$125 million development announced

Editor’s note: today’s lede was going to be “In depth with Anthony Vilardo” because of all the exciting development going on in Niagara Falls.

The story of $500 million in investment will wait for another day when it is $625 million.

That’s because Tracey Drury of Business First broke this story about a $125 million mixed use development planned for 901 Buffalo Ave.

The Express knew about it back in February, thanks to the candor of Assemblyman Angelo Morinello, who was supporting it behind the scenes and told us off the record, in confidence.

The story from Business First also explains how it was the Niagara Falls City Council voted 5-0 to alienate Porter Park and help the project move forward – Councilmembers Jim Perry and David Zajac and Chairperson Brian Archie obviously knew what was going on. Councilmember Vincent Cauley did as well. It was the exactly the sort of item Cauley would have expounded upon for 10 questions, when two would do, and then attempt to postpone. And yet he didn’t ask one. Now we know why.

The Express will write again about Centennial Park and the new data center right after the grand opening of the new Wintergarden. In other words, we will continue to focus on things that are actually happening.

By Tracey Drury - Senior Reporter, Buffalo

Business First

May 20, 2026

Element Development will invest $125 million in mixed-use housing and retail at 901 Buffalo Ave., Niagara Falls.

The Gateway Project includes 225 apartments, 100 condos, restaurants and retail across four buildings.

The developer hopes to begin construction in 12 to 14 months, with completion expected within 36 months.

A Niagara Falls developer has announced plans for a $125 million mixed-use development focused on growing the city’s domestic base.

Element Development’s plans for 901 Buffalo Ave. include 225 market-rate apartments, 100 condos, restaurants and other retail amenities in four buildings totaling 469,000 square feet.

The Gateway Project is located across the street from the Marriott Courtyard, where the company’s Rupal Hospitality division is wrapping up a $14 million expansion project.

Preliminary designs for the project include three eight-story towers, a parking ramp and a building with ground-level retail space and upper-level event space. Two additional parcels are available for more retail to serve both residents and tourists.

Next door at 1001 Buffalo Ave., the company plans to convert a former paper plant warehouse it bought in 2015 into a family entertainment venue that includes a brewery/distillery, retail, indoor go-karts, a zipline and a virtual reality sports arcade.

Amenities for residents could also include health and wellness options such as a pharmacy or a co-op grocery, according to Nirel Patel, Element Development president. He said the goal is to provide residential options for young professionals — including members of the fire and police departments and teachers with the city school district, all of whom are required to live in Niagara Falls.

Patel sees the project as a gateway toward homeownership for the middle class that will also be an urban placemaking project.

“The city’s biggest challenge is getting a domestic base that can call Niagara Falls home, but with the modern amenities you see in primary and secondary cities,” he said. “A city is not attractive when you don’t have amenities, especially for those entry-level individuals coming to our city. These young firefighters and young teachers, they want to live in vibrant neighborhoods that cater to their needs.”

The Niagara Falls City Council is expected to vote May 20 to approve a transfer to Patel's company of a small, abandoned city park at Buffalo Avenue and 10th Street Porter Park that is situated between the two project sites.

The project would be a huge boost for Niagara Falls, which has struggled for years to find the right mix of development. Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino said the project would also help fill a need for market-rate residential housing.

"It's really what we need," he said. "We need some downtown living with market-rate, and it's really the only place that we're going to have downtown views of the falls, except for some of the upper units at the Giacomo, but that would give us upper river access views."

In addition to the Marriott Courtyard, Rupal's Element Development also owns and operates a 57-room boutique hotel called the Cadence and Seva Kitchen and Bar on Rainbow Boulevard, which were developed in 2001 at a former Patel said building the city’s population should help to rebalance the tax base for commercial property owners.

“We’ve got a city with a population of approximately 47,000 with a poverty rate exceeding 20%, despite decades of tourism activity,” he said. “It doesn’t penetrate, so the issue isn’t visitors.”

Patel said the project will be privately funded. He's already secured money through private investors and will rely on institutional lenders for the remaining costs. Patel also expects to rely on tax credits through the state’s brownfields program, as well as historic tax credits and new market tax credits to lower the overall debt once the project is completed.

Element already controls 7 acres on the project site, sandwiched between Buffalo Avenue, Niagara Falls State Park and the Niagara Scenic Parkway.

“It’s creating a district that caters toward all aspects of living,” he said. “We’re transforming vacant land where people live, work and spend time to something walkable with year-round economic activity where tourists can come into our city can mix and mingle with the locals.”

Pending approvals, Patel expects to begin construction in 12 to 14 months, with full completion expected in 36 months.