News - Niagara Falls Redevelopment

May 3, 2023

The Two-Project Solution

One of the more frustrating aspects of the current dispute between the City of Niagara Falls and Niagara Falls Redevelopment (NFR) is the fact that a “two-project solution” readily exists. A solution that would provide the city residents with a park, an arena and a state-of-the-art Niagara Digital Campus… all without overburdening taxpayers with the […]

May 3, 2023

NFR Files New Brief in Eminent Domain Case, Attacking Niagara Falls’ Lack of Legal Basis for Taking Private Property

In a new reply brief filed by attorneys for Niagara Falls Redevelopment (NFR) in the eminent domain action launched by the City of Niagara Falls nearly a year ago, NFR alleges the city has fallen back on “bromides and bluster,” rather than facts and law—with attorneys for the city railing against a private landowner that […]

April 18, 2023

Spending $30 million on New Parking in Niagara Falls? Not Needed!

The Wall Street Journal reports North American cities want less parking, not more Mayor Restaino proposes approximately $30 million in new parking to support the proposed location of his event center and park plan. This is despite the underutilized, city-owned parking that already exists next to the perfect location for his events center: Near […]

April 18, 2023

The Two-Project Solution

March 18, 2023

Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary Rips Niagara Falls

Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary Tried to Build a Data Center In Niagara Falls “I had a project in upstate New York behind the grid in Niagara Falls for electricity – a global data center we were building. Eventually it got so bad with the politicians in the local region and the state policy, we moved […]

March 17, 2023

Niagara Gazette: IBEW’s Ed Hill Jr. Describes Opposition to Mayor’s Plan

“In a room filled with those who oppose the city’s expensive quest to take land from Niagara Falls Redevelopment (NFR) through eminent domain, there were only two speakers who solely supported the mayor’s initiative. “Speaker after speaker raised issues regarding the vast amount of money being spent to wage an eminent domain fight that could […]

March 11, 2023

A Conversation with Urbacon’s Peter Russell

A Conversation with Peter Russell Urbacon Data Centers Toronto, Ontario Editor’s Note: There has been considerable misinformation spread over the past several months about the proposed Niagara Digital Campus, a state-of-the-art, innovative, $1.48 billion facility planned for downtown Niagara Falls. Urbacon, one of the premier developers of commercial and industrial properties in Canada and […]

March 6, 2023

New Legal Brief Alleges Mayor’s Project Violates 2009 Comprehensive Plan

NFR Files Brief in Eminent Domain Case Alleging City of Niagara Falls’ Attempt to Take John Daly Boulevard Parcel Directly Violates City’s Own 2009 Comprehensive Plan Brief also alleges City manufactured new “blight” allegation despite the fact that the well-manicured, wooded parcel is properly maintained and has never been so much as a day […]

March 1, 2023

New Article Alleges Eminent Domain Will Benefit Seneca, Not City

Mayor’s Plans for Forced Sale of NFR’s Parcel O Tilt Clearly Toward Seneca Favoritism This article first appeared in Niagara Falls Reporter on March 1, 2023: The plan is undoubtedly unique. Mayor Robert Restaino plans to use New York State courts to take 10 acres of land in the south end of Niagara Falls from a […]

February 28, 2023

Latest Media Coverage: Event Center Facing Opposition

Niagara Falls Mayor’s Plans to Kill $1.5 Billion Data Center for ‘Poor Location’ Event Center Facing Opposition This article first appeared in Niagara Falls Reporter on February 28, 2023: Niagara Falls Mayor Robert M. Restaino is seeking to purchase a 10-acre plot of land from Niagara Falls Redevelopment LLC (NFR) to develop Centennial Park, a $150 […]

February 28, 2023

Local Media Highlights the Truth on Two Projects

With continued public discussion of development plans for downtown Niagara Falls, a series of articles recently appeared in the the Niagara Gazette and the Niagara Falls Reporter, detailing issues surrounding the proposed taking of private property by the City of Niagara Falls for an ill-advised and unfunded park and events center that will supposedly cost the city more than $150 million (indeed, some published reports indicate the […]

February 20, 2023

NF Reporter: Mayor Offered Polluted Land for Data Center

From Niagara Falls Reporter, February 20, 2023: The controversy is far from over. It is between a mayor of a dwindling city of 43,000, down from 100,000 in 1960, a city with a famous name – once the Power City, the Honeymoon Capital of the World, now dead broke. And a development company backed by […]

February 15, 2023

Mayor Admits He Selected Parcel 0 to Help Seneca Business Interests; Public Hearing March 13

FEBRUARY 15, 2023 BY NIAGARA REPORTER- Mayor to Hold 3rd Public Hearing in March on Parcel ‘0’ as ‘Plans Shift’ Niagara Falls, NY: On February 9, Mayor Robert Restaino convened a special meeting of the Niagara Falls City Council to advance his plans to develop Centennial Park. All five council members were present. The mayor’s […]