The Town of Cheektowaga, located directly east of the City of Buffalo and ten miles from the Canadian border, is the acknowledged transportation hub of Western New York. The Town, home of the Greater Buffalo International Airport, a network of major regional and Interstate highways, and passenger and industrial rail facilities, provides easy and timely access to local, national and global destinations. Cheektowaga, by virtue of its centralized location, is one of the region's largest centers for retail activity and offers numerous opportunities for shopping, dining and entertainment. First class park and recreational facilities, the regions's largest and most diverse shopping center, a full range of municipal services, medical facilities and school systems and a system of responsive local government contribute to the quality of life enjoyed by nearly 100,000 residents.
The Town of Cheektowaga's Consolidated Plan, prepared in conjunction with the Cheektowaga-Amherst-Tonawanda Consortium, contains an Action Plan which addresses the Town's identified needs. Community Development Block Grant funds, program income from housing and economic development activities and HOME Investment Partnership Program funds will be expended primarily on housing rehabilitation, neighborhood improvements, public services and economic development activities.
A Citizen Participation Plan was prepared and adopted by the Town in
conjunction with the Towns of Amherst and Tonawanda. Two public hearings were
held to obtain public input before the Plan was adopted by the Town Board on
April 4, 1995.
Cheektowaga is located directly east of the City of Buffalo in the County of
Erie, and is the County's second largest suburban community. In 1990, the
Town's population was approximately 99,300. Elderly persons represent the
fastest growing segment of the Town population, accounting for 22% in 1990.
Median family income in 1990 was $ 37,245. Poverty level for families in 1990
was 3.8 %.
The Town, as a well-developed first-ring suburban community, experiences conditions typical of mature communities. The ability of the Town's leadership to maintain fiscal stability has been a factor in the Town's ability to attain modest economic growth and preservation of its employment base. The employment character of the Town has experienced a shift since the 1970's, when it was primarily blue-collar in nature, to a more economically diverse makeup today, incorporating manufacturing, retail, office, service and government employment. Today the Town and its Economic Development Corporation utilize available federal funds to assist in maintaining the economic viability of targeted business types and encourage expansion to foster growth of new employment opportunities. The Town has also sustained a program of neighborhood and infrastructure improvements utilizing federal, state and local resources to maintain the stability of its neighborhoods, housing stock and local business districts.
The primary housing needs identified in the Consolidated Plan involved maintaining an adequate supply of existing and new owner and rental housing for low and very low income residents with an emphasis on new housing for elderly persons to meet the needs of a growing elderly population.
The Town had 40,763 year-round housing units in 1990, of which about 97% were occupied. Of these, 28,868 were owner-occupied and 10,830 were renter-occupied. Approximately 2700 units were determined to be in need of rehabilitation. Approximately 81% of the Town's housing units were constructed prior to 1970, with about 12% constructed prior to 1939. A majority of the Town's older housing stock is located in neighborhoods along the Town's border with the City of Buffalo. These neighborhoods also house a significant number of the Town's lower-income residents. New construction in the Town has been declining due to the fact that the Town is substantially developed with little vacant land available for new construction. Between 1990 and 1994, 397 new single-family homes were constructed, from 155 in 1990 to 29 in 1994. Construction of two-family and multi-family units has also declined steadily during the same time period.
Vacancy rates for rental housing are low due in part to the low rate of construction of new rental units. Those households with less than 50% of median income bear the greatest housing cost burden and the greatest need for assistance, including rental assistance as well as assistance with making needed housing repairs.
Homelessness is less visible in suburban areas given the fact that the homeless are highly mobile and naturally gravitate to urban areas where services are available. Although homeless individuals originate in numerous communities, there appears to be no methodology in place for determining the point of origin of the homeless when a census is performed or when services are provided. Therefore there is little information to document the extent of homelessness with the Town.
The Town has no public housing. Belmont Shelter Corporation, the administrator of the Erie County Public Housing Agency Consortium of which Cheektowaga and most suburban communities are members, has reported that approximately 2500+ households from Consortium communities are on the waiting list for Section 8 rental assistance. Needs are greatest among elderly, and small and large family households.
A review of the Joint Venture for Affordable Housing Implementation Checklist for Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances, Administration and Processing, and Land Planning and Development did not uncover any excessive, exclusionary, discriminatory or duplicative policies, rules or regulations which would constitute a barrier to housing affordability. The Town has, in recent years, passed an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to encourage the development of elderly housing.
The Town, in conjunction with the Towns of Amherst and Tonawanda, has contracted for the performance of a fair housing impediments study, which is expected to be completed in February of 1996.
The Erie County Department of Health sponsors a Lead Poisoning Prevention Program which provides information, referral and direct services to residents of the County, including Cheektowaga. Information regarding the hazards of lead-based paint is provided to all applicants to the Town's housing rehabilitation program.
Priority community development needs include improvement and preservation of housing stock through programs providing affordable, low-cost housing rehabilitation, programs and capital improvements to preserve the social and economic viability of neighborhoods, improvement of public safety in lower-income neighborhoods, business and job retention, encouragement of new and diverse business development and creation of employment and economic opportunities and adequate affordable housing, particularly for low-income elderly residents.
The Town, understanding the importance of coordination between public and
private housing and social service agencies, has developed its Consolidated Plan
through consultation and cooperation with such agencies. In doing so, the Town
has established a working relationship with numerous social and housing service
providers which will serve as a foundation for coordination and cooperation in
the implementation of its Consolidated Plan. Acknowledging that each agency
plays a specific role in providing different types of services, the Town will
adhere to a policy of encouraging on-going communication, referrals and exchange
of information among these agencies.
Overall goal calls for the development of an economically diverse community composed of neighborhoods which provide housing which is safe, decent and affordable, and a safe, secure living environment which is conducive to family life and the pursuit of personal opportunities.
The Town's housing problems are primarily related to an aging housing stock and deferred maintenance by low-income homeowners, and the effect of such housing conditions on lower- income neighborhoods. Therefore, one of the Town's main objectives is the elimination of existing housing and neighborhood deterioration and the preservation of existing housing through a program of housing rehabilitation, code enforcement and appropriate capital improvements. Preservation and improvement of the Town's economic base through retention of existing business and jobs and development of new, diverse business and employment opportunities is also a priority.
Priorities include maintaining an adequate supply of standard owner and rental housing for low and very low income residents; providing an adequate supply of standard affordable existing and new rental housing and supportive elderly housing for low and very low-income residents; providing affordable homeownership opportunities to low-income households.
Priorities include neighborhood preservation and improvement, infrastructure improvements to alleviate flooding and drainage problems in lower-income areas, preservation of recreational opportunities in low-income areas, business and job retention and creation of new employment opportunities for lower-income persons.
The Town recognizes that housing programs by themselves will not eliminate or reduce poverty. The Erie County Public Housing Authority (PHA) has established an Action Plan for the Family Self- Sufficiency Program. This program provides rent subsidies to eligible households in concert with other social services and programs on terms that encourage personal responsibility leading to financial independence. The Town, through the Cheektowaga Economic Development Corporation provides financial assistance to small-to-medium size businesses which relocate to or expand within the Town and which will create new employment opportunities for low-to-moderate income persons. The Town's employment and training office provides training and employment opportunities to economically disadvantaged adults and dislocated workers.
Primary resources are available through federal programs. These include the Community Development Block Grant Program, the HOME Program, Section 8 Existing Rental Assistance Program, Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program (Section 202) and the Hope for Elderly Independence Demonstration Program.
Coordination of the Strategic Plan will be accomplished through routine
contact and exchange of information among Consortium community members.
Relationships established with Consortium and other public and private agencies
during preparation of the Consortium Plan will serve as a foundation for coordination and cooperation in the
implementation of the Consolidated Plan. The understanding and awareness of
housing and community development needs in surrounding communities which the
Town and Consortium members have gained during preparation of the Consolidated
Plan will serve as the basis for cooperative efforts where appropriate.
The Town of Cheektowaga's One-Year Action Plan, utilizing $885,000 in C.D.B.G. funds and program income and approximately $ 273,000 in HOME funds, will implement a variety of projects, with the key projects listed below:
Housing rehabilitation and economic development business loans are available on a Town-wide basis and not targeted exclusively to any specific neighborhoods. Family counseling is also not site specific. Code enforcement is targeted to the Walden Avenue and Cedargrove Heights neighborhoods. Infrastructure improvements are targeted to the Cedargrove Heights neighborhood, the Village of Sloan and Cochrane Street in the southwest section of the Town.
Business loans will be provided through the Cheektowaga Economic Development Corporation. Infrastructure improvements in the Village of Sloan will be carried-out by the Village of Sloan with oversight by the Town. Family counseling will be carried out by a yet to be selected not-for-profit professional counseling agency. Housing rehabilitation and other remaining projects will be carried-out by the Town.
Housing goals include the rehabilitation of 52 single-family and 16 multi-family residences; weatherization of 25 housing units; provision of rental assistance to approximately 35 low-income households; construction of 50 units of Section 202 housing for low-income elderly.
MAP 2 depicts points of interest and low-moderate income areas.
MAP 3 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and minority concentration levels.
MAP 4 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and unemployment levels.
MAP 5 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and unemployment levels at street level for one neighborhood.
MAP 6 depicts points of interest, low-moderate income areas, and unemployment levels at street level for one neighborhood.
Jerome Gabryszak
Director of Community Development
Ph: (716) 897-7200
