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DEVELOPMENT Housing must be addressed

New York state and the town of Dunkirk are getting closer to breaking ground on the Athenex project, which will be located off Route 5. Despite the fanfare that came with the announcement that will bring possibly 900 jobs to the north county in February 2016, the reality is our region needs to do more to be prepared.

Having an improved housing market is one of those priorities. Last week, the Dunkirk Zoning Board of Appeals gave its approval to upscale apartments that would be located in the Battery Point area, east of Wright Park.

“Most of the buildings would consist of … seven two-bedroom units and there would be a mechanical room, so that creates that one-bedroom unit. … We haven’t finalized our rent, but it would be at least in the $1,000 range a month,” said Bill Gugino of Erie Land Development, LLC. “We found a need and a future need for (housing options). Obviously, we know the Athenex project is going in across the street and that will bring a lot of jobs into the area with a lot of different housing needs. That’s why the rent may seem like it’s high, but when we look at other new apartments in other areas, it’s not high at all, it’s very much in the state of what people are used to paying or more actually.”

Dunkirk and the north county have been in a recession so long, they still do not know how to greet news of development. Some are upset at the possible price. Others are concerned the development will hurt the area, which is located close to the lake.

In the meantime, many in our community mumble we need more development. It cannot happen without investment.

If we truly want this area to grow — and increase the amount of private-sector jobs — this is a project city and town residents must welcome.

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