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New wage mandates could put WNY brownfield projects at risk

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BUFFALO, NY (The Buffalo News) — Developer Rocco Termini is angry. Architect Steve Carmina is upset. Developer and former U.S. Rep. Chris Jacobs is worried. And commercial real estate broker Steve Blake is concerned.

All four have seen the impact of the state Brownfield Cleanup Program and its related tax credits on redevelopment activity in Buffalo, where remediation of polluted buildings and land have paved the way for new apartments, restaurants and stores.

And they say it could all come to a halt because of potential changes to the lucrative program coming out of Albany that would require them to pay higher prevailing wages to workers on those projects. And they’re lobbying Gov. Kathy Hochul to not sign the legislation that would put the prevailing wage requirement into effect.

Read the full story here.

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