A look back at 2005

by Ralph Schwarz
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, December 29, 2005

The year 2005 turned out to be another busy and exciting 12 months for Western Niagara County, in particular for the towns of Niagara and Wheatfield.

With the national economy only slowly recovering, the war on international terrorism dragging on and vehement storms hitting the Gulf Coast, these two towns also saw their share of ups and downs, which included the fight for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, the revival of the former Summit Park Mall and the proposed development of a multimillion theme park.

And as in the past, this year's Tribune Year in Review revisits five of the most memorable community happenings of 2005.

‘Keep Niagara Open’

Flanked by members of the community, state and federal politicians including (left to right) New York state Sen. George Maziarz, Gov. George Pataki, U.S. Rep. Thomas Reynolds, U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter and New York state Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte reassure their support for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station during the June 27 rally outside the University of Buffalo’s Center for the Arts. (photo by Chuck Cederman)

The successful fight for the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station easily ranks as the most significant news item of 2005. After the U.S. Department of Defense announced its plans on May 13 to close the installation and transfer its two units, the 914th Airlift Wing and the 107th Air Refueling Wing, to air bases in Little Rock, Ark., and Bangor, Maine, the Western New York community came together to save not only the base but also the approximately 3,000 jobs tied to the facility.

While federal and state politicians, including U.S. Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton, U.S. Reps. Louise Slaughter, Thomas Reynolds and Brian Higgins, and Gov. George Pataki lobbied with members of the Base Alignment and Closure Commission in Washington, the Niagara Military Affairs Council spearheaded the community’s efforts to “Keep Niagara Open.” In addition to a number of rallies, most notably the ones held during the June 27 visit of four BRAC Commission members to Niagara Falls and Amherst, NIMAC collected more than 128,000 letters in support of the Niagara air base. The letters, which NIMAC Chairman Merrell Lane presented to the BRAC Commission before the group began its final deliberations on Aug. 22, clearly demonstrated the importance of Niagara County’s second-largest employer to the Western New York community – a fact not lost on the BRAC Commission.

On Aug. 26, supporters of the Niagara Falls air base were finally able to breathing a collective sigh of relief as the BRAC Commission unanimously voted to keep the facility open. The decision to take the Niagara Falls air base off the closure list proposed by the U.S. Department of Defense came around 8:30 p.m. on the final day of the commission’s three-day deliberations in Arlington, Va. According to the ruling, the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station will remain in operation and retain both of its units. But while the 914th will keep all of its eight C-130 Hercules aircraft, the 107th will lose its eight LC-135 air refueling tankers to the U.S. Air Force base in Bangor, Maine. All personnel from the 107th, however, will remain at the Niagara Falls air base as an associated wing to the 914th.

On Oct. 27, the U.S. Congress approved the final report of the BRAC Commission, marking the last step in the process to save the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station.

‘Oz’ Eyes Wheatfield

Following the July 18 announcement by Oz Central, optimism in Wheatfield to land “The Magical Land of Oz” theme park reached a high as witnessed on the banner displayed in the Canal Fest Parade in the City of North Tonawanda just one day later. (photo by Holly Yager)

At first, it sounded more like just another “castle-in-the-sky” project that would never materialize in western Niagara County when a multinational investors group, led by the Kentucky-based Oz Central LLC, announced its plans to bring a $788 million theme park revolving around the “Wizard of Oz” theme to the Greater Niagara Falls area. But on July 18, the project became a reality when Oz Central announced the selection of Wheatfield as the site for “The Magical Land of Oz” theme park and resort.

“With the ever-present Niagara Falls rainbow nearby, we are confident this is the right spot for Oz magic,” said Richard Burch, president of Oz Central, which representing the intellectual estate of the late Oz creator and author, L. Frank Baum.

The first phase of the project would see construction of 350-acre theme park off River Road in Wheatfield. With more than 80 percent of its attractions to be located indoors, the park would be capable to operate 10 months a year. So far, Oz Central has already acquired more than 800 acres of land along River Road, located within the boundaries of Williams and Witmer roads.

Projections indicate that the theme park could create 10,000 jobs related to the construction and another 8,000 jobs at the opening of the resort. Overall it is estimated that the project could create more than 15,000 new jobs within the region and $25 million in annual tax revenue for Wheatfield, $10 million for Niagara County and $35 million for New York state.

Heated Fire Contract Talks

Following months of at-times heated negotiations, the Town of Niagara approved a new contract with Niagara Active Hose Fire Company on June 21. Under the contract, which runs from 2005 through 2009, the fire company will receive $180,000 this year, retroactive of Jan. 1. The remaining payments are $184,500 in 2006, $190,000 in 2007, $197,000 in 2008 and $205,500 in 2009. Under the old contract, the town paid Active Hose $144,500 in 2004.

The new fire protection contract did not come without difficulties, as negotiations stalled at times and both parties exchanged shots at each other in public about which side was to blame for the lack of progress. In the end, the town and Active Hose found a common ground and agreed in principle on the new contract at the Town Board’s June 16 work session. Under the new agreement, Active Hose will account for its spending by submitting a copy of its Form 990 Federal Income Tax return to the town. Federal law already requires non-profit companies, including volunteer fire companies, to file an annual income tax return.

The town’s demand to have access to fire company’s financial records before its awarding a new contract turned out to be one of the key issues in the negotiations. Although Active Hose initially rejected the demand, the fire company turned over its books to the town’s public accountant, Patrick Brown of Brown & Co. LLP, for an audit following the May 5 Town Board work session. At the same work session, Town Supervisor Steven Richards proposed that the town would consider dropping its accountability demands in exchange for copies of Active Hose’s annual federal income tax return, along with a certified audit. According to the supervisor’s proposal, Active Hose could chose the auditor, while the town would pay for all expenses related to the audit.

Land Purchase Causes Controversy

The purchase of a 46-acre property adjacent to the east of Edward Town Middle School off Saunders Settlement Road at a price exceeding the assessed value saw the Niagara-Wheatfield Central School District under fire in March and April. The fact that the school district acquired the property for $571,875, plus a $6,000 compensation for attorney and closing fees, despite an assessed value of only $150,000, did not sit well with a number of Niagara-Wheatfield residents. The Wheatfield Town Board even went so far to pass a resolution on April 11, asking Attorney General Eliot Spitzer to look into the land purchase and determine whether the school district deliberately chose to spend taxpayers’ money to pay for a property that could have been acquired at a lesser cost under eminent domain.

In her response to the criticism, District Superintendent Dr. Judith Howard defended the purchase on the grounds of market value and market forces. “The assessment had very little meaning,” she said. “We wanted the land. We needed the land.”

The land purchase is part of a $37.75 million capital project, which also includes the upgrade and expansion of three school buildings and the addition of new athletic fields and parking space over a five-year span to accommodate enrollment increases. Since the proposed use of the land qualifies as an expansion to an already existing school building, New York state would cover 76 percent of the purchase price, keeping the district’s share at only $150,000. Taking a 5-percent interest, the costs for the taxpayers would be kept at $1 per year over the duration of a 15-year bond, district officials said.

According to the spending plan devised by the school district, New York state will cover the aforementioned 76 percent, or $27.93 million, of the project’s expenses, leaving the district with only a $9.81 million expense. With the state aid, district officials expect to hold the projected tax impact to less than 1 percent per year for the next five years. Residents in the Niagara-Wheatfield school district approved the capital project on Nov. 17, 2004, by a vote of 932 to 540.

‘More Than A Mall’

After a years of decline, the former Summit Park Mall celebrated a revival in 2005. After undergoing major upgrades, including the installation of new skylights and lighting, and the name change to The Summit, the Wheatfield mall saw its occupancy jump from 30 to 68 percent. Through December, the facility listed as occupants more than 50 stores, restaurants and entertainment attractions. What appears even more impressive is the fact that 12 of the most recent additions opened during the last three months.

With anchor stores like Sears, Toys ‘R’ Us and The BonTon already in place, mall owner Jim Anthony developed a “micro-retailing” plan for the 700,000-square-foot mall two years ago. Today, the mall features an unique mix of community-oriented stores and activities, complemented by national chains. One of the latest national retailers to come to The Summit is Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear, a retailer of casual and collegial wear, which now operates a 62,000-square-foot store in the former Jenss building.

The Christmas Wonderland is another family-oriented attraction that recently opened its doors at the mall. Located inside the former Aerospace Museum, the Christmas-themed spectacle includes a display of more than 45 animated figures, recreating scenes from the popular Christmas ballet, “The Nutcracker.” With Anthony’s vision of the mall to create a “Light on the Hill” experience for both residents and tourists as a symbol of life in Niagara, the year-round Christmas Wonderland also compliments the overall mission statement of The Summit to be more than a mall.

“The Christmas Wonderland and stores like Steve & Barry’s are catalysts of good things to come,” said Julie Clark, marketing director at The Summit. “To have a store like this here in the mall is going to be for the mutual benefit of all of our tenants. The shopping experience alone is one more reason to come here. ‘Discover The Summit: It’s more than a mall’ is the theme we’re pushing for.”

If the revival of The Summit continues at that rate, great times lie ahead for the Wheatfield mall in 2006.