The large, multi-building complex, located on a hill overlooking Route 31 in Macedon will soon change the Town forever.
Built as the “Kordite Technical Center” back in the early 1960s, it went through a series of changes and expansions over the subsequent decades, eventually becoming the Exxon/Mobil Center before being sold to the multinational India headquartered Jindal Films Company. When they moved out of the center in December of 2015, stating it was too small for their growing needs, the building sat empty for years. The asking price for the building was $6.3 million dollars. It was assessed at that time for $7.89 million dollars, but had a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) worked out through the Town and Wayne County.
The Real Estate listing price dropped to $2.5 million and Jindal had a request to lower the site to a $1 million dollar assessment. The current assessment is $2.4 million.
There was some interest in the building over the past couple of years, but another deal fell through.
That was before a report of a helicopter flying over the building about a month ago. It was heard that the helicopter landed at the Canandaigua Airport and a limousine took an unidentified man to the Macedon building. Apparently he got out of the limo and said “This is it, this is the site I want. It just apparently works for these uses ofthese three buildings. At the time, the man claimed the complex was perfect and just what he/they were looking for.
Nothing happened until a week ago when Macedon Engineer Scott Allen said the paperwork landed on his desk.
“We hit the lottery”, exclaimed Allen. It was then that Scott learned the unidentified man was Kasseem Dean, professionally known as Swizz Beatz, the husband of singer Alicia Keys.
The New York City couple had been searching for a campus property with enough room to establish a performing Arts Center, Music Campus, Recording Studios and Art Exhibit Hall. The Deans have been apparently looking for a facility like the Jindal facility to create a music and art campus where they will educate and attract new artists and have a place where they can learn about the business of being a musician and artist.
The sale of the 110 acre site, with three buildings and 200,000 square foot of space is expected to close within the next two weeks. No final purchase price was released.
The couple is expected to tour the site within a few weeks. They are currently unavailable due to their anniversary outing.
According to Allen, future plans include adding a dormitory for attending students. He also stated that this move will undoubtedly bring more development to the area, perhaps making Macedon a ‘Hip Hop’ destination.
Next steps would include consultation with the Planning Board and addressing any zoning concerns. Town Supervisor Sandy Pagano commented about the possible positive impact to the local business community should this project be successful.
Swizz Beatz has amassed a fortune recording several of his own rap, R& B and hip hop albums, as a DJ, and as an art collector managing other musical talents and performing.
Alicia Keys, also a multi-millionaire, is an international singer/songwriter/ producer and 15-time Grammy ® winner, accomplished actor, best selling author and a powerful force in the world of philanthropy and in the global fight against HIV and AIDS.
The Dean Collection, founded by Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean and Alicia Keys, is a contemporary, family art collection focused on the support of living artists. In addition to being custodians of great artworks, TDC develops platforms that encourage progress in all facets of artistic practice.
On Thursday (8/8), Linda Shaw, of Knauff Shaw, LLP, presented the Board with the proposal from the Dean Collection to create a “Music & Art Campus” at the site. The plan would include producing instruction and exhibition spaces, and, conceptually dormitory structures. One building will be used to teach about the mucic business, one for the art collection, open to the public and the other building for the performing arts, gym and training center. Phase two The Town board noted that they were excited by the proposal and anxious to see the plans as they progress.
