Empire State Development (ESD) and the City of Niagara Falls have announced agreements with four developers for the first phase of redevelopment in the Bridge District. This initiative covers four out of 38 city-owned properties, including the former Jenss Department Store on North Main Street.
The move is part of a broader effort to revitalize North Main Street by encouraging diversified ownership and development. The project builds on previous investments made through New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative. ESD has provided a $2.5 million grant to the Niagara Falls Urban Renewal Agency (URA) to support property acquisition, building stabilization, and developer selection for these sites.
“The acquisitions and developer selections announced today are key steps in a concerted effort to bring new life to Niagara Falls’ once-vibrant commercial district,” said Empire State Development President, CEO & Commissioner Hope Knight. “Governor Hochul’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative has already placed a strong emphasis on the Bridge District, and the selection of developers today facilitates more diverse ownership, encourages future uses, and fosters a dynamic future for an area with immense potential.”
“These properties have been vacant and damaged for years under single-party ownership,” said Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino. “By acquiring them and then transferring ownership on a more community-oriented scale, we are advancing the community’s vision for revitalization. I thank Governor Hochul and our partners for their assistance as we move forward with repurposing these buildings and filling vacant lots to create more business and job opportunities.”
The selected developers will take on projects at several addresses: Develop Niagara, Inc. will work on 717 (a vacant lot) and 723 Division (a historic house); NFNHA Holdings, LLC will develop 1509 Main Street (a former church); 1708 Main St., LLC will handle 1708 Main Street (the former Jenss building); RJ Niagara, LLC will redevelop 2109 Main Street (a former bar/nightclub).
Each developer must enter into a development enforcement mortgage as part of their agreement. The city plans to monitor each project until completion to ensure accountability.
Earlier this year, URA acquired all 38 properties from Bank on Buffalo. Since then, URA has worked with ESD, the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency (IDA), and the Niagara Orleans Land Improvement Corporation (NORLIC), also known as the Land Bank, to stabilize these buildings. Efforts so far include cleaning out many properties, securing them against unauthorized entry, ongoing monitoring for safety concerns, as well as planned roof and masonry repairs before winter.
As these initial agreements progress, URA intends to continue seeking proposals from qualified developers for rehabilitation or redevelopment of remaining properties in line with city policies. Potential uses include residential units—both student-focused and conventional—as well as retail space, entertainment venues, offices or educational facilities.
The Bridge District centers around Main Street near civic assets such as De Veaux Woods State Park and transportation hubs like The Niagara Falls International Train Station. Recent infrastructure improvements—including parkway removal along the gorge rim—aim to improve connectivity between local attractions.
Empire State Development serves as New York’s main economic development agency with programs supporting business growth across all regions of the state.
