News Articles

2024 Microenterprise Program

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 18:47:02 +0000

The 2024 Microenterprise Program is now open!

Do you have a small business or a business start-up in North Tonawanda? Reach out and let's see how we can help you ease the costs of a new business or expansion.

Niagara County Completes Opportunity Zone Prospectus

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 18:16:56 +0000

Opportunity Zones are federally-designated census tracts classified as low-income communities. The opportunity zone program provides substantial tax benefits for capital gains reinvested into these economically distressed areas. Niagara County recently completed an Opportunity Zone Prospectus to help attract development to the eight opportunity zones in the county.

The prospectus report can be found here: https://www.niagaracountybusiness.com/documents/programs-incentives/Opportunity-Zones/OZ_Prospectus_FINAL.pdf

Business community in North Tonawanda gaining 'Momentum'

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:02:29 +0000

By: Justin Moore

NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y.(WKBW) - The Lumber City Development Corporation has started an initiative called North Tonawanda Momentum.

Executive Director, Michael Zimmerman said the goal is to attract more businesses to the Lumber City.

“We have waterfront all around us. All of this property in and around the waterfront is unique development opportunities,” Zimmerman said.

Developers are looking at the potentials of North Tonawanda. Dozens of apartment units are being built on the waterfront on River Road. Developers are also turning an old abandon building in the 200 block of Main Street into office space. Already downtown space is filled with businesses.

“And that’s why we’ve working on development projects to make more space available for new businesses to come down here,” Zimmerman said.

Lisa Langer owns River Art Gallery & Gifts in North Tonawanda. She said her business has been going strong on Webster Street for more than 10 years.

“It’s delightful. It has that small town feel. But, boy it has the best of what a big city would have in it,” Longer said.

She said the business community’s vision is the same. They want to make North Tonawanda a regional destination.

Where there was smoke there's development in NT

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 19:56:00 +0000

MIA SUMMERSON/STAFF The former fire training facility on Tonawanda Island is set for demolition to make way for future development on the island. While there's no official plan for what will be constructed in the tower's place, but the goal is to create spaces that can accommodate a variety of uses, from commercial space to residential units.

TONAWANDA ISLAND: State funds to demolish former fire tower.

By Mia Summerson

Aside from a restaurant, some industry and a few docks, there’s not much reason to visit Tonawanda Island, but the city of North Tonawanda’s plans to make a destination out of the area have taken a step forward.

Just last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office announced the fifth round of funding for the Restore New York Communities Initiative, which aims to support municipal revitalization efforts. Of the $8.8 million awarded to projects in Western New York, North Tonawanda is slated to receive $161,167, which will be used to demolish an old fire tower on the island.

The money will go toward the “demolition of the former fire training tower on Bridge Street to prepare the property for a future mixed-use development that can serve as a potential catalyst to the future of Tonawanda Island,” according to a press release from Cuomo’s office detailing the grant awards.

In December, the North Tonawanda common council heard a pitch on the project from Michael Zimmerman, executive director of the Lumber City Development Corp. He said the 3-acre parcel included the tower and smokehouse buildings, along with other “various debris.” He said that the tower is no longer used by fire professionals, adding that “they’re not safe.”

At the time, Zimmerman said the city would apply for $1 million in state funding for the project, with approximately $245,100 needed for the demolition with anything left over expected to be used on environmental studies due to the property’s status as a Brownfield Opportunity Area.

Zimmerman now says the demolition is expected to cost closer to $300,000, but the remainder of the costs associated with the demolition and remediation will likely fall to a private developer.

“What we initially conceived was to cover the cost of the demolition and then make the property available for (private) development,” Zimmerman said. He added that now, it seems the best course of action is to provide the grant funding to the selected developer as an incentive and allow them to undertake remedial efforts.

“If we did the clean-up then they wouldn’t be eligible for (Brownfield) tax credits,” he said.

He also said that the city will issue a request for proposals and select a plan that best fits its vision for the future of the island as envisioned in its master development plan.

Mayor Arthur Pappas said he was glad to see the project moving ahead. He also referred to the plan as a potential “catalyst” that the city hopes will spur additional economic development on Tonawanda Island.

Pappas said the plan is in line with the city’s master plan for developing its downtown and waterfront districts. While he said he isn’t certain what type of development will go in the spot where the old fire tower currently stands, he said ideas are being discussed.

“There are things that have been talked about, a possible hotel, a possible restaurant again, it’s going to depend on what proposals are brought in,” Pappas said. “We want Tonawanda Island to eventually be developed into something big. Not many cities own an island, and that’s our island ... so it’s kind of exciting to think that could be a great place in the future for who knows what.”

MIA SUMMERSON/STAFF The tower, located near the base of the Frederick B. Durkee Bridge, was once used to train local firefighters. But it hasn't been used in some time and has now been declared unsafe.

Construction begins on NT's $20M River's Edge housing complex

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 20:00:17 +0000

Officials break ground on the new River's Edge housing complex.
NORTH TONAWANDA MAYOR'S OFFICE

By MARIAN HETHERLY

A small Clarence developer has taken a huge step forward with a major project on North Tonawanda's riverfront.

Construction for a $20 million new housing complex has begun at 600 River Road, across the street from Recreational Warehouse and adjacent to a number of marinas. Officials are betting the 110 new apartment and townhouse units will serve as a catalyst for other projects and help connect the river to the more expansive development happening along the canal, as well as to Buffalo's waterfront.

"This is brand new, modern, top-of-the-line," said Viscone Enterprises Manager Tom Celik. "They're going to be between $1,000, $1,100 up to $1,800, $1,900, $2,000. They'll be on the larger side. They will be around 900 square foot all the way up to approximately 1,400 square foot."

Celik said the entire project will be completed in two phases, with a model available in spring 2018 and phase one completed by spring 2019. Before construction could begin, he said the company had to complete more than $1 million in site remediation, which took about two years.

New York State Sen. Rob Ortt said the six-acre site used to be Tonawanda Iron Works, a former steel plant, and had been long vacant. He said there really has not been much development along that portion of the river, except for the upgrading of the city-owned marina.

"I think people are glad to see something happening there," Ortt said. "You know, you're taking a piece of property that's not on the tax rolls - a good size piece of property - and putting it back on the tax rolls and, obviously, you're going to be bringing people into your community who want to live on the water."

Ortt compared River's Edge to the recently opened Remington Lofts along the canal side of North Tonawanda and said Viscone took a chance on their new project with the help of brownfield tax credits.

"For cities particularly, places like North Tonawanda, Lackawanna, Buffalo, Tonawanda, Cheektowaga, you know, those kinds of areas where you had industry and heavy manufacturing years ago, a lot of those places that are gone, the properties that they left behind have contamination," said Ortt, "and if you want to see those properties given new life, this kind of program is essential."

Celik said a total of seven buildings will be constructed; the tallest two will be four-stories high. He said the public also will have full walkable access along the water.

"We're giving full public access to citizens to be able to walk into the site and walk up to the water and be able to walk up and down," Celik said. "From the road, you're only going to really see the top two floors of the apartment buildings. You can't really see the water anyway off of River Road becausethe elevation is kinda curved."

"If you go back 10, 15 years ago, I don't think you would have seen investors betting on North Tonawanda," said Ortt, "and now we're moving go the next waterfront. This is very much a part of the comprehensive master plan for NT. We want to connect that river corridor to our downtown corridor. We want to link them as much as possible."

New kayak launch and bike path extension unveiled along the Erie Canal in North Tonawanda

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 18:17:49 +0000

Steve Spyra returns to the newly opened kayak launch in North Tonawanda at the foot of Niagara at Sweeney Street shortly after it was officially opened with a ceremony Wednesday May 18, 2016. (John Hickey/Buffalo News)

By Nancy Fischer

NORTH TONAWANDA – On a beautiful Wednesday, city and state leaders cut the ribbon on a new kayak launch and bike path extension at Niagara and Sweeney streets.

The developments meet the city’s commitment to a growing number of people many who want to take advantage of the warmer weather through walking, biking and kayaking. The new launch is one of three kayak docks in this historic lumber port on the Erie Canal and upper Niagara River.

“We’re so fortunate here,” Mayor Arthur G. Pappas said. “We can see every type of watercraft from yachts to tugboats to canoes, kayak and even pedalboats.”

“And, you can tell by the smiles that we can’t wait for summer,” he added.

Lumber City Development Corp. administered more than $289,000 in grants for the bike path, with half coming from the New York State Canal Corp. Half of the $142,000 cost of design and construction of the three Erie Canal kayak launches came through the state Environmental Protection Fund, with the city providing the other half of the funding for both projects through in-kind services.

Steven Spyra of North Tonawanda, who has been kayaking for more than 20 years, said he has seen the sport grow, recalling when he was the only person out on the water. Spyra, a member of the city’s Waterfront Commission, was part of the steering committee to bring the new roller-dock launches to the canal.

“This is a luxury for me,” Spyra said of the kayak launch. “I wanted this for all the people who bought a kayak and thought it was going to be great and then realized they have to walk into the muddy canal to launch.”

A roller dock also at the Botanical Gardens allows kayakers to make their way into the water thanks to rollers on the dock.

He said the improved access will serve as a boon for kayakers and those considering the sport.

“I want the kayak community to explode even more than it has,” said Spyra.

A third city kayak dock – one without rollers – is at Gateway Harbor.

The city’s 6,000-foot bike path extension connects Payne Avenue to Sweeney Street to the entrance of Mayor’s Park.

City Engineer Dale W. Marshall said the hope is that one day the bike path will reach the Botanical Gardens, the East Robinson Road bridge and tie into the Amherst bike path system, which rims the southern side of the canal.

Michael Zimmerman, executive director of Lumber City Development and city director of Community Development, said the two projects are part of the city’s vision to make the city’s waterfront more accessible.

“Not every community is lucky enough to have this waterfront right in their backyard,” Zimmerman said.

email: nfischer@buffnews.com