By Drew Fitzpatrick
Buffalo, NY – Three Common Council members in Buffalo want the city to focus on restoring the city's aging housing stock rather than demolishing it.
The Council has scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday afternoon to seek input from city residents on how to spend funding from a program called Restore New York.
The state is making $150 million available to help rebuild communities across the state. Niagara District Council Member David Rivera said the city needs a housing plan that goes beyond demolition.
"Let's not focus only on the demolition aspect of this grant, let's broaden our effort and convince the state that neighborhoods and homes can be saved," Rivera said.
The public hearing will be held at 5:30 in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
Officials of the Brown administration bristle at the suggestion that it's focused only on demolition rather than on neighborhood re-development.