Latest news with #USANiagara
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
USA Niagara approves $85M capital budget with eye on South End projects
The state agency working on, and helping to fund, the redevelopment of the Falls will have a more than $85.8 million budget to draw on for capital projects in 2025/26. That budget was approved during a Tuesday morning meeting of the board of directors of USA Niagara Development Corporation (USAN). USA Niagara is a subsidiary of Empire State Development, New York's state-wide development agency. Its mission is to 'support and promote economic development initiatives in Niagara Falls by leveraging private investment and encouraging growth and renewal of the tourism industry in the city.' The USA Niagara Board also approved a more than $953,000 operating budget. USAN President Anthony Vilardo told the board that capital spending in the coming year would be focused on agency initiatives like the Rainbow Mall redevelopment. USA Niagara has already announced plans for a 'civic improvement project' to redevelop the remaining 200,000 square feet of the former mall not occupied by the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute. The project has been described as creating 'greater public access and walkability, commercial opportunity and improving parking to support new and existing businesses at and near the site.' An agency request for proposals (RFP) calls for a plan to 'repurpose the remaining space into a high-density, mixed-use development with restored pedestrian access through the center of the building and active ground-level uses.' Marvel Architects has been awarded the contract for the project. Vilardo said the capital budget funding will also be directed toward the ongoing renovation of the Hotel Niagara and the Heritage Gateway and Hydraulic Plaza development projects. The Gorge Gateway seeks to transform approximately 2.27 acres of vacant land, formerly DiFranco Park, into a multi-use recreational space to act as a transition between Niagara Falls State Park and downtown Niagara Falls. The Hydraulic Plaza will be built on vacant land between 1st and 2nd streets. The approximately 1.4-acre plaza will follow the alignment of the historic hydraulic canal that once ran through the site to provide a power source for early local industry. The plaza and gateway are expected to be completed in 2026. The capital budget also contains funding for the continued development of a parcel of land in the 300 block of First Street. That vacant parcel is currently being developed as a pocket park, pending a future hotel project. USA Niagara also contracts with Destination USA Niagara to operate the Conference & Events Center Niagara Falls and programming on Old Falls Street. The USAN Board approved a budget of just over $1.2 million for those contracts and a capital budget of almost $1.5 million. Destination USA Niagara officials told the USAN board that 2024 saw a continuing post-COVID rebound in their conference and events center operations. The operations saw 97 events at the center, which generated more than $3 million in revenue. The center booked events for 72 'repeat groups,' while attracting bookings for '29 new groups.' As a result, the center has 'limited availability' for new bookings in the coming year. 'It's fantastic to not have enough space for everyone,' Destination USA President & CEO John Percy told the USAN board. 'Over $3 million in revenue for a building this size is incredible.' Percy said that 'good weather' led to increased attendance at Old Falls Street programs in 2024. He also said the addition of new upscale hotels in the South End has made the city a more attractive destination for business-related conferences and meetings.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
South End project seeks extension of site plan approval
The developer of a new six-story, $38.6 million South End project, featuring affordable housing units and a retail complex, is asking the Falls Planning Board for an extension of the approval of its site plan. The planning board will consider the request from Community Services for Every1 (CSE1), a Buffalo not-for-profit, and USA Niagara (USAN) at its meeting this evening. The current site plan approval is set to expire March 13 and the project is reportedly not yet ready to break ground. The site plan was originally approved by the Planning Board on Sept. 13, 2023. In August, demolition crews tore down the former TeleTech call center building which had previously occupied the project development site at 333 First St. They also leveled the former Smokin Joe's Native American Cultural Center at First and Old Falls streets. The properties were among 21 South End land parcels acquired from Anderson by USA Niagara, the subsidiary of Empire State Development that is assisting in the redevelopment of the Falls. An Empire State Development spokesperson said unforeseen delays in the start of major construction projects are not uncommon. 'This is part of the process,' the spokesperson said. 'Sometimes all of the various steps necessary to move forward with a project take a little longer than anticipated. We are excited to be breaking ground in the spring.' Community Services for Every1 currently operates programs in the Falls School District and has been looking to expand its presence in the community and establish a local base of operations. CSE1 has dubbed its project 'THE NEST.' The currently approved site plan calls for a six-story building with 78 apartments and 4,700 square feet of commercial space. Kelly E. Kinderman, CSE1 vice president of program support and development, said her organization's local staff will initially occupy the commercial space. The long-term goal of the project, Kinderman said, is to bring a commercial tenant into that space, consistent with a request by USA Niagara that the project have a retail component. The building will have three studio units, sixty-one 745-square-foot one-bedroom apartments and 14 970-square-foot two-bedroom units. The apartments will be targeted to households earning up to 50-60% or 80-90% of the area's median income. Eight units will be designed to accommodate individuals with mobility impairments, four will be for persons with hearing or visual challenges and 18 apartments will be dedicated for survivors of domestic violence. Kinderman said the mission of CSE1 is to support domestic violence and crime victims and people with disabilities. The project architect has said that the building will be environmentally friendly and 'all electric.' The project also calls for a parking lot for tenants and green space, including a playground. USA Niagara has characterized the project as helping to 'meet the local need for new housing, while street-level commercial and community spaces will contribute to pedestrian activity and street life.' The project is being funded by a combination of private investments, through the sale of tax credit bonds, and a host of state and local government grants and incentives. CSE1 representatives said they anticipate that construction will be completed in March 2026, with commercial and residential tenants moving in by December 2026.
