mayor notes. Wilson adds that state-funded projects often incorporate sustainability requirements: “For affordable housing projects funded by the state, they need to be electric and include green initiatives. At 211 Main Street, we have a totally carbon-neutral building with a green roof and geothermal heating— that’s our poster child.” LOOKING AHEAD: TOURISM GROWTH AND COMMUNITY PRIORITIES North Tonawanda’s strategic location between Niagara Falls and Buffalo positions it to capture tourism overflow, but city leaders recognize that significant opportunities remain untapped. Chief among these is the absence of overnight accommodation, which limits the city’s ability to fully capitalize on the region’s visitor traffic. “Our biggest need is overnight accommodation in North Tonawanda,” Wilson states. “It’s a problem because we want to attract visitors who explore Niagara Falls for the day and then look for other activities in Niagara County. Our goal is to bring them to North Tonawanda, but if they don’t have a place to stay, it’s difficult.” Hotel development has been identified in all the city’s planning documents, 157 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 04 NORTH TONAWANDA, NY
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