Residents outraged by construction

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A controversial construction project hit a roadblock in Buffalo.

Homeowners near an unused stretch of Cedar Street protested a new bus road leading to the Montessori School. Old trees had already been chopped down and concrete was ripped up.

Neighbors say the city assured them back in 2008 that the project would be stopped. Residents say they want to preserve green space.

Barbara Davis said, "They can do it behind the school. They have a lot of space, but they want to keep their green space, but they don't care about our green space."

Councilman Rev. Darius Pridgen said, "A few weeks ago the Board of Education sent people out to take away the lighting in the corridor here without notifying residents. They cut down the trees. They are now ripping up the sidewalks. This is a disaster."

Some Buffalo city and county lawmakers had the project stopped Tuesday until residents can be heard before the School Board at the end of August.

School Board President Mary Ruth Kapsiak tells News 4 the board never authorized the project to begin.