23-1064 : J. Smith, West End Towing - Re: Purchase of Portion of Farmer St

This item concerns a request from West End Towing & Recovery LLC (owned by Thomas Rivera and James G. Smith Jr.) to purchase a portion of Farmer Street. The property in question is the dead-end section of Farmer Street between Niagara Street and the RT190.

West End Towing, located at 2050 Niagara Street, has been maintaining this adjacent paper street for years, clearing trash, fixing potholes, and plowing snow. They are seeking to purchase this portion of Farmer Street, which they use for side entrances to their repair shop, to expand their business by adding towing and roadside assistance services. The purchase would allow them to install a security fence, lighting, and cameras to secure customer vehicles awaiting repair, thereby increasing their repair capacity.

The company is requesting the sale be below market rate due to their ongoing maintenance of the street and their role in supporting small business growth in the North District. The item has been repeatedly tabled by the Community Development Committee since June 2023.