By Michael Mroziak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-981942.mp3
Niagara Falls, NY – The plot of land where a popular Niagara Falls club once stood has remained an undeveloped plot until now.
For a city located along a river, Niagara Falls, New York has limited public access to its waterfront. New York State owns a large portion of land along the Niagara River for its power plant water intakes. The city owns a large plot for its water treatment plant. Several lots along the river are privately owned, including residential properties and businesses. On Monday, work officially got underway on a plot of land just off the Grand Island Bridges that will give the public a proper park space and access to the river for fishing.
LaSalle Waterfront Park is located off Buffalo Avenue just east of the LaSalle Expressway overpass. Mayor Paul Dyster noted that after the Century Club closed and the building was demolished many years ago, commercial developers had their own ideas for the land, but none were in the city's best interests. He recalled one proposed motel, for example, that would have placed its windows facing the street and dumpsters and a flashing sign facing the river.
The plot sits in the city's LaSalle neighborhoods, a section of town Dyster says has rediscovered itself. "And yet still, we're missing one thing," Dyster said. "We're missing a centerpiece. We were missing that one public space where the people of this neighborhood and other people visiting from other parts of the city or other parts of the region could come and gain access to the water."
At 91 years old, John Mikula remembers when LaSalle was still a mostly rural community, not yet a part of the City of Niagara Falls. At his age, he still kayaks on the river and is pleased the former Century Club plot will be redeveloped into a better kept public space
"I'm just happy that this is really happening," Mikula said. "When they first built this they put a bathroom in there with no sewer to it. As things go on it takes time and takes money but I'm glad it happened."
After leveraging funds from several sources including New York State, the city will pay only $66,000 for the project, according to Mayor Dyster. Phase one is expected to be completed this year with phase two getting started next year. When completed, the parkspace will include an open green space for play as well as convenient parking, a picnic space, gazebo and access for fishing. While commercial vendors are not yet part of the plan, officials have not ruled out the possibility of welcoming portable businesses such as food carts and ice cream trucks.