Updated 3/15/2021 6:28 PM
Voters in Batavia s Ward 6 will decide if they want to give Nick Cerone a third 4-year term or pick longtime resident Shaunak Dave to serve on the 14-person council. Representation matters. I m here because I think now we need to have people on the board who don t look like everybody else, said Dave, who is an Asian immigrant.
Dave said his skills as an industrial engineer and technology salesperson would be a benefit, as well as his experience as a volunteer with his daughters volleyball programs, several charities and campaigning for U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood.
Cerone said his eight years of experience is especially valuable because four incumbents did not seek reelection. If elected, Cerone would be the third-most senior member of the council.
Shodeen Group s controversial $48 million One Washington Place project was initially approved by the city council in 2017 and has faced several plan updates and construction delays.
Controversial downtown Batavia project gets new life after mayor s tiebreaking vote Retail space along River and Wilson streets, office space, 186 apartments and a two-level parking garage are included in plans for the proposed One Washington Place in downtown Batavia. Courtesy of Shodeen Group
The former First Baptist Church of Batavia was demolished to make way for the One Washington Place development. Brian Hill | Staff Photographer, 2017
Updated 1/6/2021 8:44 AM
Thanks to tiebreaking votes by Batavia Mayor Jeff Schielke, the controversial $48 million One Washington Place project lives to see an other day.
But don t expect construction soon. As of Monday, developer Shodeen Group hasn t created construction documents or applied for a building permit for the six-story project with 186 apartments, a 350-space parking garage and several stores.