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State’s Control of Falls’ Waterfront Blocks Flow of State EPA Funds

By James Hufnagel

White: City of Niagara Falls; Dark Grey: State of New York. Light Grey:
Niagara River. As you can see the state acts as a guardian/barrier to our
waterfront. No wonder we are broke.

Except for some smidgens of shoreline in the LaSalle area, the city of Niagara Falls has no waterfront to speak of, though it is surrounded by water.

Starting at the Moses Power Project, sweeping down along the Robert Moses Parkway past Devil's Hole and Whirlpool State Parks and around Niagara Falls State Park, continuing on the south section of the Moses Parkway to the Grand Island Bridge, New York State owns and operates more than 80% of the waterfront of the city of Niagara Falls. Most individuals with a three-digit IQ understand that Niagara Falls will never experience the economic prosperity it deserves as long as this situation remains status quo.

Besides relinquishing the bulk of its tourism and hydropower to State Parks, the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and their various "public-private partnerships," Niagara Falls is also losing out on millions of dollars of government money that other communities, from Buffalo to Youngstown, are better positioned to take advantage.

So far, more than $9.2 million dollars has been awarded from the state Environmental Protection Fund to the following municipalities as part of New York State's Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP): the villages of Youngstown and Lewiston, the town and city of Tonawanda and North Tonawanda. Buffalo, Grand Island and Wheatfield are presently developing LWRP’s.

According to a recent newsletter sent out by the Niagara River Greenway Commission, the LWRP is "a voluntary program of (New York State) in partnership with over 300 communities statewide to promote revitalization and protection of resources.

Working through the LWRP, communities can implement locally prepared, comprehensive land and water use plans for their natural, public, working, and developed waterfronts." The LWRP benefits participating waterfront towns, villages and cities by "promoting waterfront revitalization and creating new economic activity; promoting water-dependent uses; protecting fish and wildlife habitats; protecting and enhancing scenic areas; protecting and enhancing historic areas; redeveloping historic and abandoned structures; protecting and enhancing small harbors; improving recreation; protecting and enhancing public access; and coping with erosion and flooding hazards."

For example, "The Village of Youngstown recognized the importance of enhancing the appearance and improving accessibility through its public waterfront at South Waterfront Park – a key component in the Village's LWRP... Six awards totaling more than $560,000 have helped revitalize Lewiston's business district and expand and enhance public access, boosting tourism and economic development." And "In the City of Tonawanda, the development of Gateway Harbor established this area as a major regional activity center. LWRP grants were used to complete Canal Overlook Park along the Erie Canal, a heavily used facility for many civic events; reconstruction of the Niagara Riverwalk retaining wall, assuring the continued public use of this regional shoreline trail; and, construction of public docks along the Erie Canal and Ellicott Creek."

These eight fortunate communities which own and operate their own waterfronts and therefore are in a position to determine their own quality of life, real estate values and economic destiny, have something else in common besides taking advantage of the millions of dollars that come with an LWRP. They also happen to be communities that are designated Niagara Greenway municipal stakeholders.

The remaining Niagara Greenway municipalities, that do not take advantage of the few state dollars that get lost and find their way coming in our direction from Albany rather than the other way around, include Kenmore, Porter, the towns of Lewiston and Niagara, and the city of Niagara Falls.

The last anyone looked, neither Kenmore nor the Town of Niagara had waterfronts. The Town of Lewiston's shoreline on the Niagara River consists of River Road residences and Joe Davis State Park, not really lending it to the LWRP concept. As far as the Town of Porter goes, it’s mainly more River Road mansions, and those are generally folks who blow a gasket when you approach them about commencing a comprehensive planning process.

That, of course, leaves the City of Niagara Falls. Commandeering the city's waterfront and the eight million tourists a year and the millions in hydropower that come with it, New York State wouldn't sanction a Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan here. An LWRP would require local public hearings and significant local input.

The majority of Niagara Falls waterfront property is blocked by the Robert Moses Parkway. If that were removed, that could provide various opportunities for economic development. Or maybe the Falls will start flowing backwards first.

 

 

Niagara Falls Reporter www.niagarafallsreporter.com Sep 18 , 2012