Lockport NY

It seems there are others out there share the ideas of some of my recent posts on Canal St.. As reported by the LUSJ:

...The block of four city-owned buildings, overlooking parallel old and modern sets of locks near the Pine Street bridge, seems like the logical center of a heritage tourism district, they say; but the fact the touring season only lasts six months a year means the block should not be reserved exclusively for tourism-related uses.

Mixed-use development — first-floor retail appealing to visitors and locals, and guaranteed year-round users of upper floors, say offices and/or residential lofts — would be the best strategy for Greater Lockport Development Corp. to pursue as it is soliciting building tenants and/or buyers, business owner Mike Murphy and Canal Task Force volunteer Jane Whitmore both suggested...

Now only if the city would present what its ultimate vision is we could probably move forward in a more orderly fashion. And I will ask the question: what is considered "tourist related"?

As a tourist myself, I may seek out a local attraction or two to highlight the day but the rest of the time I look for the amenities that any local resident would look for. Diverse shops, places to eat, people watching etc are part of the background that makes a trip fun but that may also go unnoticed. I do not seek out T-shirt shops, cheap tacky gift shops, etc. I do not look forward to hopping in my car traveling parking lot to parking lot or conversely walking past a bunch of nothing for long stretches.

From my point of view, the best street to offer to tourists is the same street that would be best for residents: diverse, full of mixed use buildings and thus ultimately full of people. Make the smallest building near Pine St a small welcome center and fill the rest of the street with places that people are drawn to in general. Throw in some residents to have lights on and bodies around 24-7 and off we go on a journey from just being a place to visit to also being a place that worth seriously considering living in.

LUSJ reported today that a "mini food court" will be set up on Locust street featuring local food vendors.

...Ulrich confirmed his development company is organizing a “mini food court” on concert nights featuring all-local restaurant operators. Seven Lockport restaurants are signed up to participate in what Ulrich said he hopes is an opportunity for local businesses to showcase themselves to a large, unfamiliar audience. The concerts draw attendees from around Western New York, southern Ontario and, depending on the main act, other states...

The article mentions that one local charitable cause per week will be allowed onto the premises to raise money. Both are nice additions.

UPDATE 06/24/10

LUSJ reported the plug is pulled on both. I say swallow the pride, don't worry about the additional shows, move the food court into the first row of parking in the lot and lower the fee. Life is about compromises and changes. Use this as an opportunity to make a good idea (local food court) and make it better and a little more open.

UPDATE 06/25/10

LUSJ reported than main promoter will still be hosting non-profit fundraisers. Though is only charging $100 flat fee instead of Ulrich's 50/50 split take.

Greetings Lockportians and guests to Lockport~

Like last year , for those of you that were aware, there was a "Package Ticket Deal"  for 3 historical attractions in Lockport.

It consisted of the following "pay one price admission" of in and around 20$

• Lockport Cave
• Erie Canal Discovery Center
• Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises

This year its a little diffrent:

 Right now( as of lasat week) its starting out as a "2 Admission deal" for the following :

• Lockport Cave
• Erie Canal Discovery Center

After July 1st (as far as I have heard) it to the "3 admission deal"

• Lockport Cave
• Erie Canal Discovery Center
• Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises

The price.. like last year.. is AROUND the 20$ mark (might be around 25$  or so) .. .. I'll know more as things go on and will update this thread as I find out more info in the next week or so. The tickets are good for a THIS FULL TOURISM SEASON ONLY . (like last year)  So you DON'T have to go to all 3 attractions in one day , you can make a day or 2 or 3 , out if it , depending on what you would like to do and how yout time allows but they MUST BE USED this season.

Considering how "money wise" things are going for many people, its not that bad of a deal if you think about it .

You get AT LEAST  3 or 4 hours of rich history and stories about Lockport, as well as a "staycation"  . For under 30$ .

Just like last year, your ticket purcahse , can be done at any of the 3 attractions I listed above, as well as a Trolly ride  to take you from point to point.

Come out and enjoy some Lockport History .. and see parts of Lockport that you MAY not have seen before.

Take Care all.
I'll keep you all updated  in reagrds to Ticket prices for this "Pacakge Deal"  as updates become available.

~Jeff



Update : Bumped from Below.

Tickets for the "2 Pack Deal" (Discovery Center and Cave Tour)

• $12 for Adults
• $8 for children

Available at either the Discovery Center OR Lockport Cave Ticket office ( 2 Pine Street, Old City Hall), until July 1st.  On/After July 1st. it swtiches to the "3 Pack deal" for admission to : Discovery Center,Lockport Cave, and Erie Canal and Lock Cruises respective ticket offices. Price unkown at this time.


Update on the "3-Pack 'Passport' " :

• As of July 1st Admission prices are as follows for the "3 Pack ' Passport' "
• $26 for Adults
• $16 for Children 
• Tickets will be avialable at ALL 3 Participating Attractions ( Discovery Center, Lockport Cave, Erie Canal and Locks Cruise.

An interesting article in The Wall Street Journal about the money and voices behind some of the Walmart resistance across the US.

Robert Brownson long believed that his proposed development here, with its 200,000-square-foot Wal-Mart Supercenter, was being held hostage by nearby homeowners.

He had seen them protesting at city hall, and they had filed a lawsuit to stop the project.

What he didn't know was that the locals were getting a lot of help. A grocery chain with nine stores in the area had hired Saint Consulting Group to secretly run the antidevelopment campaign. Saint is a specialist at fighting proposed Wal-Marts, and it uses tactics it describes as "black arts."...

A good read for those around here who always felt that Tops was funding the resistance to the reuse of the old mall site as a Super Center.

"You can tell by the size of their McDonald's sign how affluent a neighborhood is."

This line was a semi-joke by the person from the Dept of State. He was one of two who were conducting the zoning/planning board training earlier this week at NCCC (board members are required 4-hours of training annually).

It is another one of those comments that hit you upside the head with how "obvious" they are. The sad part here is that the task at hand, no huge obnoxious signs, does not depend on how affluent a municipality is. It only depends on how defined the local zoning/planning/sign/etc codes are.

Maybe it is just as simple as the more affluent communities having the courage to enact the limiting codes with the knowledge that "businesses will still come". I submit that businesses would 1) still come and 2) be willing to spend some more money/and or do things differently if they were assured that everyone was playing by the same rules. This would give added security in the additional investment while also making the area look more desirable.

As I have mentioned before, large backlit highway pole signs especially do not belong in a 30 mph urban area with pedestrians. They serve no legitimate purpose ( I am not trying to find them from a half mile away at 55 mph) and cheapen the look of the area.

If we want to improve our area we just need to legislate what we want and have the courage to do it.

The Buffalo News reported:

The Common Council decided Wednesday to seek proposals from garbage collection and recycling companies using a format that would give residents their choice of three sizes of city-sanctioned garbage cans.

President Richelle J. Pasceri said the bidding envisions a system of “utility-based billing,” whereby the cost of garbage collection would be taken out of the regular property tax and billed separately to each property owner — including those who are tax-exempt.

However, the bill would vary based on the size of garbage tote each resident chooses: 35, 65 or 95 gallons, Pasceri said. The figures will depend on the prices quoted by the contractors servicing what is called the “variable cart” plan.

This is the plan that I prefer. The uniform totes look much better as the curb, the built in lids keep the trash in place and each residence pays relative to how much they dispose of. All I'd ask for is a dark green or black color to look nice at the curb and alongside the house. The extra recycling tote will be a PIA at first but I can vouch that a good portion of our trash now is cardboard, etc.

I also agree with Jack Smith in getting the garbage responsibilities out of the city's long term costs:

Alderman Jack L. Smith Jr., D- 2nd Ward, said he wants to privatize collection because the city won the right to do so in the new contract approved late last year with the city’s blue-collar union, which includes garbage workers.

“That’s what the whole contract agreement was for,” he said

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The Buffalo News reported the recently annouced Water Trail System created by the State Canal Corp.

The state Canal Corp. has created a trail system of 100 launch sites for boats and paddle craft across New York, officials are announcing today.



Dubbed the "Canalway Water Trail," the effort is aimed at improving existing sites by making them more user-friendly, Canal Corp. Director Carmella R. Mantello said at a press conference this morning in Mayor's Park.


One of the goals of the project is to have a launch site every 10 to 15 miles, Mantello said. Some sites along the trail are for motorized crafts, while others are for non-motorized. Some existing sites where camping is available are also included.


There are two sites in Erie County and seven in Niagara County that are part of the first 100 sites in the system. The site in Erie County are the Tonawanda Wall in the City of Tonawanda and the Amherst Boat Launch in the Town of Amherst.

The Niagara County sites include Nelson C. Goehle Marine Park and the Upper Terminal Launch in the City of Lockport; the Botanical Gardens, Mayor's Park and city launch in North Tonawanda; the Gasport Launch in the Town of Royalton; and West Canal Park and Marina in the Town of Pendleton.

Interactive map is here.