The site of the former Seneca Mall looks like a barren wasteland, but it's a prime piece of property in West Seneca.

Elected officials in the town are once again pushing for the owner of the land to redevelop it.

"Unfortunately it's one of the first things that people see is just the vacant space," said longtime resident Joe Kirchmyer, West Seneca Chamber of Commerce executive director.

Kirchmyer remembers when that spot was once the bustling Seneca Mall, which was torn down 25 years ago.

"I basically grew up in the Seneca Mall. I'd go there with my family and friends," Kirchmyer said. "We'd hang out on the fireplace in the center of the mall. Get an ice cream cone."

As a leader in the business community, he believes the property located just off the Thruway near Ridge Road is a wasted opportunity.

Now, it's occupied by just a few buildings, including a Tops and former Kmart store, along with plenty of open space.

"Thousands and thousands of cars pass by there every day so from an economic standpoint, to see that sitting vacant for the past 25 years, it's something that we can't continue," Kirchmyer said.

The property is owned by Scott Congel. His father founded Pyramid Group, which owns the Walden Galleria.

There have been talks of redeveloping the land in the past, but nothing has taken hold. Now, newly-elected leaders in the town are trying to spur some action.

"Almost every single person I've talked to considers it an eyesore, considers it a blight on West Seneca," said Republican Town Supervisor Gary Dickson, who took office this month. 

Dickson made economic development and specifically the old Seneca Mall site a key component of his campaign. He sent a letter to the owner of the property last week in hopes of starting talks about doing something with it.

Dickson says new development there would help with taxes and be a major economic boost, whatever it becomes.

"I don't want to dictate what should be there. I think that's the owner's job, and frankly he probably knows how to do it a lot better than I do," Dickson said.

The role of "matchmaker" is how Dickson envisions helping Congel's group find developers or new owners for the property.

A few years ago, the location was talked about as a possible site for a new football stadium. Dickson says looking at the lay of the land, that idea just doesn't add up.

"I've looked at the square footage of the Bills stadium including the parking lots, and there's no way it would fit there," Dickson said.

The supervisor said the town would likely be unable to provide any funding for potential projects.

There are signs of progress at the site.  The empty Kmart store set to be demolished later this winter, beginning in February.  Newly-elected councilman Bill Bauer said he began having convesations with local representatives for the property owner and learned of the planned demolition. 

"While campaigning in 2019, I realized that this parcel was a big topic for the voters in West Seneca," Bauer said.

New buildings going up would be a welcomed development, Kirchmyer said. 

"I think you'd see a big celebration, when and if anything does happen over there," Kirchmyer said.