LEWISTON — As local officials heard at a public forum earlier this month, residents have many questions and concerns regarding the proposed Sanborn Square development.
Lewiston planners received plenty of feedback during a nearly two-and-a-half-hour-long public hearing during a planning board session this past Thursday that saw many of the nearly 35 people in attendance criticize some aspect of the $23 million housing development, from the residents who would live there, to the hamlet not having the right infrastructure, to concerns that it would change the fabric of the community.
“I don’t think this kind of development fits in this kind of area,” said Buffalo Street resident Elizabeth Perri. “I think this kind of infrastructure would be better in maybe the Village of Lewiston or somewhere closer with more resources and shops and transportation.”
Developers Park Grove Realty are looking to build the 50-unit complex across five buildings on vacant land at 2835 Saunders Settlement Road, next to a Dollar General, the former Kroening’s Garage and gas station, and near West Street Elementary School. The Rochester-based company has built and operated more than 2,000 units in New York state, New Jersey, and North Carolina.
Many of the concerns raised at a public forum at the Sanborn Fire Company earlier this month were echoed Thursday, with some saying there are few food and shopping options nearby, there is a lack of bus services there, which would require, and it would further strain emergency services.
Other residents brought up how this would increase traffic along Sanders Settlement Road near an elementary school, that cleanup work would be needed for a gas spill at the former gas station, and expressed reservations on how well the property could be maintained, either by residents or by Park Grove.
“It’s a small town community, and we hope to keep it more like that,” said Bridgeline Road resident Bonnie Bagwell.
Senior VP of Development Tim Crilly consistently described it as workforce housing, mainly for those at the beginning or end of their work lives, with the acceptable salary range for those allowed being $42,000 and $66,000 per year. They would be in a townhome style similar to the Riley Brook apartments in Hamburg, which they opened last year.
“We thought that for the Town of Lewiston and the Hamlet of Sanborn, this sort of design would fit very well,” Crilly said. The representatives present said those working at the new Amazon facility, SUNY Niagara, and the Niagara-Wheatfield district could live there, though residents had their doubts about that.
Rent would be between $575 and $1,500 per month, depending on what 30% of an earner’s income is. There would be a mix of 12 one-bedroom, 26 two-bedroom, and 12 three-bedroom units, with other proposed amenities including a 2,300 square-foot community building that would hold the leasing offices, laundry facilities, fitness center, and community space, a playground, two retaining ponds, 111 parking spaces, and private garage removal and snowplowing.
This development is partially funded with $6.2 million worth of incentives from the state’s Office of Homes and Community Renewal as part of their Low-Income Housing Tax Credit competitive funding program. The rest would come from banks that buy up tax credits, so there is less of a burden on Park Grove.
Crilly said Park Grove’s business model has them owning and managing the facility for 15 to 20 years, having one property manager and one maintenance supervisor working onsite. They would normally work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and be on call after hours, but residents said that most possible onsite problems happen at night.
All the buildings would use electric heating as a condition for receiving state funding. While Park Grove would also not be allowed to deny someone housing if they have Section 8 vouchers, those individuals would go through the same screening process as regular residents.
Crilly also defended against complaints about the residents that would live there, saying their application process goes through a person’s criminal and work history, and landlord references. There is also a lottery system for potential residents, with 20% of those applying for Riley Brook making it in.
“They are typically underfunded or managed and not maintained well,” Crilly said, responding to comparisons to public housing projects. “That’s not what you’re getting here.”
Sanborn Fire Chief Rob Hoover said that, while trying to remain neutral, he did say that adding more water lines will have impacts elsewhere, with residents already complaining about low water pressure and the nearby Colonial Village hamlet having their own water infrastructure issues. Engineer Cole Overhoff brought up how they would have to build an on-site pump station to make sure there is water pressure.
The Lewiston Planning Board closed the public hearing at the meeting’s end and tabled making any approvals for a future meeting, with Crilly saying they would provide more documentation. With the Niagara County Planning Board already giving its support back in May, final project approvals would have to come from the town planners and the town board.
Depending on whether and when approvals are given, Park Grove wants to start construction by the end of the year and be finished by mid-2028.