USA NIAGARA: Spreading the wealth

Grading USA Niagara

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Dan Cappellazzo/staff photograph
DAN CAPPELLAZZO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPH

February 3, 2009

Staff Reports The Niagara Gazette Tue Feb 03, 2009, 07:21 AM EST

Here is how nearly $60 million in state funding has been allocated through USA Niagara Development Corp:

Infrastructure

• $3.5 million: Third Street reconstruction

• $2.5 million: Old Falls Street east mall reconstruction

• $7.9 million: Ongoing Old Falls Street west mall reconstruction

• $600,000: Ongoing “wayfinding system” to direct pedestrians to downtown attractions

• $500,000: Phase one of Rainbow Boulevard road project

Hotels

• $6 million: Crowne Plaza on Third Street

• $3 million: Holiday Inn, formerly Four Points Sheraton, on Rainbow Boulevard

• $150,000: Super 8 Motel on Rainbow Boulevard.

Other projects

• $20 million: Conference Center Niagara Falls

• $13 million: Set aside for proposed Niagara Experience Center

• $845,000: United Office Building

• $750,000: Niagara Aerospace Museum

• $100,000: Wine on Third

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Grading USA Niagara

USA NIAGARA: Diplomacy key for agency USA Niagara Development Corp. arrived on the scene in 2001 armed with some potentially powerful tools for dealing with one of the city’s most-pressing concerns: downtown land owners who have for years sat idle on their vacant properties.
February 4, 2009 2 Photos
USA NIAGARA: Erasing the past, painting the future Christopher Schoepflin gets a good look at downtown Niagara Falls at least five days a week.

From his office on the seventh floor of the Giacomo — formerly known as the United Office Building — Schoepflin has a bird’s eye view of many of downtown’s problem areas, places where buildings remain vacant and properties are still not being used to their full potential.
February 4, 2009 2 Photos
USA NIAGARA: Bistro, collection agency among projects not realized World-renowned chef Walter Potenza came to Niagara Falls last year looking to open a bistro restaurant and bar in the downtown area.

He left with a bitter taste in his mouth after a few interviews with USA Niagara Development Corp. officials.
February 3, 2009 1 Photo
STREET TALK: Future USA Niagara <img src="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/media/audio/Listen-sig20.gif" border="0"> Q: What should USA Niagara do next to develop downtown Niagara Falls?
February 3, 2009 1 Photo
USA NIAGARA: Spreading the wealth Here is how nearly $60 million in state funding has been allocated through USA Niagara Development Corp.
February 3, 2009 5 Photos
USA NIAGARA: Learning from past mistakes Of all USA Niagara’s projects, the reconstruction of Third Street has garnered the most attention — and not in the way the agency had hoped.

The entertainment corridor has failed to live up to its billing and more businesses have closed than opened since the project wrapped up in 2005.
February 2, 2009 1 Photo
USA NIAGARA: On the right path? The scene at the west pedestrian mall this past fall was a typical one in Niagara Falls.

Dozens of politicians decked out in three-piece suits congratulated each other and signaled a new dawning for a city that has been promised that so many times before.
February 2, 2009 1 Photo
USA NIAGARA: A look at the strategic plan An overview of the key areas of development listed in USA Niagara’s 2002 strategic plan
February 1, 2009 1 Photo
USA NIAGARA: The ‘Times Square’ promise Former Gov. George Pataki signaled the beginning of a “new chapter” in the history of Niagara Falls in January of 2001 — the formation of USA Niagara Development Corp.

The division of the state economic development department was formed with the express purpose of bringing a “brighter and stronger” future to the city’s downtown business district.
February 1, 2009 1 Photo
STREET TALK: Third Street's future <img src="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/media/audio/Listen-sig20.gif" border="0"> Q: What needs to be done to transform 3rd Street into a permanent entertainment district.
January 31, 2009