Erie County Legislature Chairman George A. Holt, Jr. (D-Buffalo), Legislator Demone A. Smith (D-Buffalo), and Majority Leader Lynn M. Marinelli (D-Tonawanda, Buffalo) gained approval of the custom Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreement for Asbury Delaware United Methodist Church Restoration Project at the January 20 session.

"Righteous Babe Records and its co-owner, singer and Buffalo native Ani DiFranco, are taking Asbury Delaware United Methodist Church, which only a few years ago was spilling bricks onto Delaware Avenue, and helping turn it into a regional asset," said Chairman Holt. "This agreement not only helps save one of this region's most prized historical landmarks, it also helps revitalize the downtown entertainment district."

The agreement will allow Righteous Babe Records, who are renovating the church for the housing of its company headquarters and a performance space, as well as Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center, to pay a reduced amount in property taxes to the County. The amount Righteous Babe Records will pay would gradually increase over the period of the agreement.

"This deal will not have a negative impact on the County's finances," Legislator Smith, Chair of the Finance and Management Committee, said. "The property was tax-exempt when it was home to a Methodist Church and, without the investment from Righteous Babe Records, would most likely be left abandoned or demolished. By providing a PILOT allocation to this project, it will allow the economic benefit of having a national record label call Buffalo home without negatively impacting Erie County coffers."

"The Erie County Legislature has been committed to this project from day one," Legislature Majority Leader Marinelli said. "In 2003, we committed $175,000 to help get this important project off the ground. My colleagues and I still remain committed today to ensuring this project is completed."

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