Main Street for real

I understand the skepticism that comes with 40 years of failed promises from the likes of Richard Hastings and Blue Cardinal Development.

It comes with a sense of trauma for people who were here when Main Street was a thriving business district.

The thing is, redevelopment is actually happening. There is $40 million in new investment in place.

Next Thursday from noon to 2 p.m. there will be an open house followed by tours of properties.

Facade and roof work has been ongoing on several buildings with more coming. Four projects were announced last spring. The below Website shows 4 more properties as sold and one pending. There were 38 properties acquired from Blue Cardinal’s creditors. The Rapids Theatre was also part of the same action but from a different creditor.

There has been confusion and misinformation about how grants work. The developer has to fund the work and complete it before receiving any funds. Properties are also sold with a clawback provision that gives the developer a set timeframe to complete the project before being subjected to the city taking the property back and fining the developer $250,000.

https://niagaraorleanslandbank.com/MainStreetNiagaraFalls2_map.html