Political opinion: A shitty place for development, Centennial Park is dead even if Restaino wins

New development not in a good place

Opinion:

“Community Services for Every1” presented at Wednesday’s Council meeting on a $38.6 million project it plans to build on the site of the old Teletech building with first floor retail and 72 apartments including retail on the first floor at 300 First St.

The project will be funded by a series of public grants and tax credit bonds with a large Payment in Lieu of taxes.

It seemed odd to me no one on the council questioned the wisdom of constructing 72 units of mostly moderate income housing essentially next to the state park, especially when downtown is dotted with mixed-use renovations with market rate apartments upstairs and vacant retail downstairs.

Adding to the problem with the proposed site is a lack of walkability. The only thing close to a convenience store anywhere nearby is 7/11 at Niagara and Fourth next to Player’s Bar. There is no grocery store, no pharmacy and not much other than a beautiful waterfall within walking distance.

Is this about entrepreneurial spirit or bleeding the beast for tax credits, grants and a PILOT agreement to offset the costs a traditional developer might face?

Another observation from the last week: Did anyone else notice the Delaware North concession stand on the ground floor of the new Visitor’s Center has been open since June selling beef on weck, wings and Sahlen’s hot dogs?

It is another example of how the State Park keeps its visitors away from the city, catering to them on site so they can park in a paid lot, tour the Prospect Point, get a bit to eat and then head out of town without ever visiting Old Falls Street let alone Third Street.

The city government sits by and raises no issue. No one pushed for a cut of revenue from parking or the Maid of the Mist, let along property tax from the waterfront real estate the State owns between the Grand Island Bridge and the Lewiston border.

If the state can pay property tax on the Adirondack Park, it sure as heck should be kicking in for the land it owns in Niagara Falls.

1. Mayor Restaino will win reelection. It was pretty much guaranteed by the low primary turnout. Republican Carl Cain doesn’t seem to be gaining any momentum. I see his signs around but Restaino’s win was pretty much a given from the start because he has the support of the police and fire as well as the Italian Americans who explain away his temperamental nature as “oh, that’s just Bobby being Bobby.” They even look past his removal from being a judge.
2. For council, Jim Perry and Brian Archie are both looking like shoe-ins. Vince Cauley may be knocking a lot of doors but he doesn’t seem to have the cache on the council to raise good points. For example, on the city taking over its utilities and switching to LED streetlights, he appeared to be using details given to him by a union retiree to oppose the move but lacked substance in his argument. Mike Gawel might be a great candidate but has a criminal history that brings a stench it’s hard to shake. A council person needs to pay attention to details. Like how to spell “Niagara” on a sign. Gawal’s signs in LaSalle omit the second A.

Conclusion: Dontae Myles, Perry and Archie will make the new majority. Myles, by tradition, will be council chair. Restaino’s Centennial Park doesn’t stand a chance at being built. Zajac, Cauley and Myles will stand against it until the new council is seated. Kenny Tompkins will support it.

It doesn’t matter where Traci Bax stands.

When the new council is seated, the only way to see a path forward is with a feasibility study that shows Centennial Park will operate as a profitable enterprise. There also needs to be a way to fund the purchase without mortgaging Community Development Block Grant Funds which are supposed to benefit the whole community and small business, not an arena next to the casino a half-mile from the entertainment district. That raid on CDBG funds is not something I can ever see Archie supporting.

The other fun thing will be how the Mayor resolves his need for special council meetings when Myles stays away.