Dark lot in Falls frightens residents

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - Several people contacted News 4 about a public parking lot in Niagara Falls that the city apparently can't afford to fix.

Some residents of nearby Wrobel Towers call the city-owned parking lot near Main Street and Niagara Avenue with no working lights "scary".

Jennie Johnson said, "I don't like to come out here at night."

The lights in the lot have not been working for some time.

"We're being totally ignored," said resident Truman Wall.

But turning the lights back on won't be an easy fix.

Mayor Paul Dyster said, "It's been on our list for a long time."

The mayor says the city has been looking at different options over the last few years.

"This is an example of the type of project that unfortunately I don't see how we're going to get to until the casino issue is resolved," Dyster said.

Wall says the lightless city-owned lot is an invitation for something bad to happen.

"We have had robberies out here. We have had cars broken into. Come out one day and there was a truck on four blocks, and the tires were off," Wall said.

One woman, who didn't want to be named, she was victimized in the lot a few months ago.

"Wanted my money," she said. "I had $40 and I gave it to him, and I didn't report it to the police because what are they going to do? Nothing."

But Dyster says police have a handle on things.

"There's no crime cluster that's occurring here. There's no pattern of car break-ins or larcenies or whatever," Dyster said. "We want people not just to be safe, but to feel safe. So we've stepped up police patrols in the lot, times when we know people are coming and going."

Despite patrols, some residents are still uneasy when night falls.

Wall said, "Things happen when the patrol is not going through here."

Shirley Propst added, "It feels scary. Like somebody walking behind you. Like someone's going to stab you with a knife or [shoot you with] a gun."

City officials say fixing the lights in the lot could cost around $100,000 - and money isn't growing on trees at City Hall.