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Medley Centre Auctioned Off

Spectrum News

A Sheriff's sale in Rochester on Thursday saw the troubled Medley Centre property auctioned off for $100,000.

The winning bidder was Angelo Ingrassia, a local developer, who did not immediately comment on his plans for the property, but called it "a great day for Irondequoit."

Ingrassia will take title to the mall and some adjoining properties and will have to assume around $44 million in liens against the sites which have been owned by Bersin Properties.

Adam Bersin bought the mall site several years ago, and eventually ended up selling it to developer Scott Congel.

Plans for turning the former mall into a complex that would include hotels, retail, entertainment and other facilities never materialized, and tax breaks given to the developer were later pulled.

Town Supervisor Adam Bello issued a statement calling the sale of the property "outstanding news" for Irondequoit, and he says the property is now back in the hands of someone with Irondequoit roots and who has a proven track record of development in Irondequoit and throughout the region. Bello says there is still much work to do, but he says a large barrier standing in the way of redevelopment has been removed.

A statement from the previous owner Scott Congel says that his company advised all the bidders that the Medley Centre property is still involved in litigation. Congel had counter-sued a Japanese bank who he was trying to have finance the project and he also had filed suit against COMIDA, the town and the school district.

 

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.