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 county wins big in canal
funding Wayne County was a a big winner when last week's announcement came for funding of the Erie Canal Corridor Initiative - to the tune of over $17 million. Late last year, planners and municipal officials scrambled to meet application deadlines - the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was going to award dollars to those who had great plans for development. Everybody gave some thought to their wish list, and the application was filed. HUD even came through for one of the most ambitious and costly projects on the application - the Erie Canal Cultural Center in Lyons. The project includes renovations to the old J.L Hammett building and expects over $5 million from HUD. The Cultural Center will eventually house the Wayne County Council for the Arts, the Lyons Library, Literacy Volunteers, and other such local agencies. Plans for the complex also include . . .
trail construction. (Pictured are the cleared remains of the old vinegar works, which burned in the 1970s. They will be an interesting feature of the promenade, which is planned from Abbey Park and the Hotchkiss Building.) The Village of Lyons is scheduled to receive over $972,000 - more than $700,000 for a loan pool to improve the business district, and construction costs to improve canal frontage: restrooms, showers, a boat launch, dock expansion and a pedestrian bridge. In the Village of Newark, project descriptions included: Ÿ A new road, water/sewer service for the Industrial Park. A canal trail and foot bridge were included in the improvements. Ÿ Outdoor furnishings, paths, trails, and other improvements to T. Spencer Knight Canal Park. Ÿ Lighting, water service, new sidewalks, furnishings and landscaping for the East Ave. bridge. Ÿ A concrete bulk head and promenade on the canal south bank between the N. Main bridge and the East Ave. bridge. Ÿ Improved hiking/biking trails through the village from Colburn Park to Stebbins Rd. The trail construction would include rest areas, interpretive signage and lighting from Route 88 to Stebbins. Ÿ Loans for a new business - a quick oil change service for boats/automobiles on property adjacent to the canal; an existing restaurant for an outdoor deck, cooking area and floating docks; and a 3,800 sq. ft. addition to an existing building on the south bank, just east of Route 88. All in all, Newark was asking for $4,276,655 in grants and loans. HUD says Newark can have it all. The Town of Arcadia's wish list was short. All they wanted was $500,000 in loan money and about $56,000 to develop trails, including a new foot bridge and interpretive signage. HUD says they can have the whole shot: $556,000. The Village of Clyde is also expected to get one of the bigger checks: over $2 million to acquire and renovate its badly deteriorating downtown properties. The village also plans to improve access and services to the Southside Canal Park. The Town of Galen asked for $36,500 to raise the west shore railroad bridge to allow larger tour boats and dinner cruises passage to Montezuma and the Clyde and Seneca River areas. HUD says no problem - $36,500. And although local politicians are carrying huge cardboard checks to show off, no one has yet seen a break down of how the money will be doled out. County Planner Jim Coloumbe said last week that HUD was expected to release details Friday (Aug. 22) - project by project, grants versus loans. "HUD says its a $17.3 million investment, but it may actually be 14 or 15 projects financed," said Coloumbe. "Some of the grant money will probably buy down interest rates for loans. We know which projects they're willing to fund, but we have no bottom line on financing." Coloumbe said it will all be sorted out as more information comes through. "For all the cumbersome details - and the devil is in the details - this is one of the largest single financial packages, if not the largest ever, to be brought to Wayne County. Golly, what a problem." Copyright
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1997 |
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