ERIE COUNTY, NY — Erie County Legislator Lindsay Lorigo voted no at a special session Thursday, August 28 on a project that would put affordable housing units on prime real estate. The project is to replace the Marine Drive Apartments at 90 Erie Street by constructing three buildings totaling 254 residential units and one parking garage. The mixed income development will have units targeting households earning from below 30% area medium income to 120% area medium income, and with 70% of the units for households earning below 60% area medium income. The current Marine Drive Apartments would ultimately be demolished.
“This region has a history of making generational mistakes. We can’t afford to allow that to happen again. I am not opposed to constructing affordable housing for our residents, but putting those units on land that is best used to entice tourists and Western New Yorkers to the waterfront is not the best use of that property. We need to capitalize on our waterfront by doing projects that translate into positive economic development for the region,” said Legislator Lindsay Lorigo.
The project also looks to hire some union laborers that are not from Buffalo or Erie County.
“The fact that in some cases union labor from outside the area will be brought in to complete this project is troubling. Our local unions should be given priority, said Legislator Lorigo. “But the reality is this project has lacked transparency from the beginning. This is absolutely the wrong use for this waterfront property. I’m disappointed it was approved because it is just another example of some of this region’s leaders making poor decisions that will impact the region for decades to come.”
