New staircase and fish grinder debut at Village of Lewiston waterfront

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

Renovations along the Lewiston waterfront took a big step toward completion last week with the addition of a grinder at the fish station, and the opening of a new steel staircase leading from the park to the boat launch.

Village of Lewiston Mayor Anne Welch said, “Lewiston Landing Waterfront Park is being redeveloped thanks to Sicoli Construction for the new stairway, and new curbing and drainage by the village DPW. This park will have a new metal fence, picnic tables, refuse receptacles, and swings thanks to the generous donations from the Lewiston Beautification Commission, Lewiston Garden Club, and Francis and Marie Williams.”

Sicoli Construction Services oversaw renovations to the fish-cleaning station, which also included a new bathroom; and the steel staircase, which replaced a wooden version. This portion of the work along North Water Street took about six months to complete.

A new fish grinder is a highlight of the renovated fish-cleaning station. The building also gained a second bathroom.

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Fish-cleaning station

Site Superintendent Chris Sandonato said, “One of the main parts of the job was the fish grinder. The old fish grinder was out of date, was constantly needing maintenance work, and the company that made it went out of business. So, to get parts, it was just very, very difficult to get.”

He said the new grinder will require considerably less maintenance over time.

Sandonato noted, “This one is a little more energy-efficient. It does draw less power. The old one was more of like a toilet system. It flushes water with the solids, and refills with water. This one does not run on a water system at all. It just purely grinds up fish and that is it. It is more of an energy-efficient fish-grinder.”

“The fishermen were pretty adamant about being year-round, being able to get here to clean up the fish,” Sandonato said. “So, that was our biggest one, and that had a long lead time on it, in terms of getting it built, and tested, shipped. We knew that we had a longer lead time on that, but it came in right on time. It got hooked up and, so far, the fishermen already like it.”

A new bathroom was built on the east side of the building.

“There was one bathroom in the back, and now there's two,” Sandonato said. “We had split up one big bathroom that is mainly used for the fisherman. This is more the fishermen’s building. The public can still use it – anybody that comes down and uses the park. But this was mainly for the fishermen. The bathroom is big enough that we were able to cut it in half and add another toilet, sink, in the other one, along with some accessories. Give it all-new, fresh drywall paint, all-new toilets and sinks and everything, and a separate door to get into that one, as well.”

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Staircase

Sandonato said this part of the job involved “getting the old staircase out, so we can get the new piles in. Steel piles were driven into the ground. Once we do that, we can kind of get our better measurements of field measuring, in terms of how the staircase is going to lay out.”

He explained the new material “has a longer shelf life, as you would say. The staircase is now steel, with galvanized coating over top of it, to kill any chance of a rust happening. The wood ones were pressure-treated wood. Pressure-treated wood has about a lifetime of 20 to 30 years, depending on how often it's treated, stained, painted, etc. These ones should last much longer than a pressure-treated wood staircase.”

Sandonato said the public feedback, so far, has been positive.

Though Sicoli Construction Services is based in Niagara Falls, “We're all born and raised in Lewiston; the Sicoli family and myself, we all grew up here in Lewiston,” Sandonato said. “It's a nice project to kind of get into, be a part of the community.”

Company Vice President Christopher Sicoli added, “With growing up in the Lewiston/Youngstown area my whole life, it was very satisfying to be able to complete a project like this that benefits our community in a big way. We are lucky to have the waterfront that we have here in Lewiston, and it is great to see the improvements being made while also being a part of it.”

Fox Fence previously installed a new metal fence along the waterfront park’s edge, stretching from the foot of the Griffon Brewery & Gastropub to the base of The Silo Restaurant. The Department of Public Works has been working on North Water Street infrastructure, and oversaw replacement of curbing.

At Monday’s municipal work session, Welch called the waterfront work “very nice.” She said the DPW, Bella Concrete Solutions – which worked on the new curb – and Sicoli Construction Services “did a really nice job down there.

“You guys have been really hard at work down there. It looks fantastic.”

New fencing and curb cuts have enhanced North Water Street in Lewiston.

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Future additions

Welch said, “The beautification girls have ordered the brand-new picnic tables and swings, and so you'll see them down at the waterfront installed pretty soon. …

“The waterfront is going to look a lot nicer this year.”

She added, “Flower baskets and gardens will also enhance the park, and the slope along the park has been cleared and now presents a beautiful scenic view of the Niagara River.

“This park attracts residents and visitors alike that can sit quietly, stroll through the park, or have a picnic while enjoying the beauty of the waterfront.”