If you’re under the age of 30, you might not be familiar with the history surrounding the town of Love Canal, New York. So, if you’re getting ready to move to the area, we’ve got something you might want to know a little more about.
There are some cities that are synonymous with tragedy and disaster. If we mention Three Mile Island or Chernobyl, you’ll probably get a sense of what we’re referring to. While some locations become ghost towns after a disaster, others flourish. Love Canal, New York is somewhere in the middle.
Back in 1978, more than 200 families moved away from Love Canal, a small town within the Niagara Falls area, after some deadly chemicals started to seep up from the ground through the soil. Apparently, the canal had been a chemical dumpsite, which led the purchase of over 200 area houses by the state.
Sure, this news is downright scary. But should it deter you from moving to the Niagara Falls, New York area? No, probably not. Though two streets directly next to the canal remain empty, the area just to north, Black Creek Village, is bustling. In fact, it is a popular place to move.
New York actually rehabilitated almost 90 homes near the Love Canal disaster area and started auctioning them off in 1988. Back then, their market value was between $50,000 and $60,000. Today, those same houses go for anywhere between $70,000 and $120,000. So, if you want to move to Love Canal, New York, you can!
