Chamber brings back Grand Island Property Improvement Awards

Grand Island Dispatch, June 23, 2006

Skip Mazenauer (left), chairman of the Grand Island Property Improvement Awards committee and Bev Kinney, president of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, present Muhammed Ahktar Mirza of 3S Incorporated, with the award for his enhancement of his Grand Island Commerce Center professional building on Grand Island Boulevard, where the Chamber office is located.

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce Property Improvement Committee has decided to reinstate the Grand Island Property Improvement Award. This award was established years ago by the Chamber and Niagara Frontier Publications (Island Dispatch/ PennySaver) to recognize and reward Grand Island non-residential property owners who have taken pride in their property and gone the extra mile to improve its condition.

The Property Improvement Committee has come up with two sub-categories of awards: exterior improvement/curb appeal and interior reinvestment.

Committee members Jim Sharpe, past president of the Chamber; Tom Kanaley Sr., general manager of Fuccillo Auto Group; and Chairman Skip Mazenauer, publisher of the PennySaver and Dispatch, have selected the first honoree, Muhammed Ahktar Mirza of 3S, Incorporated. Mirza is the owner of the Grand Island Commerce Center professional building on Grand Island Boulevard, where the Chamber office is located. He was chosen by the committee for his outstanding leadership as a Grand Island property owner.

Mirza was awarded with a plaque of appreciation last week. The inscription stated that his “neighbors, business colleagues and Grand Island community commend him for his accomplishments in improving the appearance and safety of his property, thus enhancing the beautification of Grand Island.”

“From the point of view of an investor, I believe Grand Island is underrated. As a longtime Grand Island resident for over 15 years, and having worked here for over 20 years, I have found it to be a great place to work and live,” noted Mirza. “All of my children were born here.”

“I’m very honored by the recognition,” Mirza said upon receiving the award. “The people in the Chamber are great people to work with.” His vision for his property across from the Town Hall is that it would continue to be a commerce center for Grand Island. “This property is more than an investment,” Mirza explained. “I believe in Grand Island.”

Hugill Home Construction initially assisted in improving the property after it was totally gutted following a fire. Candella Construction did the final remodeling. Currently, there are only one or two units still available in the building. Mirza is looking for the right professional tenant or tenants to complement the Grand Island Commerce Center.

The Property Improvement Committee plans to select three or four award recipients annually. The Chamber invites the community to submit nominations of potential awardees in writing to the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, 2257 Grand Island Blvd., or by e-mail to info@gichamber.org.