Demolition of a complex along West Main Street in the Village of Lancaster is now underway as part of a smart growth revitalization project. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz joined the village mayor Paul Maute and other leaders Friday, using a ceremonial sledgehammer to help kick off demolition of the LVP Complex, also know as the BOCES Building. Poloncarz says the complex is being torn down to redevelop and revitalize the village's Central Business District.
"This is type of thing that promotes smart growth and is the type of initiative that we want to see to have a smart economy here in Erie County in that you redevelop what once was a vibrant downtown core in a village," Poloncarz told WBFO News.
The project will cost under $1 million and includes the reconstruction of West Main Street. $650,000 in Erie County Community Development Block Grant Funds are being used to help pay for redevelopment.
A large fire in the early 1960s destroyed half of the West Main Street block. The LVP Complex was built in the early 1970s to fill the remaining void. It has since been subdivided several times over the years.
Poloncrz says the demolition will allow crews to rebuild the old portion of West Main so that commuters can travel directly from Central Avenue to Aurora Street.
The project should be completed sometime in 2014.