BY JOSH DAVISNorth Country This Week

CANTON — The company tasked with redeveloping Canton’s run-down Midtown Plaza offered an update to the town and village boards Wednesday night, April 30.

Rob Holzman, representing the Vecino Group, provided the boards with an outline of how the project will progress in the coming months, noting that the next immediate steps will largely be dedicated to planning and studies at the Miner Street site.

The plaza was purchased in 2023 by the village of Canton, which issued a request for proposals that was awarded to the Vecino Group, which will eventually own and manage the building to be developed on the site.

Holzman noted that funding for demolition of current buildings at the site was recently awarded through Restore NY funding, which he called “pretty meaningful.” In February the plaza project was awarded $300,000 to cover demolition costs.

Because project planning is still in development, many facets are still subject to change. The developer provided little concrete information reconciling how all of the intended parts of the mixed-use building will fit together, and how much space will be afforded to each area. 

Past discussions of the project have indicated that the complex will include commercial, residential, and retail spaces, and will include an entrepreneurship center operated by SUNY Canton.

SUNY Canton is expected to occupy 10,000 square feet of the 77,000 square foot complex. Commercial space will occupy an estimated 2,500 square feet.

Housing is expected to be a mix of market rate and affordable housing one and two-bedroom apartments, operated by the developer. The residential portion of the complex will not be operated by the Canton Housing Authority.

Town Supervisor Mary Ann Ashley inquired about income level requirements for the building, and was told that the developer’s goal is to have tenants making 50 and 80 percent of area median income.

The Vecino Group has met with Canton’s Department of Public Works, Code Enforcement, Economic Development, and other stakeholders in the community, including the owner of Gamer Craze, a long time tenant and holdout in the current Midtown Plaza location.

Holzman said the company has also met with SUNY Canton in order to get a better understanding of what the institution needs from the space.

A civil engineer has been engaged to develop a site plan for the project. Surveying and geotech work will be needed to help the project move forward. Holzman also spoke about the topography of the Miner Street site, noting its natural slope and the need to “work around” it.

The Vecino Group hopes to approach the village’s planning board in July or August with a more solidified plan in hand.

Holzman said HCR low income housing tax credits will be necessary to help the project come to fruition, calling them “fundamental.”

Holzman said he believes that the project’s application for the credits is “very competitive,” particularly owing to the recent Restore NY funding announcement and the cooperation with SUNY Canton.

He said the plaza could also be seen as a priority by “the simple fact” of its location adjacent to Canton’s downtown center and the fact that the space is “severely underutilized” now.

Village Mayor Michael Dalton said that officials are “pretty excited about this,” saying he gets a lot of questions about “when’s the place coming down?”