Albion urged to upgrade housing, property maintenance in village

‘We need to show a plan that we’re trying to revive this entity’

ALBION – The Village Board was urged to step up code enforcement on unkempt properties, and also to pursue state grant funds to add more housing options for residents.

Annette Finch, a long-time village resident, spoke during last week’s board meeting. She said many properties in the village are in rough shape, and it detracts on the entire community.

“We have skunks going up and down the street,” Finch said. “We want people to come into the Albion to live and do business. What’s going on? It’s absolutely disgusting for Albion to look the way it does.”

Janet Salvatore, a member of the Village of Albion Planning Board, also encouraged the board to pursue several different grant options to upgrade the housing stock in the village.

She said there are many programs that would add more quality homes and apartments in the village.

“There is money out there to be gotten,” Salvatore said. “But we need to show a plan that we’re trying to revive this entity.”

She said architectural students from the University of Buffalo could help develop a plan to better utilize upper level apartments in the downtown and other housing in Albion.

“We need to do something to stop the influx away from the village,” she said.

The village is working to submit a grant for the $4.5 NY Forward grant program that includes money to upgrade housing, especially apartments in the downtown.

Vinny Navarra of Albion also would like to develop smaller houses on 25 acres off Allen Road, in an area behind Tops, that could be targeted to senior citizens. The village grantwriter, Jay Grasso, said there are funding programs to help with a senior housing project in the village.

Salvatore said the village currently has a shortage of homes for people to buy. She said rehabbing the second and third floors in the downtown is one option for housing.

But the Main Street and Bank Street business area currently is not too appealing for residents and businesses. She said several properties on just being “held.” They are vacant with no apparent push to be utilized.

“There is a lot of work that needs to be done downtown to make it more attractive and friendlier,” Salvatore said.