LOCKPORT, NY- Lockport resident Damien Brady knows how important downtown is to the entire city.

"The heart of the city is the downtown area and of course it's always been that way because of the locks," Brady said.

Despite some of the recent improvements over the past few years, it's been tough attracting and keeping businesses downtown.

"There are some empty storefronts in Lockport, there's no doubt about that, but that doesn't mean that they can't be occupied,” Brady said. “In order to be occupied, they have to improve some of the buildings, and improve some of the looks of the buildings, and I'll think they'll get people interested," said Brady.

Now, thanks to a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Award from the state, that's exactly what's going to happen.

 

 

"There are about 10 or 11 projects that we have designated that we would like to spend the money on,” said Lockport’s acting mayor, David Wohleben. “Some of these projects include some of our vacant buildings, creating downtown apartments and condos, better walk-ability, better bike-ability throughout the city. We have some money set aside for a possible hotel.”

Wohleben said he believes these improvements will help attract more businesses downtown.

“We do not have a lot of downtown housing and we feel that it's held us back for possible retail stores and restaurants,” he said. “We're looking to improve that. That's probably the biggest thing we want to improve in having market rate housing for people to come to the downtown area.”

Wohleben said a 17-member committee has been created to determine which projects will be done first. The plan is to present $15 million worth of project to the state, $10 million of which will be approved by the state.

As for a timeline, Wohleben said the state would like to see a plan sooner than later.