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Housing debate raises legal questions in Lockport

HOUSING DEBATE

Concerns over subsidized units downtown clash with federal protections

HEIDI TRUSCHEL-LIGHT
HEIDI.TRUSCHEL-LIGHT@
LOCKPORTJOURNAL.COM

April 18, 2026

Debate over housing in downtown Lockport has intensified as some residents raise concerns about the impact of Urban Park Towers, while legal experts and advocates warn that efforts to limit or relocate similar developments could violate federal anti-discrimination laws.

“Redirecting a project out of a zone is a discriminatory act,” explained Grace Andriette, senior assistant supervising attorney for Neighborhood Legal Services’ Housing Unit in Buffalo. “The Fair Housing Act would bar discrimination in the zoning, sale, and rental of housing.”

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