Village of Lewiston residents speak out against proposed hardware store

All 20 speakers express opposition to Ellicott Development proposal for Ace Hardware; EDC offers response

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

Twenty residents spoke out Monday against Ellicott Development Co.’s plan to lease the first floor of its largest Lewiston plaza unit to Ace Hardware. They were among a gymnasium full of people in attendance for the Planning Commission’s public hearing, which included an updated presentation on 780 Center St.

Planning Commission Chairman Rick Haight said the public hearing wasn’t the time for a back-and-forth with board members, but rather “an opportunity for residents to say their piece on this matter.”

Over the course of about 45 minutes, speakers noted Ace Hardware is not needed – locally owned Warren’s Village Hardware is less than five minutes away from the plaza; they claimed it doesn’t match Lewiston’s small-town charm or historical aesthetic; its delivery trucks would pose challenges to residential traffic, and potentially interfere with student transportation at nearby St. Peter R.C. School; and Ellicott Development (EDC) hasn’t fulfilled its pledge to make an attractive-looking plaza or made an effort to work with local merchants.

Residents questioned why EDC abandoned its 2024 request to add apartments to building No. 3’s first floor (second-floor apartments are rented); they suggested renters would not want to live above a chain retail store; and said the Village of Lewiston needs to have stronger standards in place for development.

EDC Director of Development Thomas Fox said his company initially sought to rent space on the ground floor of his company’s third of three buildings to a retail tenant – previously identified as Rite Aid – but was forced to pivot when no agreement could be reached. He said the second plan – for additional apartments – was scrapped due to 40% and 50% higher construction costs. Fox said rent would not justify expenses. So, EDC returned to its original idea, and entered into negotiations with Ace Hardware.

Fox said a plan first presented last spring to convert the ground floor of building No. 3 into a space suitable for Ace Hardware was “premature.” He noted additional conversations were had with the proposed tenant, and that what was offered to the village wasn’t a fully thought-out concept.

A more-detailed proposal began to take shape this summer. At a Planning Commission meeting in July, EDC “received a lot more comments from the board, which we had responded to in a letter to the Planning Board (dated Sept. 1)," Fox said.

“Since that time in July, additional massaging of those plans for the tenancy has resulted in some additional changes” in terms of the front-door location (moving west), the rear loading area, and the drive-thru enclosure (to remain open, but fenced, and used to showcase outdoor equipment).

EDC's proposed changes.

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The Planning Board voted to table EDC’s development plan. Haight said the company still needs to provide additional information on if/how the loading area can be screened; if an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant pathway can be created to traverse the full plaza; what the store's propane-filling station will entail; details on adding a gazebo; and expectations for the proposed truck delivery routes in terms of frequency, type/size of vehicle used, turning ratio, and ingress/egress (both for the plaza and the village).

Moreover, Haight said EDC was tasked with creating an aesthetically pleasing plaza when it was given permission to build at Center, North Eighth and Onondaga streets, and the company has not complied, as it pertains to landscaping and maintenance.

Haight said he would recommend EDC be denied any future certificate of occupancy until these issues are resolved.

If matters are resolved, and EDC is given municipal approval to move forward with its plan for building No. 3, Fox estimated Ace Hardware could be up and running in around six months.

Lewiston residents filled the Red Brick Municipal Building gymnasium on Monday, attending a public hearing on Ellicott Development Co.’s proposal to bring Ace Hardware to town. The retail chain would lease the ground floor of building No. 3 within EDC’s Center/Onondaga streets plaza.

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Resident comments

Tim Henderson said, “We already have a fine, family-owned hardware store that has served Lewiston well for over 15 years.”

Bill Warren of Warren’s Village Hardware said two tool and equipment stores is one too many: “This village cannot support two hardware stores. Period.”

Jamie Symmonds said, “Those (village codes), as they are written, they're there for a reason. So, when we're handing out variances like candy, and we're not holding them accountable to what the standard is, and not seeing it through, I think they have a proven track record of not following through on their work.”

She added, “They are not about Lewiston. They’re not here about community; they’re not for the community.”

Eva Nicklas said, “This summer, I had the opportunity to visit some smaller cities and towns in both Canada and the United States. These towns were absolutely charming, and swarming with happy tourists and thriving, locally owned businesses. Not surprisingly, they all had one thing in common: There were no chain stores.

“The Village of Lewiston has a unique identity, well known for the arts and our fascinating history. That identity is worth protecting because, once the historic character is replaced by chain stores and overdevelopment, it is too late to go back.”

Clayton Miller said he runs an international hardware company, and, “I'm intricately knowledgeable of Ace Hardware’s supply chains.”

He said, “There's no way that this is compatible with the location,” as it pertains to delivery trucks getting in and out of the plaza or traversing roads north of Center Street.

Lewiston Museum Curator Tom Collister, an alternate member on the Historic Preservation Commission, piggybacked that response. He claimed Ace Hardware's transportation setup includes “about 1,000 trailers; 90% of them are 53-foot-long trailers. They use sleeper cabs that are 23-meter long. So, you're talking about a 70-foot overall truck that has to get into this north side of building 3 on Onondaga Street.

“I believe, after all (my) years in my trucking business that I was in … is the fact that these trucks are not going to be able to turn in off of Onondaga Street into that facility, and they're not going to be able to turn out of that facility and go over to Eighth Street – and they're definitely not going to go back up Eighth Street with a 70-foot tractor on an incline without a (traffic) light. They are going to go to Sixth Street, alongside St. Peter School, or they are going to go to Fifth Street past St. Peter playground and parking area, in order to get back out on Center Street, with a light."

Collister said “the possible turning radius … is going to be tighter now. The cars are going to have to back up if they're at that corner.”

Building No. 3

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Ellicott Development’s response

Fox was asked about resident concerns.

•Trucks and delivery times: He said Ace Hardware would typically receive one large truck delivery per week – presumably in a 40-foot trailer – delivered during store hours, with a second delivery possible depending on the season. Logistically, he said, “It does work,” and trucks can successfully navigate the plaza.

Fox said smaller vehicles would bring items more frequently, perhaps three or four times per week.

He noted EDC will review traffic plans, look into how/where trucks can navigate residential roadways, and provide a response to the Planning Board.

•Apartments above Ace Hardware: Fox said, “There’s no concern” from tenants, and that EDC has other properties with apartments built above retail units. “It’s very typical.”

•EDC “anti-small business”: Fox noted he’s not on his company's commercial leasing side, but, “I know that there's been conversations with many different outfits, retailers, national, local businesses.”

He said buildings No. 1 (home to Tim Hortons) and 2 (Quest Diagnostics) could handle smaller tenants.

Fox also noted EDC’s other Lewiston property, the Frontier House, recently had a lease agreement with the owners of Buffalo’s Billy Club restaurant – and not with a national chain.

He said there’s “no truth” to the notion EDC is anti-small business – and Fox said Ace Hardware could drive more people into the Village of Lewiston, which would help Warren’s.

HPC weighs in

The Historic Preservation Commission also tabled a vote on the updated EDC project submission. Members want specifications on the drive-thru fencing, gazebo, and propane-filling station. They also suggested the loading dock door(s) should better match the windows on building No. 3.

Also requested: a landscaping timeline and better retention pond upkeep.