The housing market presents both opportunities and obstacles. Median property values increased 10% to $104,400 in 2023, while homes sell quickly in a competitive market. Yet the city must balance growth with neighborhood preservation. “We had an entire survey done of our housing stock, again in partnership with Niagara University and a few others,” the mayor explains. “We’ve kind of gotten a handle on where in our city we have to do some work to shore up housing.” Mayor Restaino employs a strategic approach to neighborhood stabilization. “When you look at the map, if it was color coded, we want to make sure that we’re looking at those areas that are very, very pale pink, hardly noticeable, and shore them up before we jump into the red areas because you could spend an eternity there and lose track of the other spaces.” Park improvements complement housing initiatives. “We’re embarking on a nearly $3 million investment in about 13 of our 37 parks,” the mayor notes, with most funding directed to Hyde Park, the largest park in New York state outside New York City. CROSS-BORDER DYNAMICS The Rainbow Bridge once symbolized seamless connection between two nations sharing one of the world’s great natural wonders.Today, political rhetoric threatens the economic lifeblood that has sustained Niagara Falls for generations, as Canadian visitors, the city’s most reliable tourist base, reconsider their travel plans. “We have seen a downturn in some of our daily and weekly travel across the border,” Mayor Restaino acknowledges. The numbers tell a blunt story: Canadian road trips dropped 38% in May 2025, marking the fifth consecutive month of decline. International spending at Niagara Falls State Park fell 4.7%, reversing years of steady growth. 55 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08 NIAGARA FALLS, NY
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