Rich Miller, local real estate broker and property manager, has asked the Village of Brockport to annex a 5.6 acre parcel of land located on the south side of Holley Street. The land abuts the village on the property’s east border but is located outside the village limits in the Town of Sweden.

Miller said that making the vacant property a part of the Village of Brockport would help him qualify for a federal grant to build assisted living units, similar to those located on Park Avenue in the village, on 2.5 acres of the land. According to Miller, the Village of Brockport has been identified by federal criteria as a community in need of assisted living residences for the elderly. The 32 assisted living units, located in one building, would be for those 62 years of age and older.

The federal grant application is due in February, Miller said, which is an extremely short time frame to accomplish a complicated process. Brockport and Sweden would have to agree to the annexation, host a joint public hearing, then the two boards would have to vote separately on the issue, according to Village Attorney Roy Heise.

Miller said if he was successful in his grant application, construction could begin this year and possibly be complete by next winter.

Before the village board begins consideration of the annexation request, a test is being done on the village sewer system in that quadrant to see if it has the capacity to accommodate more development. Village engineers will also determine whether the sewer system could be made available to the rest of the homes on Holley Street, about 35, that lie outside of the village. Many Holley Street residents have expressed an interest in connecting to the village system.

Miller is also interested in developing the remaining 3.1 acres of the parcel in the future. He envisions building 18 duplexes for mature living, residents would have to be 55 years and older. Preliminary plans call for the 36 units to be 1,100-1,200 square feet ranch-style slab on grade units with a one-car garage. Miller said he would rent the duplexes, not sell them unless it seemed feasible at some point, and that he would only build the duplexes as demand dictates.

If the Brockport sewer system does not have the capacity to handle the increased load, all the plans are moot. Another stumbling block is the annexation. Without it, Miller said the project would not be looked at as favorably for funding. As the vacant land currently stands in the Town of Sweden, it is zoned for single family residential dwellings only. The property actually runs behind several homes on Holley Street.

Miller said if his grant application was not successful this year, he could always reapply next year, when there would be more time for him to move through the local processes.