Aud Authority And Oneida County Submit Application For Washington Courts

The Upper Mohawk Valley Memorial Auditorium Authority and Oneida County have submitted an application to the City of Utica's Urban Renewal Agency to purchase the Washington Courts property on Whitesboro Street across from the Aud.

The purchase price is for $231,660.  That's the same price the authority paid for the adjacent land in 2014, which became a 285-car parking lot located south of the Auditorium.

The Washington Courts land would be the future home of the American Craft Beer Museum.

County Executive Anthony Picente and Robert Esche, the CEO of Mohawk Valley Garden, are looking to use the property for development of The U District, a comprehensive Arts, Sports and Entertainment District that was unveiled on May 16th..

“Securing this vacant property will move us one step closer to turning The U District into a reality,” said Picente.  “We are utilizing all of our resources to push forward and bring an arts, sports and entertainment district to downtown Utica that will completely transform and revitalize the area surrounding The AUD and launch our region onto the national stage as a tourist destination.”

A hearing before the City's Urban Renewal Agency is set for June 22nd