Lockport staff moves 31-unit mixed-use project and $350,000 demolition incentive to May 6 council agenda

City staff asked the council committee to place an ordinance and final development plan for a proposed three-story, 31-unit mixed-use building at the former Delwood Tire site on State Street on the May 6 council agenda, and separately proposed up to $350,000 in city incentives to cover demolition and related site work.

Lance, a city staff presenter, told the committee the project—filed by Development Investment Group—would add 31 one- and two-bedroom apartments over roughly 4,500 square feet of first-floor commercial space on a site of about a half-acre currently zoned C4. He said the proposal includes 39 dedicated parking spaces on site and that the project received a certificate of appropriateness from the city’s historic-review body; staff requested the ordinance (No. 26011) and resolution (No. 26058) be placed on the May 6 agenda for action.

The committee also heard a separate staff request (CA1, resolution 26061) to pay for demolition and stabilization on the Delwood parcel. “We had anticipated doing the demolition and providing a kind of clean pad to Dan,” Ben, a city staff member, said, summarizing negotiations with the developer and the property owner. Ben said the demolition cost estimate in staff materials is roughly $298,000 and that earlier discussions contemplated the city covering about $250,000 with an additional request of up to $100,000 for work on adjoining parcels. He asked the committee to place the incentive resolution on the next council agenda as an action item.

The applicant in the room, Dan Cler, responded to design questions about the rear façade and public-art opportunities. When asked whether the south-facing wall could receive a transferred mural, Dan said the wall will “likely be poured concrete” and that the developer would be “willing to work with you” and local arts groups on mural or plaque options.

Council members indicated they wanted public comment to be possible at the full council meeting and agreed to place ordinance 26011, resolution 26058 and the incentive measure on the May 6 agenda for additional public feedback and a council vote.

What’s next: The items will appear before the full Lockport City Council on May 6; the council will take public comment and consider final votes on the ordinance, final development plans and the proposed incentive package.