Ellicottville hotel seeks IDA abatements for $2.4M renovation, rebranding
ELLICOTTVILLE — A village hotel’s ownership plans to rebrand and renovate the hotel this year.
Owners of the Wingate Hotel — 1378 Group LLC — are seeking sales and real property tax abatements from the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency, IDA leaders said during their monthly meeting on Tuesday.
Bill Paladino of Ellicott Development, the Buffalo-based developer that built the hotel, said the facility has received minimal upgrades since it opened in 2007.
“We’re coming up on 20 years,” he told the board, with full room renovations and common area upgrades in the plans, including a mineral water pool, wine and beer walls, and some exterior upgrades.
”We’ll be changing pretty much everything,” Paladino said. “We hope to start in the next 60 days.”
The hotel is expected to remain open during the work, which should be completed by December — just in time for the skiing season in the village.
Along with the renovations, a new franchise will come into effect. The hotel currently operates under a franchise from Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Paladino said, but that agreement is ending. A 10-year agreement with the Choice Hotels chain will go into effect later this year, with the hotel changing names to the Huntley House Hotel.
A public hearing has been set for 11:30 a.m. July 8 at the IDA office, said IDA Executive Director Corey Wiktor.
Wiktor said the hotel has been an asset for the community’s tourism industry, supporting the renovation effort.
“It’s a wonderful piece of the fabric here,” Wiktor said.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, the IDA board approved an application from Ellicottville-based Holimont Inc. for sales tax abatement to perform $1.03 million in upgrades.
The project includes replacing piping and facility repairs. In addition, equipment purchases include a piston snowcat, electrical systems, and computer equipment, 12 additional bike carriers, and rental skis.
The project did not require a public hearing as the firm will receive less than $99,000 in benefits from the IDA, Wiktor said. The resolution approved Tuesday indicates a maximum exemption of $82,040.
