Batavia considers grant for business kitchen installation

The owner of the downtown Batavia building that once housed Limestone Coffee and Tea is seeking a city grant to install a baking kitchen for a client.

The Dietz Family Partnership, owner of 15 E. Wilson St., is asking for a $7,750 Downtown Improvement Grant. The city, seeking to spur economic development downtown, offers to pay half the costs, up to $25,000, for such projects.

The money comes from property taxes on downtown properties in tax-increment financing districts, which were designated to improve the downtown.

The city council will vote on the matter at 7:30 p.m. today at the Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave.

The application was submitted Dec. 5. Such applications usually are reviewed by the community development committee. It was not on the committee’s Dec. 13 agenda; instead, the five members of the committee were polled by telephone, according to a memo. All agreed to put the item on the Tuesday’s agenda to “expedite the award of the funds and to accommodate the desire of the applicant and the new tenant to occupy the currently vacant space as quickly as possible,” it states.

The owner plans to convert an office and a conference room in the lower level to a prep room and a commercial baking kitchen.

Batavia 2nd Ward Alderman Victor Dietz said Monday he has “no relationship — not even an acquaintance” with the Dietz Family Partnership.