CITY COUNCIL: HOPE not lost

Local News

November 25, 2008

$3M for cleanup at site OK’d, with conditions

By Rick Forgione<br><a href="mailto:forgioner@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Rick</a> The Niagara Gazette Tue Nov 25, 2008, 12:07 AM EST

A group of about 40 Niagara Falls residents came to Monday’s City Council meeting to pledge continual support for an $80 million housing development project in the North End.

It was enough to keep HOPE alive.

A recommendation from Mayor Paul Dyster to fund a $3 million cleanup of incinerator ash at the site of the planned HOPE VI project was passed 4-1 by City Council members. The vote earned an ear-splitting applause from those in the crowd, several of whom were waving handmade signs with phrases like “Have a heart, don’t take out HOPE.”

“There are people out there who need this quality housing, the city needs this project,” said former Buffalo Common Council member James Pitts, who was among several HOPE supporters to speak in favor of the project Monday night.

Construction on the Niagara Falls Housing Authority’s HOPE VI project has been delayed since the discovery of the incinerator ash under the site of the old Center Court Park playground. Project developer Norstar Development originally planned to relocate the questionable material to a berm it planned to build on a parcel of nearby city owned property. After questions were raised about the berm proposal by the county health department and the state Department of Environmental Conservation, the developers presented the alternative currently being considered — removal of the ash from the location for deposit in a landfill.

The Housing Authority requested the city fund the cleanup at a cost of $3 million. Dyster proposed using $1 million of 2007 casino revenue and another $1 million of 2008 casino revenue which is expected to arrive in 2009. In addition, Dyster asked the council to allow another $1 million already set aside for the second phase of the project to be used earlier than expected to address the immediate cleanup concern.

Dyster pulled his resolution from the Nov. 12 council meeting after being notified by the Niagara County Department of Health that further environmental testing is needed before the project can restart. While the new testing hasn’t yet happened, Dyster resubmitted the resolution Monday under the contingent that none of the city’s money can be used until the tests are completed and there’s no health hazard.

“This allows the city to move forward, but it avoids the council to be called upon to make a judgment on health and safety regarding the site,” Dyster said.

Highland Avenue resident Ken Hamilton was the only member of the public to speak out against the proposal. He asked the council to table allocating any money until detailed testing is done at the site, which he classified as a former dumping ground. He also questioned the motives of Housing Authority and Norstar Development officials in attempting to rush the project forward before definitive testing results.

“Everything about this project is wrong,” Hamilton said. “This is one of the biggest frauds I’ve ever seen in my life.”

Councilman Steve Fournier cast the lone vote against Dyster’s recommendation. He has previously said the developers, not the city, should be on the hook for any cleanup costs.

However, Councilman Charles Walker, a long supporter of the HOPE VI project, said it’s the city’s obligation to make sure the land is safe for everyone living in the area.

“If there is contamination at that site, then we should be cleaning it up, regardless of whether we are building there or not,” Walker said.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

Child run over be car on Niagara Avenue
Falls Traffic Division investigators said an 11-year-old boy was struck after he darted into the street, in front of a car as it pulled away from a stop sign.

February 9, 2012 2 Photos
Militello paid $50K to leave Niagara-Wheatfield
Former Niagara-Wheatfield Superintendent Carl Militello is receiving a $50,000 from the district, according to a separation settlement agreed to on Feb. 1.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Autopsy unable to determine cause or time of Judith Burr’s death
An autopsy by an Erie County Medical Examiner has failed to determine either the time of death or the cause of death of Judith Burr.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Gerber resigns from SPCA board; calls for adding veterinarian to staff
A Town of Niagara veterinarian and long-time member of the SPCA of Niagara Board of Directors has stepped down.
Dr. William Gerber submitted his resignation on Tuesday. It was effective immediately.

February 9, 2012
Has NYPA relicensing agreement led to a revival?
A state senator is calling for an audit of the low-cost power and cash used in the last seven years by Niagara County entities that have shared in the benefits of the 50-year relicensing agreement with the New York Power Authority.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Joseph Davis State Park gets some green
Officials in the Town of Lewiston received approval Thursday to spend a significant portion of the community’s incoming greenway funds on the redevelopment of Joseph Davis State Park.

February 9, 2012 5 Photos
Search continues for Falls jumper
State Park Police were still searching Thursday for a Falls man who jumped from the rapids bridge at Goat Island on Wednesday morning.

February 9, 2012
NU gets helping hand for campus projects
A new county entity formed to help organizations secure bond financing agreed on Wednesday to assist Niagara University in the development of its new science center, a proposed refurbishment at Meade Hall and other campus improvements totaling $48 million.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
One Niagara tax break denied
It’s a no-go for a proposed tax break at One Niagara.
At least for now.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
County IDA adds local hiring clause
From now on, applicants seeking assistance through the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency will be expected to demonstrate their “best efforts” in hiring local workers for subsidized projects.

February 9, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Do you think cigarette sales to non-Native American customers should be taxed on reservations?