VILLAGE OF LEWISTON — Having been sworn in as the new mayor this week, Dan Cota is getting right to work, investigating what can be done about the village’s waterfront and three mostly vacant buildings along Center Street.
The Village Board of Trustees approved allowing Cota to conduct comprehensive reviews of the local waterfront and fishing industry and the 8th and Center Streets commercial developments. The motions allowing this do not have any expenditures or authorize legal actions, basically allowing a fact-finding mission.
“Those are big issues, and I wanted (the trustees) buy in,” Cota said, doing it in such a way that the other trustees have some kind of check on his powers. He noted that such actions had previously been handled administratively.
Supporting the local fishing industry was one of Cota’s campaign promises, which brings in roughly $5 million toward the village’s economy. The addendum for this waterfront and fishing review said this would address the need to maintain safe, usable waterfront access “without repeating costly repairs to a design that may continue to fail under recurring ice and river conditions,” while looking to support year-round use.
This review would include:
• Evaluating the existing dock system, long-term dock options, and technology improvements that provide real-time waterfront information and enhance communications
• Identify grant opportunities and other potential funding sources.
• Solicit comments from residents, businesses, boating organizations, and other stakeholders involved with the fishing industry.
• Solicit budget estimates, technical information, informal quotes, and vendor recommendations as appropriate.
The three Ellicott Development buildings built at 760, 780 and 790 Center St. are home to apartment units, Tim Horton’s, and Quest Diagnostics, with a majority of other units there unoccupied since opening in 2021. Ellicott’s plans for filling out the remaining space in 780 Center St. over the years ranged from an Ace Hardware to more apartments on the first floor.
Director of Development Tom Fox previously told the Gazette they had issues leasing the first floor of 780 Center St. because of the COVID-19 pandemic aftermath, changes in market demand, and a lack of visibility from Center Street.
“It’s about trying to figure out where we stand and where we need to go at this point in time,” Cota said. The addendum for this review states the village should have a clear understanding of what remains unresolved with the three buildings and what issues may still exist with them.
The review for these properties would include:
• Review of all plans, approvals, occupancy status, unfinished project elements, costs, and whether the completed portions are consistent with the approved plans.
• Legal review by the village attorney of approvals, unresolved obligations, and potential legal exposure or legal remedies available to the village.
• Consultation with village employees, relevant boards, neighboring property owners, residents, businesses, and other stakeholders.
Cota aims to present his analyses of both the waterfront and 8th and Center streets properties by the village’s Aug. 17 meeting.
Also during the administrative meeting on Monday, the village board created two new committees, the master plan committee and the teen advisory committee.
Revising the village’s Master Plan was another of Cota’s campaign promises, which has not been updated in 22 years. The trustees would appoint seven members across the community to this committee that would make recommendations about a new master plan to the village board, which would have the final say. The committee would also receive information gathered from the waterfront and fishing industry evaluation.
The teen advisory committee would be done through the parks and recreation program. It will serve in an advisory capacity to the trustees and provide local youths opportunities to provide their input on village matters.