Published: January 14, 2007 05:49 pm            

HIGGS: Smoothing the surface of the city

This week we are going to talk about demolitions and street and sidewalk repair throughout the city of Niagara Falls. The block clubs follow this activity pretty close as we try to give those in charge some insight on where it is the worst. Actually we did quite well considering the lack of funds for just about anything. This administration is to be commended for making this a priority and utilizing some of our casino funds to accomplish more than we had in the past using only Community Development and C.H.I.P.S. federal funds.

I hope you all know that in order to utilize Community Development funding the area has to be designated as low income. With that in mind, the allocation included many areas in the city.

LaSalle and DeVeaux also benefited from casino funds as well. Looks like a pretty good cross-section of residential neighborhoods were addressed.

A lot of progress was made in street repair in areas that were previously overlooked. In-house pavement resurfacing projects included several areas in LaSalle.

It’s nice to know that residents in LaSalle were not forgotten in this effort. Believe me, there is a long way to go, but please realize every bit helps and this is probably the first time any real attention has been paid to this area of this city.

Work was also done in the North End using the federal and Community Development funding. The work on 22nd Street made a tremendous difference on this greatly utilized roadway.

I am going to touch on demolitions also. There were 12 demolitions classified as “emergency” and probably were due to fire and other situations. This category has been increasing each year and additional funding needs to be secured for this. What is more important is a closer look at why the costs are so much higher in Niagara Falls than they are in Buffalo for demolitions.

A lot of the list I was given included industrial sites which were taken down probably to reduce tax assessments as much as anything else. However, if the buildings are in disrepair and unsightly condition, it is just as well they go this route. Praxair, Occidential, Olin and NFB Carbon Products fell into this category. Last year, Roger Spurback and I took over 250 photos of residential properties that we felt were in need of “attention.” A lot were “demo ready” and some were owned by the city of Niagara Falls. I am pleased to see that many of these are now gone. Some had been reported for several years as they were abandoned by slum landlords.

Then we have the multitude of demolitions contracted by Niagara Falls Redevelopment in the land they are supposed to be developing in the south end adjacent to the casino. Now if we can just get them to put something exciting back there ... Do you realize this has been going on under three different administrations? Anyway this is progress I guess as most of this property was wasting away for one reason or another.

Some of the other buildings were taken down to make way for something new such as the Family Video on 24th and Pine Avenue which replaces the tavern/restaurant and three dwellings and some garages in the area. Also gone but not forgotten is the Old San Juan Tavern recently known as “V” on Main Street, which was purchased and demolished by the Niagara Falls Housing Authority probably to enlarge a parking lot at Wrobel Towers. A few dwellings on the south side of Fourth, Fifth and Sixth streets in the footprint of the Seneca Niagara Falls Gaming Corporation were taken down to expand their operation. At least something will be going in these spots but in some cases, lots are better than what was there before.

I recall a building in the 1600 block of 10th Street that I have been reporting for so many years I may even miss it when I drive by. And my old friend at 501 Walnut Ave. is finally on some list. Roger and I will be out looking for more prospects in the near future. If you have one near you that deserves the wrecking ball, give me a call at 282-3599.

n NOTE: A public hearing will be held Jan. 22 in City Hall on a proposed new local law that would give tax breaks for improvements to residential rental properties and new home construction throughout the city. Maybe this will spark some interest in rebuilding on these vacant lots scattered throughout the city. Be sure to attend and find out more about this potentially valuable tool for improvement.

Norma Higgs serves with the Niagara Beautification Commission and Niagara Falls Block Club Council. Her columns appear Mondays in the Gazette.





Sidewalk repair

n 10th Street from Garden to Depot avenues

n 13th Street from Beech to Grove avenues

n 15th Street from Cleveland to Willow avenues

n 17th Street from Linwood/Willow to Ashland avenues

n Falls Street from 27th Street to Packard Road

n Girard Avenue from 66th to 70th streets

n The east sides of east sides of North, Ontario and Ferry avenues

LaSalle

n 73rd and Perry Avenue, 74th and Edison Avenue and 82nd and Bollier Avenue

n 90th and 91st streets, Brookside Drive, Jayne Place and Lindbergh Avenue

DeVeaux

n Parts of Carroll, Glenn and Cliff streets, Lewiston Road and College and Vanderbilt avenues



Street repair

n Linwood and Willow avenues from 18th to 24th streets

n 10th Street from Garden to Depot avenues

n 13th Street from Beech to Grove avenues

n 16th Street from Ontario to Linwood avenues

n 17th Street from Linwood/Willow to Ashland avenues

n Beech Avenue from 10th to 17th streets

n Niagara Avenue from Lockport to 18th streets

n 22nd from Ontario to Pierce avenues

n 13th Street from Ferry Avenue to Niagara Street

n Fort Avenue from 13th Street to Portage Road

n 17th Street from Ferry Avenue to Niagara Street

LaSalle

n Griffon Avenue from S. 86th to S. 91st streets

n 71st Street from Buffalo Avenue to Stephenson Avenue

n 98th Street from Niagara Falls Boulevard to Cayuga Drive

n 86th and 87th streets from Niagara Falls Boulevard to Bollier Avenue

n Girard from 66th to 70th streets

n 71st to 73rd streets and from 70th to 71st streets

n 69th Street from Buffalo to Edison avenues and on 69th Street from Edison to Stephenson avenues

DeVeaux

n Deveaux Street from James to Maple avenues

n Cifton Avenue from Lewiston Road to Macklem Avenue

n Delancy from Van Renssellaer to Seymore avenues

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.