Due to the high level of interest in this project, this website was created to provide you with the relevant and accurate information associated with plans to enhance Eastview Mall. The project will be carried out in two phases. During the first phase, $12 million will be invested in capital improvements and upgrades to the mall’s existing space to reposition and improve the tenant mix over the next five years. During this time, Wilmorite is asking the Ontario County Industrial Development Agency for modest assistance in the forms of sales tax abatementon construction materials only and an exemption from mortgage recording taxes. The sales tax abatement on construction materials does not impact the sales tax revenue stream envisioned under the project.

The second phase of the project is the attraction and development of signature retail tenants, which includes an additional investment of $40-$45 million. This phase also involves assistance in the forms of sales tax abatement on construction materials only and an exemption from mortgage recording taxes, as well as establishing a full/fixed property tax payment program. Central to the program will be setting a property tax payment level in 2014 at approximately $1.1 million greater than today and then increasing this amount by two percent a year to Ontario County, the Town of Victor and the Victor Central School District for a 20 to 25 year period. This will assure certainty in future tax payments with guaranteed annual increases. The assistance requested also involves using additional future payments beyond that needed for the full/fixed tax payment program, with this amount, or “increment,” used to pay for some of the improvements needed to attract the new signature retail tenants. Under the full/fixed tax payment program, the total tax payments to the county, town and school district will grow from approximately $2.6 million in 2014 to about $4 million over the following 20 years.

This project will assure the continued growth of sales tax revenue for the county and the town. Ontario County sales tax revenues generated at the mall have increased from $1.8 million in 1971 to $9.2 million in 2008. This project is projected to result in additional annual sales tax revenue of $3.8 million, according to a county report.

This project will also create and retain employment. The development of new signature retail tenants is expected to create 100 new jobs. Eastview Mall has grown to be a major employer in the county and the town. For example, employment at the mall has grown from about 1,500 in 1971 to approximately 3,600 jobs today. Also during the first phase, it is projected that 120 construction-related jobs will be created over a several year period.

While there are some public costs associated with this project, an independent study conducted for the Ontario County Industrial Development Agency concluded that the total public revenues and benefits are significantly greater than the public costs for the county, town and school district.

Retail commercial development is a fluid industry. Success is only sustainable through continued investment and improvements to the asset. Not only must Wilmorite be on the leading edge of Rochester’s retail landscape, but upstate New York as well. To accomplish this goal, we must have the necessary resources.

We are proud of our 38 year public-private partnership with Ontario County, the Town of Victor, and the Victor School District. We hope this relationship will continue to prosper for the next 40 years.