Construction will start soon on a $1.5 million overhaul of the parking area in the Village of Hamburg that holds Burgerfest and other events, as well as supports retail shops and restaurants on Main and Buffalo streets.
The re-envisioning of the municipal lot that serves the village central business district started as one of the ideas for the roundabout project in the village about 20 years ago.
“It didn’t happen at that point,” Village Administrator Jason T. Cozza said.
Local officials, including state Assemblyman Jon D. Rivera, D-Buffalo, and Erie County Legislator John Gilmour, D-Hamburg, announced the $1.5 million project Tuesday.
Former State Sen. Christopher Jacobs, a Republican, obtained a $500,000 grant for renovating the lot in 2018, Rivera secured another state grant for $300,000 and Gilmour got a $180,000 grant from the county.
Hamburg also received a grant for $49,000 for electrical vehicle chargers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
Most of the parking lot is privately owned. The village owns a small section of the parking lot on the Buffalo Street side, including Peace Park and the entrance and exit driveways.
When the $500,000 grant was secured, the village hoped to become the long-term lessee of the improved parking area, taking responsibility for the maintenance of the lot, but not all property owners wanted to take part, Cozza said.
“It’s gone through ups and downs,” he said, adding that owners of three smaller sections are part of the project.
Peace Park across Buffalo Street from the Palace Theater will be enlarged, taking about four parking spaces, Cozza said. A 10-foot wide sidewalk with benches and planters will be built on the village section. Four electric vehicle charges will be added, and the parking spaces will be striped.
Additional drainage will be added and grading of the lot will be improved. There will be enhanced landscaping and green spaces, and new lighting fixtures.
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