Proposed Lockport Moratorium on Large Apartment Projects Could Threaten Bewley Building Redevelopment

     A proposed moratorium on new large multi-family housing projects in the City of Lockport could jeopardize plans to redevelop the long-vacant Bewley Building, according to developers involved in the project.

     The proposal, currently under consideration by the Lockport Common Council, would temporarily halt approvals for new multi-family developments containing 25 or more apartments in certain parts of the city. The six-month moratorium is intended to give city officials additional time to evaluate how large housing projects may impact neighborhoods and long-term development planning.

     The issue drew significant public attention during a Common Council meeting Wednesday night, where dozens of residents attended to voice opinions about the potential freeze on approvals.

     Council members ultimately voted 4–1 to table the proposal, meaning the measure will be revisited at a future meeting rather than decided immediately. However, developers behind the Bewley Building project say the uncertainty created by the possible moratorium already puts their plans at risk.

     The redevelopment effort is being led by Edgemere Development and PathStone Development Corp., which have spent months planning to convert the large historic building into a mixed-use property featuring approximately 100 apartments along with commercial space on the ground floor.

     Developers say the project has already gone through revisions after discussions with community members, including a shift toward market-rate housing.

     Despite those adjustments, Edgemere Development Vice President Charlie Oster said the proposed moratorium could effectively halt the project if it moves forward.

     According to Oster, redevelopment projects of this scale require significant upfront investment in engineering, design work, and planning. He explained that carrying those costs without clear approval timelines can quickly make projects financially unsustainable.

     Oster also acknowledged that while the proposal does not explicitly single out the Bewley Building, the timing makes it difficult for developers not to feel the project may be affected by the measure.

     Lockport Common Council President Rowland O’Malley said the proposal is not aimed at any one specific property or development.

     Instead, he described the moratorium as a temporary pause intended to allow city leaders more time to evaluate how large residential developments should fit into Lockport’s long-term planning strategy.

     According to O’Malley, decisions involving projects that could significantly change the character of neighborhoods require careful consideration and broader discussion before approvals are granted.

     City officials say the moratorium would give them time to study multiple development proposals across Lockport rather than focusing on a single project.

     For developers, the concern is that the six-month freeze could stall momentum for a project that has already been months in the making.

     City officials have yet to schedule a future vote on the issue.

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Proposed Lockport Moratorium on Large Apartment Projects