy Dog founder and CEO William Kingston said consumer demand dictates that the company find a larger manufacturing facility. The company designs, prints and markets apparel and novelty items within 60,000 square feet at 21 Humboldt St. in Rochester. Operations will remain in the same neighborhood, with Crazy Dog moving less than a half-mile away into a 90,000-square-foot facility at 472 Atlantic (the former home of Kink BMX). The increase in space "will allow for more equipment, more inventory and the hiring of additional employees - all desperately needed to help the company keep pace with its current growth track," the application says. "We're bursting at the seams and we can barely keep up with demand," Pete Borrelli, operation manager for Crazy Dog, told the board. Founded in 2004, project approval will allow Crazy Dog to add the equivalent of 6.5 full-time employees to an existing staff that is the equivalent of 61 full-time workers. Finger Lakes Chemical Inc., which manufactures cleaners, additives and degreasers, plans at spend $1.7 million to add a 12,060-square-foot metal building at 107 Bridget's Dr. The company was approved for $206,282 in tax exemptions and intends to add the equivalent of 3.5 full-time jobs to the current workforce of 26.5 FTEs. Phase 2 of the project, which is not yet scheduled, calls for renovation of buildings at 418, 420 and 440 St. Paul St. Town Square Health will move into space in Pittsford created at Panorama Landing by Gallina Development. The $3.93 million project was approved for $613,050 in tax incentives. Town Square Health will use a unique operational model to provide healthcare to seniors with Medicare coverage. The doctor-managed practice will contract with Medicare providers and receive a flat fee per patient. Dr. Michael Mendoza, former commissioner of public health for Monroe County, is the firm's senior medical director. Housing projects approved for incentives: - John Graziose of Gerber Homes plans to build a 40-unit apartment community on Shoecraft Road in Webster. Approval was given for $2.5 million in property, sales and mortgage recording tax exemptions on the $12 million project. - Mark IV Enterprises, through Pittsford Canalside Properties LLC, was approved for $9 million in property, sales and mortgage recording tax exemptions on the $45.2 million phase 2 and 3 of the Westport Crossing apartment community along the canal in Pittsford. The project involves creation of 100 all-electric units across four buildings, a restaurant and boat house, and continual monitoring of the remediated brownfield site. The application included a letter of support from Village of Pittsford Mayor Alysa Plummer. The board went into executive session to discuss "the proposed acquisition and sale of real property where the value could be significantly affected by public disclosure." That is the same language that was used in Monroe County Legislative committee meetings regarding the tentative purchase of the former Kodak/current Carestream facility at 150 Verona St. The county is considering paying $4 million for the property and then spending upwards of $22 million to renovate for county use, eliminating the need for renting other properties. The eight-story, 403,000-square-foot building sold at auction in 2024 for $1.133 million to New Jersey-based Bathla 150 Holdings LLC. A notable development project was deleted from the original COMIDA agenda. The Bonadio Group has had discussions with Uniland Development to move its headquarters to WillowBrook Office Park in Perinton. Uniland has applied for $1.9 million in incentives on a $15.6 million project that involves renovation of 100,000 square feet of space in building 600. That would allow The Bonadio Group to relocate from its current headquarters at 171 Sully's Trail in Pittsford. But the board did not hear the application on Tuesday and Bonadio said no plans for a potential move have been finalized. "As The Bonadio Group continues to grow, we are evaluating a range of options to support our future space needs," the company said in a prepared statement. "As part of that exploration, we are in discussions with Uniland about various opportunities, including the COMIDA application." [email protected]/(585) 653-4020

Town Square Health Celebrates Seniors at the Rochester Lilac Festival