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O&W redevelopment nears bidding as council approves off-street parking subdivision
Summary
City engineers said O&W shoring and abatement are nearly complete and bid documents are scheduled for advertisement by April 30; council approved a subdivision to create off-street parking behind Mountain View restaurant to support the O&W development.
City engineers told the Common Council on April 15 that shoring and abatement work at the O&W (Old Erie and Western) site is near completion and that the state deadline to have bid documents ready is April 30. The mayor said the project will likely have a roughly 60-day bid period.
The mayor cautioned about federal funding uncertainty, noting discussion in Washington about potential Head Start funding cuts that could affect tenants or operators at the proposed site. He said the city is proceeding with bidding and stabilizing the building and that temporary boarding will be installed for safety.
In related business at the meeting, the council opened and closed a public hearing and then approved a two-lot subdivision and lot-line change for a parcel behind the Mountain View restaurant to provide off-street parking for the O&W development. The mayor said the city’s acquisition cost for the parking parcel was about $180,000 and that the parcel’s development is expected to be majority grant-funded — he estimated roughly a $600,000–$700,000 project, with grant funds from state representatives mentioned as likely sources.
Why this matters: the O&W site's readiness for bid documents marks a milestone in a large downtown redevelopment effort; the approved subdivision creates required off-street parking that the mayor said is necessary for the Head Start and other program requirements for the O&W reuse.
Details from the meeting: - O&W: engineers reported shoring/abatement work nearly complete; bid documents scheduled to be advertised by April 30; expected 60-day bid period. - Funding concern: mayor noted possible federal Head Start funding cuts as an external risk to program operators. - Parking parcel: council approved a two-lot subdivision (20-30 Lao Avenue front and rear) to create off-street parking behind Mountain View restaurant; mayor estimated acquisition around $180,000 and full site development around $600k–$700k, majority grant-funded.
The council passed the subdivision resolution during the meeting; no appeals or opposing public comments were recorded regarding the parking parcel.
