A city planner is reviewing options for 1,800 acres of vacant, contaminated land in Niagara Falls. The Buffalo Avenue Corridor was once the heart of the city's industry.
The city had Labella Associates start planning for the land in 2008, work which pretty much went away when the economy did. Now, things are a little better and the city wants suggestion on what to do with the large swath of Niagara Falls.
Last night, a public meeting in the Community Education Center looked at some possibilities.
City Acting Director of Planning and Community Development Thomas Desantis says a key question is the future of industry.
"Does the infrastructure that we have, is that enough to encourage someone to invest like Greenpac Mills did? Is that enough to entice new investment and new employment in the corridor," Desantis said.
"We just have to answer that question because if it isn't, then just us sitting around doing nothing, waiting for someone to show up and make that investment and create that employment is just not going to happen."
If there is less possible industrial investment, that might lead to land being used for other purposes,office buildings or hotels.
A basic change in the plan calls for more access to the city's waterfront by extending streets over or under the Robert Moses Parkway from the Buffalo Avenue Corridor.
