DUNKIRK TOWN USES EMINENT DOMAIN

Three property owners apparently stand in the way of a town of Dunkirk water project. The town started eminent domain proceedings in August in an attempt to overcome the property owners’ refusal to grant easements.

The easements are needed to start construction on improvements to the Shorewood Water District. The project was approved in March 2022 and secured grant funding, but has not begun due to the easement issues. The easements are mandatory for work to proceed due to the narrowness of roads in the area.

MIXED USE PROJECT MOVES AHEAD

OBSERVER Photo by Gregory Bacon Attorney Sean Hopkins representing Ellicott Development speaks to members of the Chautauqua County Planning Board about their $70 million development proposal at the former Chautauqua Point Golf Course.

A $70 million Dewittville mixed use project was approved in July by the Chautauqua County Planning Board. The development, called Sunset View, is slated for the former Chautauqua Point Golf Course.

The Chautauqua Town Board granted Sunset View another key approval in December when it made a negative declaration on the State Environmental Quality Review. The board could vote on a special use permit for the project as soon as next month.

Sunset View, proposed by Ellicott Development, would have 174 residential units including condominiums, duplexes and single-family residences. There would also be a tap house/restaurant and a boat dock on Chautauqua Lake, both open to the public.

NEW FUTURE FOR FORMER HOSPITAL

Lake Shore Hospital closed in February 2020, but the site in Irving got new life in May when New York Medical Center announced it is planning renovations.

The power station on Lake Erie, owned by NRG Energy Inc., has been mothballed since 2016.

NYMC purchased the property from Brooks-TLC Hospital System, Inc. It plans to repurpose the hospital into a behavioral health and substance abuse center offering both inpatient and outpatient services. A second phase of the project is supposed to reinstate the Emergency Room.

Brooks-TLC has its own hospital plans, obtaining final project approval from local and state authorities for a new facility on East Main Street in Fredonia.

NRG PLANT FUTURE STILL UNCLEAR, BUT NUCLEAR EYED

OBSERVER Editor John D’Agostino wrote last January, “Along the shivering shores of Dunkirk is a massive landmark and scar. At one time, the imposing facility contained four active generating units that produced approximately 635 megawatts of electricity that powered the northeast and a majority of the Western New York region.

“Today, as it sits quiet, it is a major disturbance. Its owner, NRG Energy Inc., appears comfortable with that result. It pays a pittance to the county, school district and financially troubled city of Dunkirk to let the prime property sit in despair.”

The NRG’s plant demise — and the steep dive in tax revenues that resulted — put a big hole in Dunkirk. However, there was some movement towards a possible re-use that started when Gov. Kathy Hochul announced she wants to put a new nuclear power plant in upstate New York.

City and county officials quickly moved to apply for the nuclear plant’s siting at the old NRG facility. Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz organized a community meeting to discuss the concept of a nuclear plant in the city. There was some opposition to the idea — but local officials basically downplayed it, intent on a project that they hope will bring an economic boost.

CHIPOTLE APPROVED, POPEYE’S AND SONIC MOVE IN

A new Chipotle Restaurant was approved for the town of Dunkirk in August. The chain plans to start construction in March or April. Plans call for a 2,325-square foot building located to the front of a Vineyard Drive plaza.

Chipotle’s will not be in place for a while, but two restaurant chains opened in 2025 along the Route 60 business corridor. Popeye’s and Sonic both opened locations that were absolutely mobbed in their first couple weeks of operation.

A drive-thru coffee chain, 7 Brew, also demolished a former oil change facility at Plaza 59 and built a new kiosk.

While chains expanded, some locally owned restaurants shut down. Demetri’s in Dunkirk, Yokoso on Route 60, and Campano’s Cucina in Fredonia were among the closures. However, in the case of Campano’s, the space came back to life quickly. Popular local pastry chef Sydney Bigelow opened her latest creation, Butterlow, there in the fall.