Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi (upper right) addresses the Jamestown City Council during its May 14 work session in city hall.

JAMESTOWN – The official opening date of the Chadakoin Park Trail, which is part of the city’s Greater Jamestown Riverwalk system, will open with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, June 29.

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi delivered the news on Monday night to the Jamestown City Council during its work session.

The Chadakoin Park Trail, which will be paved and allow for both bikes and foot traffic, runs from Clifton Avenue to near McCrea Point Park. The cost of the project is $525,000, with more than half the funding come from a state grant.

Meanwhile, the two Riverwalk pedestrian bridges over the Chadakoin River behind the National Comedy Center will officially open on Saturday, July 7.

The $2 million project is being paid for through a $1.6 million grant from the state, with the remaining balance covered by a First Instance Urban Development Action Grant the city recently received.

LAKEVIEW AVE PROPERTY TARGETED FOR REHAB

In other news, a long-time dilapidated property on Lakeview Ave in Jamestown will soon likely see a major renovation thanks to the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency.

On Monday night city development director Vince DeJoy and attorney Ben Haskin said JURA is looking to acquire the property, located at 402 Lakeview Ave.,in order to help see it renovated into an owner-occupied home.

The house, which has been abandoned for almost five years, will be acquired by JURA through a new state tax law that allows zombie houses to be transferred to home municipalities when certain criteria is met. Once the city owns the property, an RFP will then be sent out to potential developers to rehab and either live in it or sell it.

Potential developers will be able to use the city’s new Local Property Tax Abatement Incentive for redeveloping vacant and condemned properties, as well as historic tax credits, to help restore the house.

The city council will act on giving approval to JURA acquiring the home during its monthly voting session later this month.