AIDA, public speak at Sheridan Development meeting
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Powers

The Amherst Industrial Development Agency held a public meeting last Thursday to discuss the proposed Sheridan Drive Development.

The area in question is the business and retail locations on Sheridan Drive between Niagara Falls Boulevard and Sweet Home Road.

The AIDA has received a grant through the New York State Brownfield Opportunity Area Program to conduct a study on the area so that it may eventually be redeveloped.

David Mingoia of the AIDA addressed the public attending and noted that the Sheridan Drive area is not a typical Brownfield area because it was previously developed for commercial use but has fallen vacant in recent years.

"There are varying degrees of vacancy in the area," he said. "But it has become functionally obsolete for the market place."

During the meeting, Ellen Parker and Andrew Reilly, representatives from the Amherst engineering firm Wendel Duchscherer, outlined the existing conditions of the area and the land use, as well as the different zoning areas.

According to the presentation, the area is largely zoned for general business with some sections zoned for shopping center, the largest of which being the Northtown Plaza.

King

The boundaries of the project, when presented Thursday, did not include any residential areas nor the opposite side of Eggert Road, which also houses various businesses.

"These were the logical boundaries," Parker said.

During the meeting, however, a consensus was reached that both sides of Eggert Road should be included in the plan.

Another concern at the meeting was the Wal-Mart that is proposed to be built on vacant property on Sheridan near Sweet Home Road.

"No one is opposed to development," said one concerned citizen. "But how does a megastore fit in?"

"Land use takes a long time to change," Reilly said. "We still need to plan for the rest of the area. We have to make it part of

Jean C. Powers, a partner at the Amherst office of Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP, has been elected president of the Buffalo Niagara Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. She is a partner in the firm's real estate practice group.

Allen

Mark A. King of Williamsville, a financial professional with AXA Advisors, LLC in Williamsville, has earned a certificate in retirement planning from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the title of retirement planning specialist. He is one of only 400 financial professionals nationwide to complete this program. the project."

Parker said that the project cannot stop a Wal-Mart from being built but it can allow residents to be prepared with a plan if other large stores - called "Wal-Mart chasers" - follow on the megastore's heels.

Another citizen noted that the decay of traditional retail markets - such as the Northtown Plaza - is due to megastores being built farther away in cheaper localities and the residents driving to patronize them.

Lisa J. Allen of East Amherst, a member of Harris Beach PLLC in the Buffalo office, co-wrote the article, "Special Needs Trust: Which Kind is Right for You?" in the May 2007 edition of Exceptional Parent Magazine. She represents families of individuals with disabilities and co-wrote the article with Kemp Scales, an elder law attorney.

Scime

Anastasia Scime of Williamsville, a nurse manager of the intensive care unit for the VA WNY Healthcare System, was recognized for nursing excellence. She was the driving force in facilitating and implementing the Rapid Response Team and has discussed its success at many conferences.

"You're looking for ways to make it more attractive and useful," the citizen said of the vacant properties. "But you have to convince property owners of the money available to them for staying. You have to dedicate programs to helping retail."

Another public meeting is tentatively set for the early fall to further discuss the project's progress and future.

For more information on the Sheridan Drive project, visit the Web site www.amherstida.com.

Pat Allaire, president and CEO of Allaire Financial Strategies, has affiliated his practice with Integrated Financial Group, a consortium of professional advisers. He has more than 20 years of experience in life planning and wealth management and currently works in Amherst.

Allaire

David Meade of East Amherst was named by Praxair Inc. as associate director of energy strategy and policy for the company's North American Industrial Gases organization. He will be stationed in Tonawanda and will lead Praxair's activities in national energy-user organizations and collaborate with energy managers.

Meade