TONAWANDA ISLAND: A $35 MILLION CATALYST FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT Tonawanda Island represents North Tonawanda’s most ambitious redevelopment opportunity—a former industrial hub set for transformation through strategic public-private partnerships. The island’s industrial legacy is giving way to a mixed-use vision that city leaders hope will trigger broader investment across 37-acres of privately owned property on the island. “The city only owns the land that the water treatment plant is on, plus about four acres when you go over the bridge to the island.The rest is privately owned,” Mayor Tylec explains. “Our ability to capitalize on those four city owned acres is critical—we’re trying to set the tone for adjacent private land development. We want to be the catalyst piece.” This catalyst has taken the form of a recently approved $35 million mixed-use development by Visone Co., a developer with a track record of successful waterfront and brownfield redevelopment projects along River Road.“We’re looking at approximately 73 residential market rate units, commercial spaces, and a public benefit area along the water, with a $750,000 grant through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative “ , says the mayor. The strategy includes physical construction to create a dynamic community hub. “Before all of this, there was no residential in our downtown—just a few second-floor apartments,” Wilson notes. “Our goal is to bring that critical mass and density to support our downtown, making it a 24/7 destination that’s vibrant year-round. We’re obviously more popular in the summertime with the water, but we’re looking at ways to make Gateway Harbor an asset in the winter months too.” DIVERSE RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS FOR A GROWING COMMUNITY North Tonawanda’s approach to housing development aligns with an understanding that economic vitality requires diverse residential options. The city is advancing multiple projects across different price points, ensuring that workforce housing complements luxury developments while increasing the overall housing supply—a critical need in today’s market. “Another big development we’re working on is capitalizing on a Brownfield opportunity at 235 River Road,” says Mayor Tylec.“It’s a former material storage site that is visually unappealing right now, but it’s a pivotal location between Tonawanda Island and our downtown entrance.” Wilson adds that the $27 million project will create 87 market-rate apartments with first-floor commercial space. “The developer has been accepted into the Brownfield Cleanup Program through New York State, which will help with cleanup costs and provide tax credits upon completion.” The city’s housing portfolio is diverse. “We have 152 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 04
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