Mural, remediation funding applications approved to proceed in Town of Niagara

By Timothy Chipp

Niagara Town Board officials took two separate votes aimed at making their town more attractive during Tuesday’s regular meeting.

First, the board gave approval to apply for New York state grant money through the Empire State Development Corp.’s Restore NY Communities Initiative for remediation of the vacant 3505 Hyde Park Blvd.

The second go-ahead will allow the supervisor to apply for Niagara River Greenway money to install a large mural along I-190 along the Extra Space Storage building on Packard Road.

If approved, the Hyde Park Boulevard site would see one building – on the south side of the property – demolished, while a second building would be redeveloped.

A public hearing was held before the board’s vote, though no comments were provided.

The southern building is more than 66,000 square feet in size, while the building the town seeks to renovate is just a few hundred square feet smaller.

A price tag for the project was not immediately clear. The application’s submission was approved by a 5-0 vote.

Meanwhile, town officials were a little more divided on the use of Niagara River Greenway funds to support the mural.

Councilman Charles Teixeira voted against the application to the Host Community Standing Committee that manages the greenway funds. He expressed concerns over using this public money on private property during a work session earlier this month.

The application was approved 4-1.

Back in November, the town received word that the mural was deemed consistent with the mission of the greenway funding, as determined by the Niagara River Greenway Commission.

“I’m happy we were approved by the Greenway Commission,” Supervisor Sylvia Virtuoso said during the work session. “The mural itself will be maintenance-free for many, many years. But we wanted to make sure that, if the building was sold in the future, it doesn’t get painted over.”

The application is for $108,000 in money.

Virtuoso said the project also needed New York State Department of Transportation approval, since it’s along the interstate.

Once completed, the mural will serve as a welcoming image, featuring the town’s name and “elements that represent the … history, nature and community,” according to the town’s application to the commission. Images included are expected to be intersecting street signs of Porter and Military roads, the town’s seal and both American and Canadian flags to represent the border nature of the area.

A timeline for installing the mural was not immediately available.