Published: June 24, 2009 01:30 am      

NORTH TONAWANDA: Canalside lot on Sweeney St. may be sold

The New York state Canal Corp. has announced it may abandon a piece of prime real estate along the Erie Canal in North Tonawanda.

An abandoned 3.8 acre residential lot situated on the water between 767 Sweeney St. and 823 Sweeney St. is roughly 400-by-410 feet in size.

Mayor’s Administrative Assistant Jeffrey Mis provoked thought among the council centering on what, if anything, the city should attempt to do with the property. Otherwise, it seems promoting housing to be built there is another option.

The parcel has not been subdivided, but could conceivably host several individual homes.

“We’re not going to keep property we’re not going to utilize,” he said.

Nevertheless, City Engineer Dale Marshall has been asked to review possible city uses, as the city could ultimately get the first crack at the land in lieu of a public auction, which is also a possibility at this stage.

“He is looking at it to see if there is any potential use, easements and stuff like that,” Mis said.

He said the city is aware the lots are desirable to developers, but has also reached out the groups like the Boys and Girls Club, which had used the land as part of a summer camp, to poll any interest in the land.

The question of creating a park on the land is also factoring into the discussion.

Also on the subject of land use, Building Inspector Cosimo Capozzi sent a letter to the council expressing interest in buying a piece of land adjacent to Deerwood Golf Course for himself and his family.

The council seemed to think the property might have to be auctioned publicly, but members resolved to have City Attorney Shawn Nickerson help the city develop a stance on what to do with the property.

“When Dave (Burgio) was mayor, they talked about the golf course, using it to provide another means of ingress and egress,” Council President Brett Sommer said, suggesting that a letter be sent to them to see whether such plans are still desired.

“I think just sending (a letter) to all those people would be best,” he said.

Following the informal meeting Tuesday, a representative of the state Department of Environmental Conservation provided information on mosquito spraying.

The council will be asked in the next couple of weeks to decide whether or not to hire a company using an airplane to spray all or part of the city with mosquito-killing chemicals.

Mis brought the issue up a couple of weeks ago for consideration, at that time receiving a quote from Duflo Spray Chemical Inc. at about $30,000 to spray all 6,400 acres of the city.

Now, he said an adjusted quote at little more than $20,000 could include spraying about 4,400 acres where mosquitos are most prevalent, if the council resolves to do so.

“I think it should be soon,” Mis said of a time frame to decide. “I’ve been told you’re going to have another batch of mosquitoes in a couple of weeks.”

He said it appears this year’s mosquito problem surpasses that of previous years.

Duflo has for at least the last two years provided the same service in Wheatfield.

The meeting with the DEC was to help officials understand the process and effects of spraying.

Contact reporter Neale Gulleyat 693-1000, ext. 114.