Developers set to bring Topgolf, hotels to Rochester’s CityGate:
https://rbj.net/2024/05/10/developer...ters-citygate/
"Developers are moving toward final approval on plans to bring a dual-brand hotel plus a golf-centric entertainment facility to CityGate, with combined project costs estimated at $77.1 million.
DelMonte Development LLC, an affiliate of East-Rochester-based DelMonte Hotel Group, wants to build an adjoined Element by Westin and AC Hotels by Marriott on approximately 12 acres of undeveloped land at the south end of City Gate.
With a combined 191 rooms, the hotel project has an estimated cost of $42.8 million.
Meanwhile, Brighton Westfall SRE LLC, comprised of the partners in the CityGate ownership group, is proposing construction of a 48,000-square-foot Topgolf facility that features 80 hitting bays, a restaurant, sports bar and music, and will create 300 jobs.
Details of the development proposals were provided to the County of Monroe Industrial Devel0ppment Agency through applications for tax incentives. Public hearings are scheduled for Thursday in county offices at City Place in downtown Rochester.
The COMIDA board is then scheduled to vote on whether to approve tax breaks at its May 21 meeting. DelMonte Development is seeking just over $7.8 million in incentives it says will make the project viable while the golf project is asking for $4.3 million in incentives.
Topgolf is an international franchise that combines golf with entertainment and features high-tech driving-range games, food and drink and event space. If approvals are received, construction along the south side of Westfall Road in the town of Brighton would begin in August and be completed in approximately one year.
Matt Lester, Anthony Gizzie and Timothy Meleca are partners in Brighton Westfall SRE LLC. They also are partners in Streamline Real Estate Partners, LLC, which bought eight properties within CityGate in September of 2022 for $17,250,000.
The retail center, a work-shop-dine commercial community along Westfall and East Henrietta roads, is anchored by Costco Wholesale. Costco and Five Star Bank own their buildings within the plaza, which was to be the crowning jewel of the Anthony J. Costello development empire.
But CityGate faced financial peril following Costello’s death in 2016. A resolution of legal battles — with banks, the city of Rochester and the Costello estate — finally cleared the way for a sale to Streamline Real Estate.
Following the sale, Topgolf was mentioned by city of Rochester officials as a possible tenant. The only TopGolf in New York is on Long Island. Lester said he envisioned a hotel as part of the future.
DelMonte Hotel Group apparently is ready to bring that vision to fruition. The Element by Westin is a extended-stay brand that focuses on sustainability and wellness and has its own bike-share program.
AC Hotels by Marriott is a select service brand that features an urban-inspired design and targets solo and business travelers.
The AC would have 115 rooms and the Element would have 76. Total square footage for the hotels would be 114,000 across five floors, according to the COMIDA application. When completed, the developer says the hotels would create 15 full-time and 37 part-time jobs.
The DelMonte project is asking for a $6 million property tax break through a PILOT agreement, as well as a $1.6 million sales tax exemption and $252,000 mortgage and recording tax exception.
Hotel construction would begin in the fourth quarter and is projected to by completed by Q3 of 2026.
The Topgolf project seeks a PILOT agreement worth just shy of $2.5 million, a sales tax exemption of $1.624 million and a $187,500 mortgage and recording tax exemption."
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