Where did that $10 million go?

Facebook posts from NC News Service, Donta Myles and Frank Handley on Monday called out the lack of evidence the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, $10 million state taxpayer dollars allocated for the Suspension Bridge District.

This is the second time this happened in the last week. A well-meaning resident or social media commenter posts a laundry list of one of the many things Niagara Falls could be doing better, whether a long post by Walt Garrow the other day or comment Monday from NC News Service and Frank Handley.

The answer to the “gotcha” moment could be found by paying attention to www.niagaraexpress.town.news.  You just have to pay attention daily. I am one of two journalists living and working in Niagara Falls. Mark Scheer is the other. Scheer works for the Gazette and is paid by CNHI, a soon-to-be-bankrupt subsidiary of the Alabama State Teachers Retirement Fund. The Express is funded by readers like you making donations through the Website. I also make ends meet in my day job helping people with investments, retirement planning and life insurance.

The Express has been upset about this as well but actually did the research to ask why Tonawanda and North Tonawanda both have completed projects and the Falls has some murals.

Here are the answers, as best as www.niagaraexpress.town.news knows them. Cut and pasted from a news story. The answer is in parentheses after the funding. Other meaningful questions are now being asked. Here's the article:

Niagara Falls $10M Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects revealed

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. We now know where the City of Niagara Falls will be putting its $10 million downtown revitalization money it was awarded from New York State back in August 2019.

A local planning committee has been working to figure out what projects the Downton Revitalization Initiative funds should be used for. Now that they’ve been selected, the Department of State will work with project sponsors to create a contract and timeline for each development.

Check out where the funds will be headed:

Establish Academic Innovation Hub: $1,100,000: Development of an academic and community space for Niagara University. The facility will include professional workforce training, job promotion services, English as a second language programs, urban development and planning, small business development, early childhood care, and an eSports lab. (UPDATE: 822 Cleveland is the location. NU acquired it and put up a sign. No work has taken place. The blame is allegedly caused by instability in the Trump administration because leadership keeps changing in Housing and Urban Development which is tied to the project.)

Transform 1810 +1812 Main Street into Boutique Hotel: $700,000: Renovation of two vacant buildings on Main Street into a mixed-use development with retail space and boutique hotel rooms. (UPDATE: It never happened because Blue Cardinal Development never attracted funding. The city took possession of the building in question and is trying to attract additional developers.)

Implement a Small Project Grant Fund: $620,000: Establish and implement a capital improvement grant program for small-scale building improvements throughout the DRI area. (UPDATE: No clue but the city does have a grant program available to small businesses. That might be it.)

Renovate 2025 Main Street into Mixed: Use Development – $500,000: Renovation of the existing 9,900 SF building to enhance the convenience store, add one retail storefront on Niagara Street on the first floor and create apartments on the two upper stories. ((UPDATE: It never happened because Blue Cardinal Development never attracted funding. The city took possession of the building in question and is trying to attract additional developers.)

Redevelop 2002 Main Street into Retail and Office Space: $400,000: Renovation of 2002 Main Street into a mixed-use building with first floor retail and community space as well as modern office space. The first-floor community space is available for community gatherings. (UPDATE: It never happened because Blue Cardinal Development never attracted funding. The city took possession of the building in question and is trying to attract additional developers.)

Create an Outdoor Eating Space and Museum at DiCamillo Bakery: $250,000: Creation of a small museum and gallery space, an outdoor dining area, sidewalk and landscaping improvements at DiCamillo Bakery. Includes purchase of state-of-the-art equipment to expand production. (UPDATE: DiCamillo’s expanded production but did not add the outdoor seating because of a lack of other funding)

Implement Streetscape Enhancements on Main Street: $3,720,000: Streetscape enhancements along Main Street including sidewalk improvements, replacement of street trees and street furniture, as well as the conversion and replacement of light poles on Main Street to LED. (UPATE: Allegedly still in process but now being coordinated with the redevelopment of Main Street. This was discussed at a meeting at the Train Station a few weeks ago, a planning meeting the Express referred to as “Groundhog Day” because while the meetings happen and the planners get paid, nothing ever gets done.)

Complete Implementation of the Freedom Plaza and Overlook: $1,500,000: Site improvements adjacent to the Suspension Bridge to create a plaza/event space and an overlook to the Niagara River connecting to the trail system and Whirlpool Street. The plan also includes an 18-space parking area for visitors and interpretive artwork and signage. (UPDATE: The plaza will be built. Environmental studies were completed earlier this spring. The site is adjacent to the Rainbow bridge in front of the suspension bridge abutment.)

Launch Public Art and Placemaking Initiative: $615,000: Public art mural installations on seven properties within the DRI area to enhance placemaking and the public realm. (UPDATE: See the murals on Main Street. The most visible portion of the DRI because it was left to the Niagara National Heritage Area, not the city.)

Create a Public Plaza on Main Street at Cleveland Avenue: $295,000: Create a plaza and event space, inclusive of public art, movable furniture, special paving, and landscaping in front of the Public Safety Building. (UPDATE: The plaza was a topic of the Groundhog Day meeting and will be slightly shifted because it allows the grass space to be preserved in front of the poorly placed police station.)