NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WBEN) - The City of Niagara Falls on Thursday began tearing down dozens of blighted homes in the community.
Mayor Robert Restaino said there are about 40 to 50 homes set to be torn down after laying vacant for decades. He called it an effort by city government to be a good neighbor because the blighted homes are city property.
"For so long we have ignored what I think is our responsibility to go into the neighborhoods and do the things that is correct with regard to the folks who are in the neighborhoods trying to maintain their properties," Mayor Restaino said.
Excavators tore down the homes thanks in part to federal block grants. The first series of homes are being torn down after lying vacant for more than a decade. Restaino said removing these homes will help home values and business development in the city.
"You may think 40 or 50 homes 'Wow you're barely scratching the surface'," Restaino said. "It's our intent, at least for the period that I'm in city hall, to do this as a regular part with our community block grant funding. I think that money should be poured into road repair, this type of blight removal, neighborhood improvements of that nature."
