Projects
Projects for consideration for funding were accepted through an Open Call for Projects process, that was open from June 3, 2024 to July 17, 2024. In total, 18 eligible projects were submitted for LPC consideration. Following the LPC’s last meeting on October 23rd, 11 projects were ultimately recommended to New York State to be considered for funding through the $4.5 million NY Forward program.
Preserve the Dog Bar
LOCATION: 1913 Davis Road
WORK SCOPE: This project aims to preserve and enhance one of the area’s few remaining historic commercial buildings by restoring its original architectural elements, improving energy efficiency, converting a garage into an outdoor seating area, and utilizing historic preservation tax credits to ensure future upgrades align with national preservation standards.
SPONSOR: Hotel West Falls and Dog Bar, Inc.
ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST: $523,000
NYF FUNDING REQUEST: $392,000 (75% NYF REQUEST)
Celebrate Local Flavor with the Florence Market
LOCATION: 1929 Davis Road
WORK SCOPE: Florence Market will transform a 4,500 sq. ft. mixed-use building into a vibrant, go-to spot for fresh produce, artisan goods, and daily essentials, featuring a stylish facelift with new siding, lighting, and a mural—all while keeping a welcoming, modern vibe for locals to gather and enjoy.
SPONSOR: Florence Market
ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST: $234,000
NYF FUNDING REQUEST: $176,000 (75% NYF REQUEST)
Reinvent the West Falls Depot
LOCATION: 397 Old Glenwood Road
WORK SCOPE: This project aims to restore the historic 1917 train station into a mixed-use development with a trailside commercial space and short-term lodging, preserving its exterior while leveraging its prime location alongside a planned rail trail to enhance recreational and economic opportunities for the community.
SPONSOR: West Falls Depot, LLC
ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST: $967,000
NYF FUNDING REQUEST: $725,000 (75% NYF REQUEST)
Expand Programming Capacity of the West Falls
Center for the Arts
LOCATION: 1863 David Road
WORK SCOPE: The West Falls Center for the Arts, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, is expanding its free services and enhancing its cultural offerings by developing an arts trail with public sculptures, a new outdoor performance stage and pavilion, and upgrading its facilities, all aimed at fostering creativity, accessibility, and community engagement in West Falls.
SPONSOR: West Falls Center for the Arts
ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST: $1,245,000
NYF FUNDING REQUEST: $1,245,000 (100% NYF REQUEST)
Revitalize West Falls-Colden Community Library
LOCATION: 1966 Davis Road
WORK SCOPE: The West Falls-Colden Community Library, an independently run, volunteer-staffed non-profit since 2005, is seeking NYF funding to expand accessibility and modernize its historic building, including adding an elevator, updating facilities for ADA compliance, installing a message board, and enhancing energy efficiency, allowing the library to continue serving as a vital community center and meeting space.
SPONSOR: Town of Aurora
ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST: $585,000
NYF FUNDING REQUEST: $585,000 (100% NYF REQUEST)
Expand Capacity at the Blueberry Treehouse Farm
LOCATION: 1887 & 1897 Davis Road
WORK SCOPE: This project involves the adaptive reuse of the historic general store on Davis Road, converting it into 2,700 sq. ft. of retail space and five apartment units, while improving parking and accessibility, aligning with NYF goals to enhance commercial capacity, attract new residents, and support local businesses.
SPONSOR: The Blueberry Treehouse Farm, LLC
ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST: $1,045,000
NYF FUNDING REQUEST: $784,000 (75% NYF REQUEST)
Building Access to West Falls by Converting a Rail Corridor into a Multi-Use Trail
LOCATION: Former Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad property Line from Mill Road (Jewettville) to West Falls Conservation Club (Bridge Street)
WORK SCOPE: The Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT) organization is proposing a 1.5-mile multi-use trail from Jewettville to West Falls as part of a larger 27-mile rail corridor, aiming to provide safe recreation, inter-community connections, economic development, and enhanced access to nature for the Erie County Southtowns while linking historic train depots.
SPONSOR: Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT)
ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST: $468,000
NYF FUNDING REQUEST: $420,000 (90% NYF REQUEST)
Transform Veterans Park, West Falls-Colden Community Library Landscape, and West Falls Community Playground into Local Destinations
LOCATION: Veterans Park (Davis Road & Bridge Street); West Falls-Colden Library Garden (1968 Davis Road); Bridge Street (Between Davis Road & W Falls Road); West Falls Community Playground (138 Falls Road)
WORK SCOPE: West Falls is poised for a transformative public improvement project that will revitalize hamlet center by upgrading Veterans Park, the West Falls-Colden Community Library Garden, and the West Falls Community Playground, creating pedestrian connections, enhancing green spaces, and fostering a stronger sense of local identity and family-friendly recreation.
SPONSOR: Town of Aurora
ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST: $960,000
NYF FUNDING REQUEST: $960,000 (100% NYF REQUEST)
Extend the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail through the Conservation Society Property
LOCATION: The 700-foot section of the former BPRR line at the end of Bridge Street adjacent to the West Falls Conservation Society property.
WORK SCOPE: This project extends the Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT) through a 1,000-foot section near the West Falls Conservation Society, requiring a safety structure between trail users and nearby activities, and is part of a larger 27-mile corridor designed to enhance recreation, inter-community connections, and economic development in Western New York’s Southtowns.
SPONSOR: Erie Cattaraugus Rail Trail (ECRT)
ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST: $515,000
NYF FUNDING REQUEST: $505,000 (98% NYF REQUEST)
Improve Davis Road Streetscape
LOCATION: Davis Road
WORK SCOPE: The proposed project will complement ongoing NYS DOT improvements to Davis Road by creating a cohesive, walkable main street with enhanced sidewalks, street trees, a welcome sign evoking local culture, clear wayfinding signage, and formalized parking areas, improving accessibility and connectivity to economic, cultural, and historic resources in West Falls.
SPONSOR: Town of Aurora
ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST: $630,000
NYF FUNDING REQUEST: $630,000 (100% NYF REQUEST)
Increase Accessibility and Energy Efficiency at the West Falls Conservation Society
LOCATION: The West Falls Conservation Society property at 55 Bridge Street
WORK SCOPE: The West Falls Conservation Society aims to enhance accessibility and sustainability by constructing a wheelchair-accessible archery course and installing solar panels, thereby promoting outdoor sports education for all abilities while significantly reducing their carbon footprint.
SPONSOR: West Falls Conservation Society
ESTIMATED TOTAL PROJECT COST: $243,000
NYF FUNDING REQUEST: $217,000 (90% NYF REQUEST)
