Island Dispatch, 1994-06-10

              THE ISLAND DISPATCH X-PRESS 1 Hour Dry Cleaners "Trust the X-Perta" Drop off your clothes with confidence 2275 Grand Island Blvd. Town Hall Square Ca11... 77KLEAN ton-Fri ■ 6:30-7 PM; Sal - 6 AM- 6 PK " Furniture Inc. Interior Design Service Hours Mm., Wed.. _ Thurs. 9-9 In * S»t.9_5'Tue». 9 lil Nnn 6001 l".«in Kil l'.it.-r l',u k..t.l PUu • NI-, NY 14104 297-6666 June 10,1994 x****8 500 Vol 51'No. 10 Restoring Casino May Cost $6.3 Million PLANS FOR restoring Beaver Island Casino, heavily damaged by fire in 1992, were explained in detail last Friday at a meeting in the Town Hall. But the price is high, at least $6.3 million, according to Peter Van Dyke who represented Assemblyman Sam Hoyt who arranged the session. About 25 interested residents were shown sketches of a proposed 46,000 square-foot facility, including three banquet rooms, a public restaurant and several meeting rooms, one of which could hold 150 people. The exterior of the building as designed by the architectural firm of Kideney Associates will be very similar to the original structure. The interior, however, is far more elaborate than the casino built more ' than 50 years ago. "It's for fancy people," Islander Janet Webb said in expressing some misgivings about the new plan and price quoted. Helen Staley felt otherwise, commenting that the proposed building is in keeping with today's world. "This is not the 1930s," she said. This is today." When Councilman James R. Sharpe inquired about security plans (fire alarm systems, etc.) be was told they will be carried out not only in the new casino but in landmark River Lea as well. When will construction begin and when will the casino be ready for use? Given as a ballpark estimate at one point was 1996 but financing the project may create a problem that could move the date to 1997 or 1998. Originally the cost of reconstruction was set at about $2 to $3 million and construction was to begin this year. "I don't know how we are going to deal with the difference," Ron Foley of the State Office of Parks. Recreation and Historic Preservation said. Among others taking part in the presentation of the plans were Regional State Parks Director Mario J. Piastru, Chief Engineer Dario Violanti, Legislator Charles M. Swanick and Supervisor James H. Pax. MEK Plans for the construction of a new Casino at Beaver Island were unveiled during a meeting last Friday by officals from the office of State Parks and Recreation. Photo by Barbl Lare Foreclosure Proceedings Impact Mesmer Dairy Plant PORTIONS OF the former Mesmer Dairy Plant on Love Road went into foreclosure earlier this week and are now officially owned by the County of Erie. According to Legislator Chuck Swanick, the foreclosure proceedings were necessary in order for the county to be able to sell the property. "Jim Pax and I have been working very closely on this, and meeting with some interested concerns who want to purchase the site for future use," Swanick said. "We do not want this to sit idle and empty, but will be very aggressive in getting another company in there as quickly as possible to put the land and buildings to use, to provide jobs and to contribute to the tax base again." Although neither official would reveal the parties who have expressed an interest in the site, Swanick and Pax are confident the matter will be resolved quickly. Bridge To Canada Again In Planning Stage A BRIDGE between Grand Island and Canada may at last become a reality. Shown on old Island maps as a possibility, one is now being proposed by Canadian developers as part of a $1.5 billion highway linking Buffalo with Detroit. The proposed turnpike would be privately financed from Buffalo to St. Thomas, Ontario, tying into Highway 401 where it would continue on to Detroit. According to John Sherk, chairman of the Ontario Turnpike Steering Committee, the road could be completed as early as 1999. Two years would be needed for an environmental impact study and three years for construction. For Grand Island the project would also include a new four-lane bridge across the East River and a highway across the town to the West River bridge to Canada. Leonard DePnma of the Buffalo division of the Thruway Authority has estimated the Buffalo-to- Detroit turnpike would handle about 30,000 vehicles a day. In Canada it would connect with the Queen Elizabeth Highway south of Niagara Falls, Ontario. The proposal also calls for a second international bridge about ten miles south of the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit. Needed in Canada is provincial approval of the right to levy tolls and expropriate lands. An update of a 1919 Grand Island map in 1929 shows by dotted lines bridges from the end of Long Road to Navy Island and from there to the Canadian province. Also shown, however, is a proposed bridge to Canada from the end of Staley Road. Both locations were part of a master plan proposed at that time. MEK Students Petition For Sidewalks THERE WILL BE more sidewalks on Grand Island if the town agrees with the recommendation of a group of GI Middle School students. Their letters to the Town Board point out reasons they believe consideration should be given to surveying the need for paved sidewalks. "Bicyclists need somewhere safe to ride besides the bike path," John Frittita contends. Matthew Firmstone points to the danger of having "little kids" play in the street. "They need sidewalks to stay on," he said. Nick Mesmer reasons, "in summertime a lot of people jog, walk, ride bikes and walk babies. We don't want any of these people getting hurt" Similar reasons for wanting sidewalks in populated areas were given by Joseph Bremen, Michael Quarani and others. The requests were not taken lightly. Supervisor James H. Pax Monday appointed a six-member advisory board to study the situation and determine what can be accomplished. MEK Town Lowers Apartment Complex Tax Assessment OWNERS OF the Island ViUage apartment complex at 2101 Bedell Rd. have had their tax assessment lowered from $600,000 to $475,000 by action of the Town Board. But they may face court proceedings if the six town-house buildings are not brought up to code, according to Councilman Gail Lazenby. Lazenby claimed the lowei assessment was brought about through neglect of the property. He said he was ready to move that the complex be condemned if it is not brought up to code. Prior to approval of the lower tax amount, the board approved a resolution by Lazenby, calling upon the building department to list code violations that he said exist in the complex. MEK