Published: September 06, 2008 11:30 pm            

NIAGARA FALLS: North End project looks to have its ‘star’

Kevin Cottrell has donated countless hours of his time discussing plans for the proposed North Star at the North End project.

It appears his work will soon continue in a more official capacity.

A resolution is expected to be added to Monday’s Niagara Falls City Council meeting agenda that would cement a partnership between the city and state parks system and allow Cottrell to focus full-time on his dream to turn Main Street into a cultural heritage destination. Currently a paid employee of the state park, Cottrell would be allowed to take a three-year leave from his normal duties and serve as North Star project coordinator for the city.

As a result, the city would pay $29,900 of his annual salary and the state would continue to pay for his benefits, said Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, who credited state parks officials for agreeing to the partnership.

“This is a great bargain for the city,” Dyster said. “Kevin Cottrell is a nationally recognized figure in Underground Railroad history. He will allow the city to move a lot further and a lot faster on this project.”

North Star at the North End is the brainchild of Cottrell, City Councilman Charles Walker and Zach Casale of the Main Street Business Association. The idea centers around promoting the area’s ties to the Underground Railroad and other historical significance.

Historians believe abolitionist Harriet Tubman guided about 300 slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad in the mid-1800s from Maryland to Canada, making the last stretch over the former Suspension Bridge, now the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge in the city. The initial plan for the North Star project is to create a district of specialty shops, restaurants and attractions promoting cultural heritage surrounding Main Street.

A major component of the new district will be an Underground Railroad interpretive center that’s planned for the old U.S. Custom’s House as part of the city’s $33 million International Rail Station project.

“I’ve been laying out the plan since last December and waiting for all the ducks to line up in a row,” Cottrell said about the North Star project. “It’s been in freeze mode for a little while, but I’m excited about the possibility of moving forward. I’m going to take one step at a time.”

The city has been negotiating since January with regional representatives from the state parks system over how the two entities could work together and utilize Cottrell’s skills.

“It took a lot of work to get it done, but I think we’ve come up with something that’s really unique,” Dyster said.

The final hurdle remains whether City Council members agree to add Cottrell’s hiring onto Monday’s agenda as a late item and then approve the resolution. Dyster said it wasn’t ready in time to meet the deadline for regular agenda items.

If it fails to be added as a walk on, the resolution will be considered at the Sept. 22 meeting.

Contact reporter Rick Forgione

at 282-2311, ext. 2257.

        

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