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Orange County IDA Seeks Removal Of State-Appointed Monitor Over Veto Of Amazon Incentive Package
The battle between the Orange County Industrial Development Agency, state-appointed Monitor Brian Sanvidge, and State Senator James Skoufis has heated up after Sanvidge vetoed a raft of benefits for a massive Amazon fulfillment center in the Town of Wawayanda in November.
The package added up to about $80 million dollars in benefits for the $600 million-plus, 3.2 million square foot project. The IDA has asked the New York State Inspector General to remove Sanvidge, arguing that his veto was the result of political pressure from Senator Skoufis who has been a vocal opponent of giving tax breaks to wealthy corporations. The Inspector General has the power to remove an appointed monitor for a violation of law.
Lino Sciarretta, Esq. of Bleakley Platt & Schmidt, the Orange County IDA’s general counsel, said Sanvidge’s veto was issued late – well after the 72-hour period mandated under Sanvidge’s appointment (and after any agreed to extension of the time to veto) – and was therefore unlawful. Sciarretta also said that the monitor had no objections to the incentive package until Skoufis began publicly mounting his objections to the benefits package. Sciarretta requested the Inspector General “appoint a qualified, independent successor to serve through the statute’s sunset of May 3, 2026.”
The letter stated that the Monitor’s actions “threaten to chase away a monumental economic opportunity from Orange County and its residents—and potentially others in the future—but he has also eroded the public’s trust, the agency’s trust, and that of every applicant and professional who participates in OCIDA’s process in good faith.”
In a statement made in response to the removal request, Skoufis said, “Provided with an opportunity to reflect on their poor decision-making, the IDA has chosen to act like sore losers, throwing a temper tantrum befitting a toddler.” The response added, “The monitor’s requests for simple answers to simple questions went unanswered by the IDA and Amazon. They stonewalled him and now, in the IDA’s letter and public statements, they are lying. It’s what they do best and why a state monitor remains necessary to protect taxpayers.”
IDA Monitor Sanvidge told CONSTRUCTION NEWS, “I think it is really unfortunate that the (IDA) executive director (Bill Fioravanti) would choose to look to have the monitor replaced, keeping in mind that the monitor was put here by state legislation because of the prior criminal activity of the previous IDA and the oversight that is needed of the IDA. For the IDA to be spending hundreds of thousands of dollars of taxpayer money to avoid oversight is unconscionable.”
As the battle heats up, state legislators and county officials are demanding the Orange County Industrial Development Agency claw back tax breaks from companies that failed to meet job creation commitments. Sanvidge identified 15 projects that fell short of employment goals — representing more than half of the agency’s active tax incentives, including CRH Realty III, Crystal Run Healthcare’s real estate arm, that fell 343 jobs short of its 452-job commitment in Monroe, according to the report.
IDA CEO Bill Fioravanti disputed the findings, saying that data shows that over a 10-year period, all but five recipients met their goals at some point, and three failed to reach within 10% of targets. Updated data shows 11 projects behind on job creation and two behind on retention, and seven falling short by less than 10%.
The IDA acknowledged concerns about CRH Realty’s two projects, which missed its goals by more than 100 jobs. The IDA is considering recapturing benefits from the Glen Arden retirement facility in Goshen, which never met targets has not made PILOT payments in accordance with its agreement.
At its December board meeting, the IDA authorized initiation of litigation to pursue removal of the independent monitor. The IDA has also allocated $100,000 for lobbying against the monitor’s renewal.
Lake Sebago Beach At Harriman State Park Finally Gets Reconstruction Funding 14 Years After Tropical Storm Irene’s Destruction
Funding from the New York State Environmental Bond Act, New York State Parks, and New York Works will help reconstruct Lake Sebago Beach at Harriman State Park.
The beach has been closed after being destroyed by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. The storm’s heavy rains and flooding stripped the beach of its sand, damaged pathways, crumbled infrastructure, and flooded the parking lot. Once a bustling summer destination, the indefinite closure has turned the recreational facility into a ghost town. Sand erosion rendered the lake unusable for swimming.
Irene was one of the costliest storms in New York state history, creating more than a billion dollars in damages.
Reopening the Hudson Valley public swimming beach is a major component of Governor Hochul’s NY Statewide Investment in More Swimming (NY SWIMS) initiative to expand access to safe places to swim for more New Yorkers.
The state has allocated $95.8 million to the reconstruction, including new visitor amenities, water quality protection, and storm resiliency.
“Our NY SWIMS initiative is creating more accessible and affordable places where families and communities can escape extreme heat and come together for fun and relaxation,” Governor Hochul said. “Lake Sebago Beach has been beloved since it opened in the early 1950s and I’m excited a new generation of New Yorkers will finally get to enjoy swimming at this treasured lakefront at Harriman State Park.”
The project’s construction contract was awarded to C-Squared Constructors LLC, of Wilton, NY, as general contractor for $80.8 million; previous contract awards went to Stantec Landscape Architecture and Geology PC, of Rochester, NY, as prime design consultant for $10 million and LiRo Program and Construction Management PE PC, of Syosset, NY, as construction manager for $5 million.
The project is supported by $78.1 million from the state Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and $17.1 million is being provided from New York State Parks capital funding. Reconstruction of 48 acres of beach and surrounding areas is expected to start in spring 2026 and be completed by summer 2027.
The rebuilt beach area will have new sand, repairs to the existing bathhouse, new restrooms, a capacity of more than 4,000 patrons and parking for at least 900 cars in three separate lots. There will be a 1,600-foot promenade along the lake, two brand new playgrounds, and picnic and game areas.
A photovoltaic solar array will be installed on the roof of the rehabilitated bathhouse and infrastructure will be installed to support EV charging stations in the main parking lot. A state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility is being constructed to support the restrooms and responsibly manage the ecology of the site.
To help the new facility better resist future storms and improve water quality at Lake Sebago, the project also includes the restoration of the former Stillwater Creek, which originally flowed into the lake from nearby Lake Kanawauke. The site has been designed to handle up to a 500-year storm’s intensity in order to avoid the kind of flood damage that occurred in 2011.
State Awards $110 Million In Housing Bonds & Subsidies For Wallace Campus In Poughkeepsie’s Innovation District
The Wallace Campus project, a mixed-use development on a 2.5-acre lot bounded by Main Street, Catharine Street, and Mill Street in Poughkeepsie’s Innovation District (PID) redevelopment area received $110 million in housing bonds and subsidies from New York State.
The redevelopment plan includes three main buildings, one existing (the former Wallace Department store) and two new. The project, a 187-unit affordable and supportive housing development, includes the transformation of a former department store and new construction. All units will be affordable to households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income.
The project will also feature a community facility, commercial spaces, a large landscaped open space within the center of the campus called Wallace Green. Wallace Green will be open to the public on the same schedule as public parks in the City.
The adaptive reuse project combined with new construction will be about 250,000 square feet, 5 stories tall.
The NYS Housing Finance Agency has approved a 30% local preference, meaning that at 30% of the units will be set aside for City of Poughkeepsie residents. Working with Mental Health America of Dutchess County, the project will also house veterans in 30 studios.
Rents on the project, according to a presentation at the City of Poughkeepsie IDA, will range from $571 to $1,196 for studios, $609 to $1,521 for one-bedrooms, $736 to $1,830 for two-bedrooms, and $1,447 to $2,121 for three-bedroom units, depending on income.
The award was part of Governor’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.
“These investments reflect my commitment to creating quality, modern homes that enrich communities and are making New York more affordable for a wide array of households, including families and seniors,” Governor Hochul said. “By coupling State financing tools with private resources, we are generating more than $3 billion in overall investment that will improve neighborhoods, reduce energy costs and provide thousands of affordable housing options across every region of the State.”
