Pictured is Cross Street resident Dianne Shaw-Parker, who came to Monday’s housing committee meeting to discuss some concerns she had with the tiny house project and demolition process in the city. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

Some residents of Cross Street have expressed concerns about the city’s tiny house pilot project and the plans for their street.

During Monday’s City Council Housing Committee meeting, Cross Street resident Dianne Shaw-Parker asked Housing Committee members specifically about the tiny houses and demolition process. Her concerns included problems with having a camper with drugs, parties and stealing issues removed that had taken three years to be removed, and that it had taken that long for some houses to be demolished as well. Three to four properties have been scheduled for demolitions that have not been done yet. After discussing past problems with the camper and the property, Shaw-Parker said she is concerned over what the tiny houses may be.

Director of Development Crystal Surdyk gave Shaw-Parker and the other residents in attendance with concerns an overview of the preliminary plan for the tiny houses.

“It’s a very preliminary plan for that area,” Surdyk said. “Yes, there are several houses that are already condemned and yes they have been on the demolition list for a long time. … We are working with the (Chautauqua County) Land Bank to get those demolitions done. While we are also looking at that section of Cross Street we see a lot of opportunity there.”

Surdyk clarified that the tiny house term is not necessarily an accurate term, and that many things are being considered. While there is not currently enough funding available for a rehabilitation of the entire area of Cross Street, the city is working on it and knows that the area needs more than just new housing.

“To put new housing in there we need to look at the street, the condition of the street itself, the curbs that already exist there and other infrastructure; sewer, water,” Surdyk said. “So, we’re really looking at that entire area as an opportunity to do a complete revitalization effort.”

Additionally, it is yet to be determined how big the new houses will be in that area. Trying to get away from the idea that all infill housing projects in the city will be tiny house projects, Surdyk said it will depend on what is appropriate for what neighborhoods, and that she did not think tiny houses would be appropriate for the neighborhood on Cross Street that is being discussed.

The overall first step, Surdyk said, is to get the demolitions done and the lots cleared, with the city working in the meantime to figure out where to get the funding.

“It doesn’t make sense for us to do an infill housing project in that area without doing all of the infrastructure,” Surdyk said. “So, that’s really where we’re at, we’re still in a very preliminary phase. And we will certainly be doing community engagement and looking for input from the neighborhood when we get to that point.”

While this specific area of Cross Street has been targeted for a revitalization effort, Surdyk said the Development Department does not yet know what it will fully look like, as they are not at that point yet. At this point, the city has simply identified that that area of Cross Street is an area in need of help.

Shaw-Parker asked why it has taken so long to get these three or four specific properties to be demolished when they were told at least three years ago that they would be. Surdyk said with over 100 properties on the demolition list and very limited funding several properties have been prioritized for one reason or another. These properties are a priority and are included on the next list to be demolished, but Surdyk said there is a process of how demolitions get done and a lot of factors that are included, included asbestos surveys and not having enough contractors in the city because of the fact that they are also working on other things like paving during the better weather.

“We are at the mercy of the contractors’ schedules and the whole process,” Surdyk said.

Surdyk said she cannot guarantee a timeline but is able to get Shaw-Parker and the other residents more information, adding that she knows demolitions are something that is always at the top of people’s minds. She also clarified that a rehabilitation project means rehabilitating the neighborhood and then they would find homeowners to purchase them.

Shaw-Parker expressed frustration over being told one thing or another over the past years, and Surdyk invited them to come to office hours for any other questions they may have or to reach out to her.