Irondequoit, N.Y. – COMIDA voted Tuesday to adjust the tax deal attached to the Medley Centre.
The move extends deadlines built into the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement given to the developer, Scott Congel, who has promised to pump millions of dollars into the moribund mall.
The move also flies in the face of a vote taken by the East Irondequoit School Board Monday night. That vote called for penalty payments from Congel, claiming the developer failed to show around $90 million of investment by April 1st.
COMIDA Executive Director Judy Seil denounced the vote saying it comes on the heels of positive news that the Rochester Broadway Theatre League is in talks with Congel over constructing a performing arts center at the mall.
“This is the most positive news we’ve heard," Seil asked. "That’s the same day the district vote. What does that do for anybody?”
John Abbott, East Irondequoit’s deputy superintendent, said the school board must protect the taxpayer and fired back at COMIDA for trying to single-handedly change the PILOT agreement.
“We absolutely believe the school district has the right to approve any change to the PILOT agreement," Abbott said. "Our consent was required,”
Tuesday night, Seil would not say whether COMIDA has the right to act unilaterally.
Abbott says the district may take legal action.
Congel, as has been the case for years, did not respond to media inquiries.
