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With State finances secured, Harlem decorative lights OK'd
When reconstruction of Harlem Road begins in 2007, decorative lights will be part of the improvements after the Town Board agreed to pay for its share of the price, joining Amherst, which agreed to its portion several months ago.
Cheektowaga will pay $137,923 to finance its share of the street lights, which will stand 22 feet high and accommodate signs that identify streets and guide traffic. However, the town will be reimbursed through New York State funds secured by Assemblyman Paul A. Tokasz.
The lights are part of improvements that also include traffic roundabouts, decorative sidewalks, masonry walls and tree-lined streets.
All of the landscape improvements were agreed upon based on community input at several meetings hosted by the Harlem-KensingtonCleveland Task Force. The group consisted of members of the area's business and community associations as well as public officials from Cheektowaga and Amherst.
Although the Amherst Town Board agreed to pay $38,000 for its share of the lighting project, some Cheektowaga town board members in August balked at the price, and a resolution to fund the project was withdrawn.
Councilmember James J. Jankowiak stated in August that he would vote against the lights, noting that Cheektowaga was not guaranteed at the time that it would be reimbursed by the state.
Pat Allaire, who is the president of the Harlem-Kensington-Cleveland Business Association and a task force member, said that the lights were selected by a consensus of members of the task force and the business and community groups.
"There are six years of work that we've done to put this project together," Allaire said. "To see it stumble over $136,000 is not acceptable."
However, a September 18 memo from Tokasz appeared to have eased the town board's worries, and the measure passed, 7-0 at Monday's board meeting.
"I have secured $282,000 in Multi-Modal funding for the Town," Tokasz's memo advised the board. "This funding may be utilized for projects consistent with the purposes provided for in the state statute."
According to Tokasz, the provisions include costs associated with construction, reconstruction, enhancement, improvement, replacement and reconditioning of town roads, highways, parkways and bridges.
Jankowiak said the reimbursement assurance from Tokasz helped him vote in favor of the lights.
"Do I think it's necessary? No," said Jankowiak. "But the board wants to support the redevelopment. I'll be a team player and support it."
Jankowiak also noted that the state funding made his decision easier, adding there remains a need for money to improve town parks.
"We need help now in Parks and Recreation. I'd like to see the money go to the parks to help take people off the streets," Jankowiak said. "But the (grant) money has to be spent on a transportation issue. So be it."
The New York State Department of Transportation agreed to fund $600,000 for many of the landscape improvements and provide new street lights, but would not pay for decorative lights.
Wayne Terrace resident Evelyn Jacobs compared improving Harlem Road to improvements under way or completed by local businesses.
Jacobs noted that Walden Galleria is reinventing itself with a multimillion dollar renovation and expansion, and Tops supermarkets just completed major renovations to several area stores.
"These businesses would not invest this money if it wouldn't look positive for them," Jacobs said. "It would seem that a little bit of (town) money spent...is worth it."
A July 2002 economic development study commissioned by the towns of Cheektowaga and Amherst indicates that the corridor can support an additional 218,300 square feet of retail development with potential retail spending of $842 million.
"What you're gaining is a distinctive vertical element that will unify the corridor," Jacobs said. "Harlem Road has to compete with our more prosperous retail corridors."
Allaire noted that there is significant growth along Harlem in Amherst, and he would like to see the same happen for Cheektowaga.
"We believe the improvements will bring our community up to the standards that will invite more and new businesses," Allaire added.
The DOT is expected to reconstruct Harlem Road from a point near Genesee Street north to Yorktown Road in Amherst. The work is expected to take two years.
In another Harlem Road matter, Allaire said that the business group is against an anticipated proposal to erect a 90-foot cellular tower north of the Cleveland Hill fire hall because it would be out of place with the neighborhood's character.
Johnson said that the town will likely ask the unnamed company to consider co-location on an existing tower, or to find a commercial rooftop on which to install the tower.
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