More exciting news arrived with New York’s Lieutenant Governor today in Niagara Falls. A contest was announced to sort out the best ideas, designs, and concepts for new developments in downtown Niagara Falls.  Hoping to attract national and perhaps global architects, engineerings, and builders, the contest will offer up to $8 million per year for five years to the “winners.”  The details have been written up in so many media outlets, we won’t bore you with them.  Instead, let’s explore the Who’s, What’s, and Why’s of the idea.

This is a chance for anyone to put his ideas and philosophies to work.  Just think, every person that has strong convictions of what needs to be done in Niagara Falls has a chance to put their words into action. You can team up with a builder, meet with an architect to help you design your vision, or man-up and present the deal yourself.  There is much criticism of those who attempt to make progress in this town usually from those who have never tried. That’s the beauty of this – it’s time to put up or shut up.  If you start your conversations with, “You know what they need around here, you know what they should do?” then here is your chance to do it.

If the thought of designing and building the next Disney World right here scares you, then the stage is open for you to debut on a smaller scale.  Think of the positive vibes that can be generated with the creation of a new Niagara Falls.  That opens the doors to lots of small business startups, employment opportunities with any big national outfits that come here, and a general increase in values as each business and home owner fixes up their property to respond to the momentum. Yeah, I know we’ve heard it all before, but sooner or later something’s gotta give.

Let’s try a new language in town.  I’ll list the old sayings and offer a positive twist to it.

Old Saying:  “Oh, that’s the Governor’s buddy, he gets all the handouts.”

Replace with: “Hey, that guy met the bid specs and came up with the best deal. He’s pretty sharp, no wonder the governor likes him.”

Old Saying:  “Sure, he pulls up in his BMW and gets a grant from the State. Like he really needs it.”

Replace with:  “Man, that guy is living large, he’s either smart, lucky, or both.”

Old saying: “Whoa! They can’t build that there, it blocks my view.”

Replace with: “Damn, I had the chance to buy that lot years ago, well, I hope the new building improves the neighborhood.”

Old Saying:  “Those councilmen are thick as thieves, they just care about themselves.”

Replace with: “I’m gonna start going to those meetings on Monday and tell them my ideas. Maybe I’ll get someone to listen.”

Old Saying:  “There’s too much crime around here.”

Replace with: “I leave the porch lights on now, and check out the window once and a while. If I see anything crazy, I call the police.”

Old Saying: “Those politicians are idiots.”

Replace with: “I’m going to make sure I vote this year.”

Old Saying: “Forty years ago, this town was rockin’.”

Replace with: “Let’s step things up a notch, in ten years it’ll be totally different.”

Offer your own renditions of the new Niagara Falls language in the comments section.  What do we call this language?  Niagrowin?

Niagara Hub’s Craig Avery (yours truly) has partnered with a local architect to tackle another vacant building on Third Street.  The former Gibby’s Island Bar at 460 Third has had several false starts since it was a furniture store in the days when people actually walked the streets buying stuff.  When we renovated the building across the street, the vision was to create activity, housing, and support for other businesses in the neighborhood.  Third Street Liquor, Third Street Variety, and Yvonne’s Cafe each provided new opportunities for tourists and residents alike.  Yvonne’s recently closed, supporting many experienced restaurant owners’ warnings about the perils of the restaurant business.  We are now hoping an established retail or dining facility can move in and take advantage of the location.  Meanwhile, eight apartments on the second floor add to the downtown mix.  Yes, only eight, but eight is eight more than we had two years ago.

So what’s up at 460?  Four apartments upstairs may take shape soon with upgrades to the typical downtown offerings.  Plans for air-conditioned one and two bedroom units will add to improved housing on Third Street.  Optimism for a good working relationship with City Hall will help expedite construction.  Our experience with the building department and permitting will save time, and pro-active communications with the economic development personnel should help in marketing our new space.  NFC, the lending arm of the City, provides funding with various programs for developers to overcome the high costs of construction and relatively low priced market for rentals.  These programs are out there for anyone willing to invest in the opportunity.  Yes, you have to invest.  Others without the balls may want you to think this is a government give-away, but I invite the anonymous bloggers or outside media “been there, done thats”  to put some of their own money into the streets and by helping the City, the  City will help you.

Please stop by the Hub to talk further about getting involved in Niagara Falls’ future.