Good things are happening on Third Street

Wednesday, Jewish Family Services held a grand opening for its new office space at 460 Third St.

For the first time, JFS will have a brick-and-mortar space for its caseworkers as well as workspace for temporary visitors and refugees in Niagara Falls.

The ribbon cutting was attended by JFS leaders as well as elected officials and workers to show off the space where they will help immigrants settle into the community.

In fact, 8 new families arrived this week, coming from places like Ukraine and Congo. The entrance to the new facility features a cheery Niagara Falls mural painted as a thank you by a Ukrainian refugee, according to Lauren McGuire, vice president of development and community engagement.

She said Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino and School Superintendent Mark Laurrie have been very supportive. There are now 31 different languages being spoken in the Niagara Fall School District.

Nasreen Akhtar, CEO of Naz716 Business Center & Aero Transportation,  a business incubator in Wheatfield was excited to be at the opening. He travels extensively and said it is always a relief to return home and enjoy friendly people, a superior climate, inexpensive cost of living and no traffic jams or long commutes.

15 more people working daily on 3rd Street is a step in the right direction for TM Montante Development, whose President Chris Campos was there for the event. The new space downstairs is joined by residential units upstairs that Montante is renting out.

The development is just one of a host of projects going on in the vicinity, some by Montanta and others by other developers.

Campos remains bullish on Niagara Falls but admitted there are some challenges. For example, with great plans for Radio Social at Ferry and Third, with public funding in place, the private portion of the project is still seeking funding, hamstrung by high interest rates and development issues delaying projects everywhere.

Still, Campos said he expects financing to be in place and construction to start later this year. He said Niagara Falls offers a different challenge because while rents are lower, work on projects, whether Radio Social or JFS remains expensive with costs always escalating.

Still, he said, he senses a more positive vibe and outlook in Niagara Falls. Next door, John Meteer keeps working on Hammer and Crown Brewing just north of the new office. The project is taking a long time because Meteer is doing much of the work himself and doing things the right way but economically. For example, for example putting in two layers of ⅝-inch drywall for the ceiling, spending on labor and raw materials as opposed to doing a $70,000 sprinkler system.

One other exciting development for Meteer: With help from Wandering Gypsy Brewing in Ransomville, he is brewing a special beer for the Lewiston Jazz Festival.

Meanwhile, down the street work is progressing on the restoration of the First Presbyterian Church bell tower. It is included as the photo for this story because it is more interesting than a ribbon cutting or politicians standing around a podium.