Lockport NY

The Buffalo News and The LUSJ have both reported on the attempts of small-business to land on Canal St.

Does a “small” business person have a prayer of landing a piece of Canal Street?


A few who’ve tried believe they do not, especially once a bigger entity like inLighten or, now, Ulrich Development Corp., enters the picture.
But the city’s development arm says they are not playing favorites and will consider all offers currently on the table....

This is the highest profile section of street along the Canal in Lockport. The biggest issue here is the city's lack of a plan for the street. If there was a plan in place it wouldn't matter if there were separate entities or one trying to develop the block. Though with the money needed to finish each building and create in-fill to make it successful, I'd say a large developer and their money is needed.

I've mentioned the current draw backs:
-No thru traffic in a pedestrian light area.
-Only two or three street level store fronts separated by almost a city block.
-No continuous street frontage to draw pedestrians down it.
-No plan to ensure it has the best chance of drawing people year round to make it viable.


This should be a signature project. Anything less will sell the street and the city short. It should one-up Ulrich City Center and pick up on what was missed over there. Offer tax-breaks etc to offset the investment needed in exchange for a mixed-use development that should set the precedent for future development downtown while showing visitors a progressive city. Invite successful developers from Buffalo and Rochester to sell them on the opportunity and then bid on it. No one bids well enough, increase the incentives and repeat...

 

Came across one of those quotes the other day that solidify a thought in one's mind that always there but never quite able to be stated eloquently:

think the knee-jerk reaction towards "green space" is because people have no faith anymore in architects or developers to create buildings worth caring about.

James Howard Kunstler frequently gives an example of this in Saratoga Springs. The city was redeveloping a vacant property that was originally a beautiful hotel that had been demolished for a supermarket or strip mall. The best idea the locals could come up with was "a park", even though there is already an historic Olmsted-designed park right across the street! People just weren't able to even consider that an urban-scaled building could be constructed that would complement the street. Their gut reaction was that any development would necessarily be a detriment to the city, based on decades of experience of that being true.
 

JSmith -buffalo rising

Seemingly all we can wrap our heads around today are parks and attractions. While important they will never float a sinking city ship the way a critical mass of employed citizenry will.


An editorial appeared in the Buffalo News today about the success of the Larkin Building and surrounding area in Buffalo. No parks or bells and whistles to attempt to sow seeds of development. No carriages put before the horse. Just an unique offering of history and the hope for the return of an urban neighborhood that has already been mostly demolished.


We have a similar building. But we also have a semi-functioning Main St a block away, intact housing/neighborhoods to the south and a historic canal and lock system 4 blocks away. Where is the drive to secure a grand vision built from a strong foundation of non-retail jobs? Get people nearby with well paying jobs and homes and the retail will happily follow, mo arm twisting necessary.

...Howard Zemsky is an investor and preservation-minded developer—no, that is not a contradiction in terms—whose family owned Russer Foods. He and partners Joe Petrella, Bill Jones and Doug Swift started it all eight years ago by buying the vacant Graphic Controls building. Despite “no way” warnings from timid skeptics, they pulled off a$30 million transformation, filled its 10 floors with tenants and—with a nod to history— reclaimed the Larkin Building name. It stands as architectural eye candy for thousands of daily commuters on I-190...

...There are different ways to rebuild a neighborhood. This may be the quickest. Zemsky and partners have, he said, spent “several million dollars” buying and rehabbing buildings. Investment attracts investment. First Niagara kicked in $1.5 million for a streetscape face-lift. Architects bought the four-story Kamman Building. Neighborhood homeowners are getting fix-up dollars. There is talk of a new owner—and new life—for the drab, eight-story monolith next to the Larkin.

The Lockport Trolly Rides again this year.

Date of Start: This month  not 100% sure of the date

For those of you unfamiliar with this tour.

This is a FREE guided tour (however donations are appreciated) on a Trolly that has been "outfitted" for normal street driving.

The tour itself takes ABOUT 1 hour   to 1 and 1/2 hour (depending)

The tour takes you through the city and shows you quite a few historical and interesting places in Lockport. Even for some "seasoned" Lockportians it shows you places you might not know about.

The "trolly guides" (Stan and Jon last have heard)  are quite knowledgeable as to the history of the buildiungs you will see on tour, and are willing to answer any questions you may have while on tour with them.
There are 8 "official" stops along the route, they are as follows:

•  Erie Canal Discovery Center
• Colonel William Bond House
• Niagara County Historical Society
• Lockport Inn and Suites
• Holiday Inn
• Kenan Center
• Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Crusies
• Lockport Cave and Underground Boat Ride

The Trolly arrives at each "station" at approximately the 15 and 45 minute mark of the hour. (or can be called "on demand" depending on the "station" you are at)

Hours:  9 am - 6pm (subject to change)

Personal note:
I have been on this tour quite a few times and it is VERY enjoyable Jon and Stan do a great job of making history FUN to learn.

Having only lived in Lockport for 12 years, and being a tour guide for Lockport Cave... I learned ALOT  on this tour.. it DEFINATELY  gives you a "diffrent perspective"  of Lockport History .. I HIGHLY recommend this tour to any one who lives in Lockport  OR may have family or freinds visiting from out of town as long as they are "engaged" with history .. this will be quite enjoyable for you and them.

Enjoy folks .. and see some rich Lockport History
~Jeff

Another year and another summer of concerts to come. Here is where we will track the line up of the 2010 Molson Concert Series in Lockport NY. This is the third year of the concerts and it has been recently announced (LUSJ - Buffalo News) that the concerts will be extended for three more years with 9 shows per summer.

Performers in the 2010 series lineup have not been announced by the promoter yet. Tucker said he’s been told the names of a few headline acts, booked or close to booked, but he’s sworn to silence until all nine shows are confirmed.

“I can tell you this: If the lineup shapes up like (Paradowski) wants it to, it could be our best season ever,” he said.

 I'm not sure of Mayor Tucker's exact tastes but hopefully his words ring true. Last summer's  Our Lady Peace and Queensryche shows were highlights for me. Last year's 2009 thread is here.

Artists will be added as they are leaked/found up to the official series announcement date which is usually early June. If anyone finds any information feel free to drop them in the comments below. Recent updates will be shown in red.

All shows are held outdoors at the Ulrich City Center downtown on Main St rain or shine and are free. Visiting Lockport and looking for other things to do? Look here: "Lockport on the Erie Canal"

UPDATE (05-18-10): It's Official: Molson Canal Concert Series Official Website

UPDATE (01-26-10) - 2011 thread is up!

2010 Molson Concert Series Lineup:

6/25 - Rusted Root  w/ The Funky Beets, The Ragbirds
7/02 - Our Lady Peace w/ Jimmy Gnecco of Ours, The Incurables
7/09 - Gretchen Wilson w/ Bareback Jack, Amanada Nagurney
7/16 - Three Dog Night w/ Leroy Townes, Rob Falgiano
7/23 - Blues Traveler w/ Free Henry, Automation, Bearhunter
7/30 - Rik Emmett w/ Wanted by the FBI, Friendly Fire
8/06 - Kansas w/ Reign of Kindo
8/13 - Tears for Fears w/ Missing Star, Pillagers
8/20 - Big Sugar w/ Johnny Nobody, Beggar's Best, Jeremy Hoyle Band

UPDATE (08-24-10): The series is over. How many shows did you see? Who was your favorite? Take the poll!

Seems Lockport’s (only?) developer David Ulrich is proposing something for Canal St. today. The Buffalo News and the LUSJ reported:

...David L. Ulrich is to meet behind closed doors today with the board of the city’s development agency to discuss the empty buildings along the north bank of the Erie Canal, which were renovated at a cost of more than $3 million, mostly in state and federal grants.

Proposals ranging from a wine store to the headquarters of a digital screen manufacturer have fallen through.
Now Ulrich, landlord of Ulrich City Centre on Main Street, will go before the Greater Lockport Development Corp. to make a pitch for a new project...

What would you hope to see?

I’d love to see the Niagara Wine Loop Shop come back in its original form. I’d be knocked silly if an actual residential mix was proposed. I may need shock paddles if mixed use infill development is mentioned.

UPDATE 06-04-10
Most meeting updates from The Buffalo News and The LUSJ with not much by the way of new information.

Recieved an update of the Nuisance Law draft.

Notible updates:

The Nuisance Abatement Board is no longer made up of council members:

“Nuisance Abatement Board” – The Board shall consist of five (5) members (one from each ward) to be appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of Council. Initial appointments to the Board shall be made as follows: Two members shall be appointed for a term of one year; two members shall be appointed for a term of two years; and one member shall be appointed for a term of three years. Subsequent appointments or reappointments shall be made for terms of three years. A vacancy shall be filled for an expired term in the manner in which the original appointment was made. A simple majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

There is now the path of a Nuisance Abatement Agreement

At any time and at the Board’s discretion, the City may enter into a written Nuisance Abatement Agreement with the property owner wherein the property owner agrees to take specific actions, as approved by the City, to abate, terminate or eliminate the public nuisance activity on the property in exchange for the City of Lockport reserving its rights and agreeing not to initiate any of its enforcement remedies pursuant to Section 255-45 of this article against the property during the term of the Agreement, provided that the property owner complies with the terms and conditions of the Nuisance Abatement Agreement and the conditions or violations causing the public nuisance activity on the property are abated, terminated or eliminated.

Also addressed are the removal of points based on time since the infraction:

The points assessed to the property shall remain on the property if:
(a) The property owner fails to request a reconsideration of the points by the Nuisance Abatement Board pursuant to Section 255-46B (3)
(b) Following the property owner’s request for reconsideration under Section
255-46B (3), the Nuisance Abatement Board determines that the points assessed to the property were merited; or
(c) The points remain on the property for approximately one year after the points become officially assessed against a property. After one year, the Nuisance Abatement Board shall remove the points assessed to the property.

Small tidbit buried in the Buffalo News:

...Also in Niagara County, an electronics company from Hong Kong paid $495,000 to buy a vacant manufacturing and warehouse facility at 85 Grand St. in Lockport from Jamestown Container Corp. The electronics firm, acting through 85 Grand Street LLC, bought the parcel from Jamestown Container Lockport Inc.


The 145,000 square-foot, three-story industrial building had been used by Jamestown and predecessor Great Lakes Container Corp. and Great Lakes Packaging Corp., and had been built up over time. It includes active rail siding, nine truck docks at the two ends of the building, and updated office space.

However, it has been vacant for about six months, after Jamestown Container moved the operations to other plants, said cqCammille L. Kantowski, the commercial real estate broker at Hunt Commercial Real Estate who handled the deal. A representative of the electronics firm could not be reached to comment...

Wonder what they would want with it and if there should be any hope of jobs attached anytime soon?