American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls

Niagara University, through its Global Tourism Institute, is playing a key role in an exciting new development project to transform the gateway to the City of Niagara Falls.

The $5 million, multi-phase project is centered on the adaptive reuse of National Register-eligible structures. Phase 1 is focused on the development of 16 market-rate residential units; a corner cafe and coffee shop; approximately 1,500 square feet of ground-floor commercial tenant space; secure, gated parking; and an additional 8,000 square feet of commercial space dedicated to housing the NGTI, while Phase 2 is set to include the construction 10 row homes along 7th Street or the construction of a $30,000 square foot mixed-use building based on market demand. TM Montante Development has been named the preferred developer for the project.

“The Niagara Global Tourism Institute and Niagara University are truly grateful and excited to embark on this project with the City of Niagara Falls, New York state, and TM Montante Development,” said Patrick Whalen, director of the University’s Niagara Global Tourism Institute (NGTI). “This opportunity is a cornerstone initiative, in line with the NGTI’s focus on our four pillars of research, workforce development, technology, and entrepreneurship. We are honored to be part of the continued development and revitalization of the City of Niagara Falls and are committed to the collaborative process with our partners in this project and the community. Continued progress is indeed a journey and we are elated to take this first, collaborative step forward.”

Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster said, “The dedicated incubator space for the NGTI will extend the lasting impact of this development by spurring future development for years to come. I want to thank our partners at Empire State Development, the NGTI and Niagara University and TM Montante Development for their investment in our city and look forward to the many exciting things to come.”

In addition to the working on the project, the NGTI will be headquartered in the new development space in the heart of the city’s downtown corridor. The new space will provide the NGTI with the resources necessary to continue to grow its transformative impact on the city’s tourism economy and provide additional square footage for incubator space to foster new businesses in the downtown core.

The NGTI focuses on fostering public and private partnerships to enhance regional tourism and global competitiveness in Niagara Falls and links directly with Niagara University’s College of Hospitality and Tourism Management in the preparation of a competitive workforce for the respective fields of study.