By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority want to buy up land near the Peace Bridge. On Wednesday, the New York State Assembly Committee held a public hearing in Buffalo on that request.
The authority wants to take over hundreds of homes for future Peace Bridge expansion and is seeking Eminent Domain.
But residents who live nearby testified against the PBA's request.
They said they are very concerned about being forced to relocate, and question how they would be compensated and when would they be given notice.
Elizabeth Martina has lived on Columbus Parkway for 39 years. It is a street that runs behind the Peace Bridge Toll Plaza.
"Our homes are not just bricks and mortar. There is a lot more to our homes than that and we have a lot of history here," said Martina. "They need to consider all those issues before making a decision. and to ensure we are compensated in a fair way."
Also testifying at the hearing was Mark Mitskovski, Director of the Buffalo West Side Environmental Defense Fund.
Mitskovski said State Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, the committee chair, asked the authority if it's seeking Eminent Domain on the Canadian side. Mitskovski said that Brodsky said the PBA said "no."
"His comment to the PBA was they should be seeking rights on both sides," said Mitskovski. "And he would be willing to help them structure language and a bill that would protect the community and give people the level of comfort that the PBA will be held accountable and do the right thing, which unfortunately has been less the case over the last decade."
Mitskovski said the authority needs to identify the site for a new bridge crossing before seeking Eminent domain.
"So, the question really is, are they staying there and that's why they are asking for Eminent Domain? And if they are staying there, the number or area they have suggested is several hundred homes to potentially thousands of homes."
State lawmakers could consider the proposal when they return to session.
But Mitskovski said he believes the request will be a "vastly" different bill when presented.