Anyone concerned about the possible development of west end and downtown brownfields can get a first-hand look at sites during a walking tour on July 22 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Participants can gather at Cornerstone Arena to join representatives of the Niagara County Brownfields Coalition in seeing and discussing sites from the New York Central Train Station on Union Street to the city’s western limits. The tour will take place rain or shine.
“Each 90-minute tour explores districts in the study area and offers an opportunity for interactive analysis and observation,” said Joy Kuebler, a contracted facilitator for the county brownfields project. “Some of the tours start and stop near local eateries if you want to grab something to eat before or after; you are welcome to.”
The tour is part of the Niagara County Department of Economic Development’s three-year process to inventory, research, conduct environmental testing, and gain community input on brownfields.
“We’re following the federal definition of brownfield, where redevelopment is complicated by contamination or perceived contamination,” said Amy Schifferli, brownfield program manager for the Niagara County Department of Economic Development and president of the Niagara County Brownfield Development Corp. Schifferli said properties may be vacant or underutilized, including former factories, gas stations, dry cleaners, and railroad property.
The brownfields work is part of a $1.5 million U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant awarded to the Niagara County Brownfields Coalition in 2024 for Lockport, Niagara Falls, and North Tonawanda. For Lockport, the grant includes census tract 236, surrounding West Avenue, from Outwater Park to Summit Street, and tract 237, which surrounds Main Street, extending from High Street to the canal-side section of Market Street.
The notice of the tour pictured the ruins of the railroad station on Union Street. A restaurant had occupied the building when it burned to pieces in 1974. Seventy firefighters tried to save the building. It has been vacant since. The bare soil inside the station remains scattered with burnt strips of wood. There is no roof to stabilize the walls or keep the water out. Mortar is missing from some areas of the brick walls.
“It melted all the Tiffany windows,” said owner Mark Davidson. “The structure was mostly made out of wood. All that was left was the stone.”
Davidson said he believes the station can become a tourist attraction again once restored, possibly another restaurant. But picking up the pieces that remain, and rebuilding in a manner that’s faithful to the structure’s historic character, is a serious undertaking.
Residents have mentioned other sites in the west end, such as a yellow former gas station at 641 West Ave. near the city line.
Kuebler said the process ahead will closely resemble the planning efforts for the city’s proposed Aaron Mossell Park. The county’s team will continue to seek public comment through an online survey, “pop-up” conversations, interviews, focus groups, interactive workshops, youth engagement, walking tours of properties, and another public meeting.