WEST SENECA, N.Y. (WKBW) — Neighbors in West Seneca are calling for redeveloping the 60-acre site of the former Seneca Mall in West Seneca.
The mall was demolished in 1994 and the site has sat vacant since. It has become a dumping ground that many in the community consider an eyesore.
West Seneca resident Raymond Schadel reflects on what the mall was like 30 years ago.
“Actually, it was pretty cool going to the mall back in the 90’s because no one really did it,” Schadel says. “We started hanging out with our friends going skating, eating pizza, and catching the bus home."
The executive director of the West Seneca Chamber of Commerce Joe Kirchmyer is calling for something to be done with this empty space.
He shared the following from an email that he sent to the owner of Pyramid Companies:
"The time has come to put this property on the market. It is obvious that, after three decades, you have no plans to develop it.
We've said it dozens of times, but the Chamber and Town are here to help. I hate having to write emails like this ... but I hate driving past this long-neglected location on a daily basis even more."
West Seneca Supervisor Gary Dickson tells 7 News reporter Yoselin Person he’s been in touch with a representative from Pyramid Companies to see what can be done.
“I told Scott that this has been half your life, that this has been vacant so how about you just do something or just sell it,” Dickson says.
7 News reached out to the Pyramid Companies but has not received a response.
“We have brought some projects to him and we’ve discussed some projects,” Dickson says. “And he just doesn’t want to move on.”
The supervisor says it’s not up to the town to purchase this land, but at one time he did consider going that route through eminent domain.
“It’s just too expensive and the risk and final cost which will be fought over in the court can take a year or two to come up with,” Dickson says. “So the risk to the town and the cost would be something that I think we shouldn’t be taken on.”
“It’s a wasteland right now. Seagulls aren’t even here,” says a resident. “But I don’t know even if you made it to a park. It’ll be nice and have nature take its course.”
