Pictured is the Hideaway Bay from 2016, the year it was acquired by Chautauqua County.

SILVER CREEK — Chautauqua County Land Bank Corp. officials are still looking for developers for the former Hideaway Bay location.

Gina Paradis, land bank executive director, said the land bank board discussed the former restaurant property at its recent meeting. She said since the land bank acquired the lakefront property in June 2016 from the county, they have had no luck in finding a developer to rejuvinate the property.

“We’re going to put the project on hold right now and have meetings internally and with (the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency) and the county executive (George Borrello) to figure out how to move forward,” Paradis said.

Last year, the land bank sent out request for proposals to area developers, but Paradis said they didn’t receive any good offers.

“None of the proposals met our vision for the property,” she said. “So we have decided to take a step backwards and to evaluate our options. One option might be to hold on to the property until there is an increase interest in the property, which we expect will happen in the next couple years or we might send out another (request for proposals). We are undecided right now, so we are going to sit back and talk more before moving forward.”

In 2017, land bank officials worked with LaBella Associates on creating a conceptual site plan for future possible development uses on the property. Because of the property’s proximity to Lake Erie, she said they have to deal with erosion and floodplain environmental limitations.

Also in 2017, the property was ready to sell following an extensive environmental review. Land bank officials had to work with the state Department of Conservation in preparing the property.

In June 2016, the land bank agreed to acquire the rundown property where Hideaway Bay restaurant used to be located after it was originally set for the county tax foreclosure auction.

In other land bank business, Paradis said they have worked with county officials to establish a new policy when it comes to acquiring properties from the county during the tax foreclosure auction. She said since the change was made to allow people to reaquire their properties by paying the back taxes prior to the eve of the foreclosure auction it doesn’t leave land bank officials much time to select the properties they are interested in gaining for their Rehab 4 Sales program or to have demolished.

Paradis said a new subcommittee has been made up of county legislators, Borrello and land bank officials to discuss the properties land bank officials are interested in prior to the auction.

“We cannot finalize our list until the night before the auction,” she said. “We’re trying to come up with a procedure to help us with making our list and allow the county legislature to be a proactive part of the process.”

During the meeting the land bank board approved of selling four properties they have acquired to be renovated. Two of the properties are located in Jamestown — 88 Linwood Ave. and 322 Steele St. — and two of the properties are in Dunkirk – 111-113 Lincoln Ave. and 115 Lincoln Ave.