Public good approved for Town of Niagara's Belden Center

By Timothy Chipp
Residents of the Town of Niagara’s Belden Center community can look forward to a savory addition soon.
Town officials on Tuesday approved providing water hookup to a vacant lot in the neighborhood, owned by Tom Tierney, for the purpose of a community vegetable garden, Supervisor Sylvia Virtuoso said.
“I thought it would be nice,” he said after addressing the board during its work session Wednesday. “It could be a little help to the community.”
Tierney said his aim is to help the community with some sustainable food, starting small with some tomatoes and peppers.
Making it happen, though, required water hookup to the property, a process that usually requires a few bureaucratic steps before it gets to this point. Water and Sewer Superintendent Brian Beiter said after the work session that the process usually involves getting permits for these hookups to be installed, which cost money.
Instead, the town will use a spare water meter to get the water flowing to the land. Tierney is still responsible for the piping on the property, starting from the curb.
Tierney said the vegetable garden idea sprung from his own garden. He said his experiences growing those tasty options, along with his family’s experience with greenhouses, will help get the project started.
Once in place, the garden will be accessible to the community to enjoy and eat healthy vegetables, Tierney said following the town’s work session Nov. 13.
It will initially take up about one-third of the vacant lot, located at 3015 Savannah St., leaving plenty of room for expansion, Tierney said.
Tierney’s current plan is to cover the cost of the water for the garden, allowing the proposed feature to be free for those in the community.
“I think this is an excellent idea,” Virtuoso said after the work session. “It’s generous of him to do this for his community on his property. It’s amazing.”
The Town of Niagara board is next scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Town Hall, 7105 Lockport Road.