Plan will redevelop older neighborhood
by JESSICA L. FINCH Associate Editor

The plan to redevelop the Eggert Road and Main Street area is in action, with the design phase expected to take place throughout 2008.

Those leading the Main-Eggert Redevelopment Committee are pleased to see the project move forward, given that plans for projects in other parts of Western New York have come up short.

"Money is actually budgeted; that's a positive. It's not just going to be a plan sitting on a shelf," said David Mingoia, deputy director of the Amherst Industrial Development Agency.

He added that business owners in the area are serious about making investments in their properties.

The AIDA is looking into incentives for businesses that redevelop their buildings. Mingoia said some owners are looking to add second stories for residential space.

The committee wants the area to be a multi-use corner. To achieve the various improvements, an underlying district would have to be approved by the town, which is another set of regulations similar to a rezoning action.

Minor improvements have been made to the area since 2001, said Gary Black, assistant planning director for the Town of Amherst.

With input from a public meeting held in the fall and also from a stakeholders meeting, the committee is working toward creating a design plan. It plans to present specific ideas in another public meeting in February or March.

The University at Buffalo has teamed with the AIDA and the town's Planning Department to address the specific concerns of the intersection.

UB professor Hiro Hata, who has 30 years experience in urban design, has worked on several projects throughout WNY. He has been hired to create the "new look" of the corner.

While finalized plans are months away, the committee has brainstormed some ideas, such as maintaining the historic aesthetics of St. Benedict's Church and Sacred Heart Academy, when designing wall features.

The redevelopment would make Eggert Main more pedestrian friendly, hiding large parking lots with landscaping and moving others to the rear of buildings.

Road, sidewalk and crosswalk improvements will also be included in the redevelopment.

The Eggertsville redevelopment project will set a precedent for other older areas of the town. Black said the town will use the work done at Eggert and Main as a template when redeveloping such areas as Main and Harlem and Harlem, Kensington and Cleveland Drive.

"The town's adopted master plan shows a strong emphasis on redevelopment," Black said.

In addition to the town's Planning Department, the IDA, and UB collaborating, the project is also supported by business owners and residents in the area.

The Main-Eggert Revitalization Committee is chaired by John Felgemacher, a lifelong resident of the corner and now a current business owner of the plaza where Ziggy's and Bead Creative are located.

He is personally vested in seeing changes happen.

"A lot has already been done this year, but I know it's going to be a slow process," he said. "But there are a lot of people involved."

The headway made has Felgemacher feeling optimistic about the project.

His major concern is to address the safety issue. With five schools located in a half-mile radius, a lot of students are walking in the area.

"Statistics show that corner is above average for accidents," he said.

Felgemacher would also like to see trees, grass and benches added where currently there is just cement.

"This is the entrance into the town from the city of Buffalo. It's the first real corner, and it looks kind of shoddy," he said.

He plans to upgrade his properties, adding apartments about the businesses.

"I'm putting my own money in there. I would like to see improvements to the corner," he said.

In its 2008 Capital Improvement Program, the town marked $85,000 for the Main-Eggert project. The committee will seek grants to match the dollars used by the town.

Mingoia estimates the total cost of the streetscape work is $300,000 to 400,000.

At present, the committee's priorities are taking the public and business owners' input and feedback. Black said the group will review the existing conditions and take the input to create an actual site plan. The design ideas will be subject to more public input.

The design process will take place in 2008, with possible groundbreaking in spring 2009 or 2010.