Niagara Views

Review online chat with State Sen. George Maziarz

Check out an archive of the live chat we had today on buffalonews.com with State Sen. George Maziarz:

Audio: North Tonawanda lawmakers wrap up the year

A planned Walmart on the site of the former Melody Fair theater, pictured above in a file photo taken in May, is the subject of an ongoing federal lawsuit. (Mark Mulville / Buffalo News)

NORTH TONAWANDA -- Walmart. Water pipes. Christmas lights.

Those were some of the issues on the minds of city officials on Tuesday night during the Common Council meeting in City Hall.

Here's my wrap-up story.

Listen to raw audio from the full, 30-minute meeting here:

--Aaron Besecker

Audio: Niagara Falls' latest economic development obstacle

Peter F. Kay's salary for next year as the director of economic development for the City of Niagara Falls was cut from $100,000 to $1, effectively pushing him out the door. (Charles Lewis / Buffalo News file photo)

When Niagara Falls lawmakers slashed the salary of the city's economic-development director last week, the man in the job saw it as part of a political spat.

In a story in today's Niagara Weekend, we get more from all sides on the move to oust Peter F. Kay, what it means and what should happen.

Listen to a portion of my interview with Councilwoman Kristen M. Grandinetti conducted after the Council vote:

City Council Chairman Samuel F. Fruscione said he expects there will be a negotiation between lawmakers and Mayor Paul A. Dyster on where the city goes from here.

Fruscione said the Council will have the final say on how much the new person in the job gets paid. He said he favored a salary in the $50,000 to $60,000 range.

Listen to some of what Fruscione told me:

Here's what Dyster said when asked about Fruscione's preference for a salary:

"From what I know of the market, having been through the search for Mr. Kay," Dyster said, "I don't think you're going to get somebody for that dollar amount that's going to have the qualifications necessary to do the job.

--Aaron Besecker

Ulrich continues to tout Canal Street for NCCC culinary institute

LOCKPORT -- Developer David L. Ulrich today continued making his pitch for Niagara County Community College to locate its planned culinary institute on Canal Street.

Ulrich called a press conference for late this morning to formally announce his attempt to lure NCCC's project, which has been planned for several sites, most recently the former Rainbow Centre mall in Niagara Falls.

Locating the culinary institute on the Canal Street block would be a "combination of two good ideas," he said, the college's institute and Lockport's refurbished block on the Erie Canal.

View Canal Street - Lockport in a larger map

7:49 p.m.: Here's the full audio of Ulrich's comments from today's event:

1:52 p.m.: Ulrich called the Canal Street block a "premiere venue" with historical appeal that would give the planned culinary institute a "unique identity."

Ulrich claims his proposal would save the college $5 million in construction fees, since there are already buildings on Canal Street.

He also said the Lockport site provides the opportunity for more of a "culinary campus" than a former mall site does.

Part of Ulrich's proposal calls for parking to be available in a city parking structure, with the city's shuttered ramp at Main and Pine streets either being rebuilt or refurbished.

The cost for the parking ramp project is about $5 million, and the city currently has no funding lined up to pay for it, said Mayor Michael W. Tucker.

The college has sent a representative to look at the Canal Street site, Ulrich said, and he hopes to set up a meeting to discuss the proposal with college officials.

The uniqueness of the site -- located adjacent to the Erie Canal in downtown Lockport -- would be a draw to the student population, according to Ulrich. That population is generally younger and would have a greater interest in a site with a unique identity, he said.

The Lockport site could be ready for the culinary institute in the fall of 2011, Ulrich claims, though Tucker said a new parking ramp could take from a year to 15 months to complete once the plans are finalized.

City officials are about to begin developing a budget for next year, Tucker said.

12:44 p.m.: Here's my story from last month when college officials revealed they received a letter from Ulrich touting the Lockport site.

Here's a previous post where you can see Ulrich's renderings of the project and audio clips from college officials.

Also, read Ulrich's letter to college President James Klyczek.

Check back later for more from today's press conference.

--Aaron Besecker

New parking, traffic restrictions coming near Remington loft project

NORTH TONAWANDA -- Officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this afternoon to mark the symbolic completion of about a half-million dollar road resurfacing and streetscape project on the Erie Canal.

Following the 1 p.m. ceremony, Sweeney Street between Oliver and Marion streets was reopened to traffic in front of the Remington Lofts on the Canal project.

The Kissling Interests, headed by Anthony Kissling, is turning the former Remington Rand building at 184 Sweeney into 81 work/live loft apartments. The project also includes a restaurant, a hair salon and a yoga studio.

9:14 p.m.: The streetscape work near the lofts project will mean a change in parking and the speed limit in the area, city officials said tonight.

Public Works Superintendent Gary Franklin asked the Common Council to lower the speed limit to 20 mph on Sweeney, between Main and Oliver streets, as well as on Marion Street between Sweeney and Tremont streets.

Franklin also presented a proposed parking plan that will allow vehicles to park on Sweeney and on Marion.

Under the proposal, about 16 on-street spots would be added on Sweeney between Main and Oliver. Between 20 and 25 spots would be added on Marion.

An unpaved parking lot located next to the Dockside Inn is actually property that's owned by Kissling. That parcel is being turned into greenspace and a paved parking lot, though it hasn't been determined whether there will be public parking in the lot, said Robert Welch, aide to Mayor Robert G. Ortt.

Residents and employees of the refurbished building will park in private lots on the property.

Marion Street will remain a one-way street until renovation work on the former Remington Rand is complete, officials said.

The Council must vote to make any changes before they will go into effect.

1:32 p.m.: The first floor of the project, including some apartments as well as the restaurant, salon and studio, is scheduled to open in November, said Gregory Sehr, president of Upstate Consultants of Buffalo, which is working with Kissling on the project.

Site work began on the project on May 1. R&P Oak Hill Development of Buffalo is the construction manager.

--Aaron Besecker

Audio and images: Lockport developer's proposal for NCCC culinary institute

One of three renderings Lockport developer David L. Ulrich sent to Niagara County Community College President James P. Klyczek for a proposal to locate the proposed culinary arts institute on Canal Street in Lockport.

With no deal yet in place for a proposed hospitality and tourism center in Niagara Falls, Lockport developer David L. Ulrich has thrown a Lockport site into the ring.

Click here to read the story from this morning's paper about the Ulrich's initial pitch to Niagara Community College for the Canal Street block.

6:48 p.m.: Read Ulrich's letter to the college.

Attached to the letter were three pages of renderings. Check out a rendering of the institute, along with a rendering of a site overview and parking.

Here's the site plan rendering.

5:32 p.m.: I spoke with NCCC President James P. Klyczek about Ulrich's proposal after Wednesday's board of trustees meeting. He said the Rainbow Centre mall site in Niagara Falls remains his "preferred" choice for a location. Take a listen to some of our conversation:

I also talked with Bonnie R. Gifford, chair of the college's board of trustees, who says she was impressed by Ulrich's proposal. Here's a clip from our chat:

--Aaron Besecker

NT City Hall notebook

Some odds and ends from Tuesday night's North Tonawanda Common Council meeting:

--During a discussion about the former St. Joseph Catholic Church property on Payne Avenue, Second Ward Alderman Richard L. Andres Jr. raised the possibility of the city rezoning the parcel before a new owner takes control of the property. That way, it would be easier for the city to change the use of the property, said Andres, a former member of the city's master plan committee.

(Photo by Sharon Cantillon/Buffalo News)

Here's a story by Tom Prohaska published Sunday about a Wheatfield church looking at the property.

In October, city lawmakers rejected a proposal to turn the campus into housing for homeless youth and veterans.

--The city is working to set a public auction for the former Mirror Room, Mayor Robert G. Ortt said. The process "kind of stalled" on the city's part at the end of last year, Ortt said. The auction will be handled by Auctions International, a Cheektowaga firm, and an auction date has not been set.

--Ortt said efforts by the city and other area municipalities to reach a settlement with the New York Power Authority are "ongoing." Read this story for more background on the issue.

The city is "still in the same position" as it was before, according to Ortt. A meeting of various local elected leaders -- including Niagara Falls Mayor Paul A. Dyster, Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, Wheatfield Supervisor Robert B. Cliffe, Lockport Mayor Michael W. Tucker -- was held in the Wheatfield Community Center on his first regular day on the job to discuss the issue and was organized by State Sen. George D. Maziarz, Ortt said.

Ortt characterized the mindset of leaders at the meeting as being "more interested in a long-term solution."

This year's city budget includes $250,000 expected from a settlement. "It puts us in a tough negotiating position with NYPA because they know we need the money," Ortt said Tuesday.

--Three lawmakers said they support a proposal to spend about $1,500 to put a plaque on the World War II memorial in front of City Hall on Payne Avenue. The plaque would thank officials who helped get the monument built.

During an informal discussion, Council President Catherine G. Schwandt, Alderwoman-at-large Nancy A. Donovan and First Ward Alderman Dennis M. Pasiak said they favored supporting the project with funding. Third Ward Alderman Eric Zadzilka said he doesn't see why the city can't support it, while Second Ward Alderman Richard L. Andres Jr. said the proposal may have to wait until the next budget cycle, and that the Council should consult with City Accountant David R. Jakubaszek about what funds might be available.

--Aaron Besecker

Legal battle over NT Walmart continues

A court appearance scheduled for today in the second lawsuit aimed at halting plans to build a new Walmart Supercenter in North Tonawanda has been adjourned until Feb. 24.

The suit, filed in November, has been brought by North Tonawanda First, an anti-Walmart citizens group.

Here's my story from when the newest lawsuit was initially filed.

Click here to read a story about State Supreme Court Justice Ralph A. Boniello's June ruling in the first lawsuit, also brought by NT First.

As a result of the first suit, the city had to again review storm water control plans for the site.

While I was flipping through the TV channels last night, I came across a report CNBC has been re-airing called "The New Age of Walmart."

Segments of the report are available at the CNBC Web site, including segments on labor issues and an interview with Walmart's chief executive officer.

-- Aaron Besecker

--Aaron Besecker

Draft pact heats up plan for Rainbow mall

It once drew Canadians to browse in stores like Burlington Coat Factory, Esprit and Cavages Records.

Today, the Rainbow Centre mall is locked to the public with a leaking roof and empty stores. But officials hope it could soon bustle with students.

A plan to locate Niagara County Community College's hospitality, tourism and culinary programs in about a third of the mall has been moving forward since NCCC President James P. Klyczek announced in August that the college was looking at the Rainbow Centre as a possible location.

Many questions remain. How much will it cost to entice mall developer David Cordish of Baltimore-based Cordish Co. to give up a portion of the long-term lease his company holds on the city-owned mall? Where will the money come from to pay for renovation work needed on the mall's parking ramp and skylights?

The first view of the legal structure by which the project would move forward emerged Wednesday when a draft memorandum of understanding was made public. A story in today's Niagara & Region section describes the proposed agreement.

View a copy of the draft memorandum here.

-- Denise Jewell Gee

NT planners to talk bank, condos

Plans to turn a former Pizza Hut site into a Northwest Savings Bank branch are scheduled to come before the North Tonawanda Planning Commission on Monday night.

The project, slated for 275 Meadow Drive, is the only project on the agenda for the commission, which meets at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 216 Payne Ave. The location would be the bank's first branch in Niagara County.

Commissioners are also scheduled to discuss the Villas at Deerwood condominium project proposed on Walck Road. Check out my most recent story on the subject here.

Here's a story from earlier this year shortly after work on the project was halted.

Neither developer David Stapleton nor a representative are scheduled to appear before the commission on Monday, according to the city clerk-treasurer's office.

-- Aaron Besecker