Published: May 19, 2008 09:40 pm            

LEWISTON: Planning board decision looms

Environmental review satisfies village trustees

An environmental review for the proposed Frontier House project captured some mild attention from various state agencies but ultimately passed muster, setting the stage for a crucial vote by the village Planning Board on whether to accept the well-publicized project.

The village Board of Trustees issued a negative declaration Monday after hearing the results of phases two and three from the State Environmental Quality Review.

They also approved a Transportation Enhancement Program, a grant application which would help fund developer Richard Hastings’ rehabilitation of the building in return for making it at least 51 percent public space.

Before the village Planning Board can consider the proposal, the Town of Lewiston must come to a decision on whether it will allow a new source of wastewater into its Wastewater Treatment Center, Village Engineer Michael Marino said.

But once the project passes the Planning Board it will need one final approval, from the Board of Trustees, Marino said.

The on-again, off-again plans to do something with the Frontier House, which was built in the 1820s and is considered a vital and historic piece of the Center Street fabric, were revived again in December 2007.

Since then, plans have been scaled back but still include a three-story structure on the adjacent parking lot with ground-floor retail space, said Timothy Kupinski, a project manager for EI Team Inc., the Buffalo-based firm hired by Hastings.

In the Frontier House, public space would include art exhibit and gallery space with a group hired to curate it and opening up the second-floor ballroom. The space left for the owner could include some senior housing or a bed-and-breakfast.

As it stands now, the Frontier House has fallen into disrepair and would likely cost about $2 million to restabilize and restore. It was last the site of a McDonald’s, which moved out several years ago.

There has also been some negative public reaction to the plans, including parking issues it may create and the look of the new structure that will be built.

        

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