Hope for Main Street

The wheels of development are moving slowly, but a framework is in place for the rebirth of Main Street.

The first shoe to drop came earlier this year when the Niagara Orleans Land Improvement Corporation took possession of the building just north of the tobacco store.

The facade has been repainted to reflect “The Table.”

It is not open yet but the plan is for a creative space loosely affiliated with the Niagara National Heritage Area, a sort of “table” where everyone is welcome.

Last week, workers for NORLIC were busy power washing the colored concrete in front of the former fashion store at Main and Cleveland.

Meanwhile, the building at 2018 Main St. with the big hole in the roof is likely to be partially demolished with a facade stabilized. The former shoe store across the street may end in total demolition.

The city should be taking possession of the former Blue Cardinal properties as well as the Rapids Theatre before year end, using casino funds for both.

A press conference is planned some time next week to announce the plans.

The Heritage Area is working with Preservation Buffalo Niagara and other interests. Rather than giving one big collection of properties to a developer from out-of-town without the means to make things happen, (that’s how Hastings and Blue Cardinal happened) the plan is for a series of smaller projects featuring appropriately vetted developers.

While there will be city input, and cooperation with the Restaino administration, the “friends and family” debacle that led to things like the ill-fated Rodney Davis venture of a couple years ago is a scenario unlikely to repeat because there are too many competent, professional people involved and vetting will not be left to the Restaino administration.

One big thing deserving scrutiny is Sinatra Development as developer of the Jenss Building. Sinatra has a shoddy reputation in Buffalo where projects are either stalled or not moving forward. While they may be able put one over on the administration or Niagara University, the chance of passing muster because you wear an empty suit and are politically connected to the Restaino administration is slim because there are competent, objective people involved.

As for the Rapids Theatre, it was restored and operating in recent years but not with the sort of show volume needed to be economically viable. Since the restoration, maintenance has, at best, been deferred. It is a big space. When the city gets possession it is likelty to discover everything from tables and chairs to office furniture was sold by previous owner John Hutchins who remains under indictment for allegedly defrausing the federal government of payroll protection plan funds. 

Profitable blues shows with 600 tickets sold seemed great until you realize the theatre was only one third full, meaning an electric show often felt empty. The answer might be a big national operator like LiveNation.

A wild card in the development planning is Preservation Buffalo Niagara. Bernice Radl, the executive director, is a Falls native and has a softspot for the city. Emily Jarnot, preservation planned and Niagara Falls liaison, is a resident has. PBN has become a welcome voice at the table and received $1.8 million last week for Niagara Falls investment focused on apartment development. Details relating to the state funding, arranged by Assmblyman Sean Ryan, have been scant.