New York – Senator Charles Schumer along with Falls Mayor Paul Dyster and others are now pushing for a plan to demolish a part of the Robert Moses Parkway road from John Daly Boulevard to Main Street to allow waterfront access.
“Robert Moses Parkway, since its inception, has stood between the city’s residential and commercial neighborhoods and the Niagara River, our greatest asset,” Mayor Dyster said.
“Visiting Niagara Falls was apart from visiting the city. We want to link them. This is a major step in linking them,” Senator Schumer added.
“It’ll boost housing values. It’ll provide a shot in the arm to existing businesses, and attract new businesses to the vacant properties. The expected investment would create jobs, jobs, and more jobs in the city,” he said.
Local businesses sees the plan as good news.
“It’s going to be spectacular. Everybody has talked about the challenges that this city has had, but I haven’t been here a long time so I guess I have a different outlook. I’ve seen progress in the last five years and it gives me a reason to be optimistic,” Hotel owner Faisal Merani said.
The state has already given five million dollars worth of funding. Schumer says he sees “no problem” getting the rest of the funding from the Department of Transportation, and lobby to get the project fast-tracked by the federal government. With it demolished, Schumer says, Niagara Falls would do nothing but reap the benefits.
Construction is expected to start within six months.