Village Nixes Demolition for One Building; OKs Major Changes for Another

One building owner got the OK to proceed with renovations on a dilapidated downtown storefront, while another was told she’ll have to hold off on demolishing an aging Route 59 home.

The board voted to nix applicant Sandra Bennett’s request to demolish the home at 14927 S. Division St./Route 59 — at least for now.

With the village working on shaping the future of Route 59 — including using social media and public meetings to get the public’s take on the subject — the board voted that the owner cannot demolish the property until after the Route 59 Visioning study is complete.

Planner Michael Garrigan said the study is scheduled to be completed sometime this fall.

“This is not a delay for the sake of a delay,” trustee Paul Fay said of the board’s decision. “But if we are engaged in this study, it’s important for the comprehensibility of the corridor.”

At the heart of the Route 59 debate is the question whether the corridor should remain a business transition district — with property owners urged to convert homes into low-traffic business uses instead of demolishing the — or whether it should become more commercialized.

“To make it an empty lot right now would make it very difficult to sell it,” trustee Bill Lamb said of the property. “We’re working on [the Route 59 visioning], but we don’t have any answers yet.

Another building will get a new life, according to owner Randy Lambert, who plans to convert 24210 W. Lockport Street into a restaurant.

On Monday, the board voted to approve a certificate of appropriateness to allow Lambert to modify the southern and eastern elevations of the property.

The changes include replacing the front porch with enclosed windows that will match existing windows on the southern elevation.

The entrance would be moved to the eastern elevation, along with new stairs and an electronic hideaway lift that meets Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

Lambert said it’s necessary to eliminate the front porch to add enough seating to make the restaurant viable.

Trustee Margie Bonuchi expressed concerns with the project's timeline

“That [building has] sat like that for God knows how long,” she said.

Lambert said he believes the project can be completed by Thanksgiving.