The Creative Economy And Niagara Falls NY

Niagara Falls, NY, could be the place to start a new life. There are certainly signs that the Creative Economy is taking hold here. There have been good times and bad times in Niagara Falls, and now, with an influx of youth and new ideas, things are looking up.

What it is like to live here depends on who you talk to. Many old-timers see things in Niagara’s heyday, so they often have a somewhat disparaging view of what it is like now. “It used to be amazing” is what you often hear. Newcomers who settle here are more positive.

Niagara Falls is on its way up, which is a good time to be here. Places on their way down can take a while to move in the right direction again, and those on the top are expensive, with little room to move. This diamond in the rough is scheduled for considerable polishing. Finally, Niagara Falls could be the best place to relocate to after years of downturn and neglect.

The pandemic is over, but it has affected almost everything. Some things are better. Working from home is more accepted and has eliminated many long commutes. People have changed their lives, and they have changed where and how they plan to live in the future. About 30% of people who are moving are relocating out of state to find new opportunities. The other 70% are moving out of the largest cities and into the countryside or Fringe cities.

The Creative Economy is not just a flash in time; it is here to stay. Financial opportunities are on everyone’s mind, and often, the economy of a locale determines our lifestyles. The way people work is evolving, and today’s parents are endeavoring to find new ways to streetmart their children so that they can fit in to work in tomorrow’s economy effectively.

Financial education has become a key component for those planning a move, particularly to rapidly growing areas like Niagara Falls, NY. Understanding the fundamentals of personal finance – from budgeting to investing – can make the transition smoother and more sustainable. Utilizing education and information will give you a strong base from which you can efficiently manage your money. Niagara Falls’ creative economy relies on having an informed community that understands finance to create an environment in which innovation is both supported and financially sustainable, providing the foundation they need to grow into substantial contributions to the local economy.

I met a young man driving a taxi a few weeks ago. He was very positive and said he and his family love Niagara Falls. He and his wife found jobs easily, and his kids loved their new school. They moved here from New York and love living here. “Although Niagara Falls is a city,” he said, “It feels more like a small town, and you can get to know people sooner. Before we came, we heard about the bad neighborhoods, but those are everywhere.”

It is like that age-old story of a man who was considering moving into a new town because of work. He met some people in the area he was looking to buy.
He asked one man, “What kind of people live here?”
The second man asked, “What kind of people live where you are coming from?”
The first man replied that most of them were decent and kind people and he would miss them.
“Oh,” said the first man, “You will find the same kind of people here too.”
The moral of the story is that you attract the same kind of people around you wherever you go.

Niagara Falls, NY, is a Fringe city between Buffalo and Toronto. It is close enough to benefit, far enough away to be… well, “Quaint.”

Gig Workers love life near one of the seven wonders of the world.

The term Gig Work refers to people who go where the work is or work from home online. Mostly, they are upward mobile professionals who are independent contractors, self-employed, and have specialized skills. Many Gig workers also fall into the creative worker’s platform as independent artists, travel bloggers, and writers. This is a desirable new lifestyle for young people. They have a chance to work almost anywhere, see the world, and get paid before settling into one place.

Even coffee shops have changed as a result of the new economy. Traveling out of town last month, I met a friend I hadn’t seen in years. We met at a trendy cafe. It had taken over a whole building in a small town. The building was partitioned into areas that accommodated and encouraged browsing. There were areas displaying antiques and collectibles, modern design ideas, unusual jams and jellies, furnishings, and cute clothing for the upward mobile parent who wants their kids to look like miniature trendsetters. A Coffee Counter with various foods, from whole lunches to the latest juices and smoothies to just sweets, was located in each area. There were comfortable tables in onesies and twosies with others specially meant for gathering with a crowd of friends everywhere.

My friend, who visits this cafe regularly, pointed to the laptop seating area. There were countertop tables with stools where young people sat staring, oblivious to everything, ensconced in their screens, a cup of Joe and a crumpet on the side for nibbling.

“I can’t understand why they prefer to work here than at home where it is quiet!”

Although I didn’t say it, I know the reason. This is the new office! Yes, we work at home where it is quiet, but we also need to be with people, providing a mix of noise and physical company that we need occasionally. Plus, the internet may be better, and there are no distractions from our ‘at-home’ lives.

Gig workers often go to tourist spots because they don’t have to travel far to experience something fun in off-hours. Destinations also serve as inspirational input for creative types who use this outside stimulation in their creative endeavors. Along with the local tourism benefits of Niagara Falls, Gig workers have Buffalo and Grand Island in their backyards, with Toronto being only a short hop away!

The cost of living in Niagara Falls, NY, is less than in the larger nearby cities of Buffalo and Toronto.

The News.Adobe.com online Blog entitled “Future of Creativity” A Study: “165M+ Creators Joined Creator Economy Since 2020″ explains this burgeoning new field. Not all Creatives are Gig workers, but most of them work from home.

“More than 165 million creators joined the global creator economy in the last two years with significant growth in the U.S. (+34 million new creators), Spain (+10 million),
South Korea (+11 million) and Brazil (+73 million)
One in four people are contributing to online spaces,
reshaping the future of work, social causes and mental health
17% of creators are business owners,
while 39% aspire to become a business owner one day.”

News.Adobe.com

Being a Gig worker can be like hiring yourself. True freedom and control of your own life. You get the ongoing education and skills needed in our changing workplace and work to remain relevant through technological changes. Sure, entrepreneurship has always had its ups and downs. However, the new trend goes something like this. “I don’t need just one employer in particular. I need a slice of many employers.” Wait until companies employ teams of gig workers, which is something like a scene out of Charlie’s Angels.

“Good morning, Angels. This is your job should you choose to take it.”

Gig workers often have the best of two worlds. They enter into formal contracts and supply on-demand services, yet they have personal space and time flexibility. Gig workers come in all types, from single young workers to families with one or two people working from home.

Niagara Falls is ideal for a family to live in, as it has many two-family homes. Renting a part of your home as a tastefully furnished area to a Gig worker for three to six months or longer with internet and services included can be another source of income. There are also plenty of places to browse-shop or have a break in nature, as well as coffee shops.

The Freelancers of America Survey by Upwork and Freelancers Union predicts that fifty percent of the workforce will be Gig workers by 2027. As a result, homes suitable for this lifestyle in the future will have additional quaint yet functional spaces to allow a quiet area in which to work away from the family. This makes real estate in the older downtown areas of Niagara Falls especially hot going forward.

Border Cites, Niagara Falls, NY, and Niagara Falls, Ontario, are at the center of so much!

The movie Have Gun—Will Travel is an American Western television series in which the main character, Paladin, prefers to settle difficulties his clients bring his way without violence. The series was produced and originally broadcast by CBS on both television and radio from 1957 through 1963. The concept has now morphed into Paladins everywhere who Have Computers—Will Travel or work from home!

This is our current jack-in-the-box situation. Being a Gig Worker and Creator Worker is the Trend of the mid-2000s and beyond. People love their very minimalistic four walls but need a balance and spring themselves out into a new scene at regular intervals for inspiration, relaxation, and refreshment.

There are three border crossings within a half hour of each other. Niagara Falls has two International Border crossings. The Rainbow Bridge, the Nexus Bridge. About twenty minutes east is The Queenston-Lewiston Bridge. About thirty minutes to the west is The Peace Bridge at Buffalo.

Tourist Destination plus a Great Place To Live and Work.

Planning for Progress

1. A New state-of-the-art Visitor Center to be built at The Niagara State Park – The gateway to The Falls and the Niagara River Corridor will have a new $46 million facility – The average number of visitors to Niagara Falls before the Pandemic was over 500,000 people per year. This expansion hopes to more than double the area’s visitors, attractions, and accommodations. The concept serves as a Starting Point For Adventure! This public-private partnership is supported by an $8 million Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation grant.
   Source: Niagara Frontier Publications. April 23, 2021.
   
   
2. “Downtown Grant Sending $10M To Niagara Falls Projects Development: Main Street Renovations, Freedom Plaza among initiatives.” – “State officials say 10 “transformational projects” are part of a $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative award for Niagara Falls. The projects include an outdoor eating space for DiCamillo’s, a boutique hotel, and retail and office space on Main Street. The strategic investments are expected to strengthen small businesses, support private investment in underutilized buildings, and bring new residential units, commercial space, and a hotel to the historic Bridge District.” Source: The Niagara Gazette May 16, 2021
   
   
3. New York State Okay’s site transfers $8 million worth of Niagara Falls developments. – Source: Thomas J. Prohaska – Buffalo News April 13, 2021
   
   
4. Ready for Developing Initiatives is Niagara University’s Global Tourism Institute, Small Business Incubator, and The TReC Center is located at 616 Niagara Street, Niagara Falls, NY. Also located at this newly renovated building to the tune of $6M, seventeen new residential units are also located. TM Montante Development completed renovations. Part of the funding for this project was an award of a $750,000 Empire State Development Grant and historic tax credits worth $1.5 million. Source: The Niagara Gazette – May 21, 2021
   
   
5. Empire State Development announces Niagara Falls Strategic Economic Development Fund – The fund will be dedicated to the revitalization of Niagara Falls, NY, through capital investments. The fund will primarily seek to connect neighborhoods to the waterfront and integrate the downtown area. Areas to be improved are Niagara Street, Main Street, Portage Road, and Pine Avenue. This development will be economically transformational to the city—source: Niagara Frontier Publications. April 27, 2021.
   
   
6. The USA Niagara Development Corp. (USAN) Approves the Advancement of Private Development in the Niagara Falls, NY, Third Street Business District. Land previously purchased through the Buffalo Billion Niagara Falls Strategic Land Acquisition Program is to be transferred to Montante Group LLC and SJI Main LLC.  The plan is to transform the district into a tourist-friendly neighborhood comprising a mix of commercial, retail, and residential development. This will add infrastructure that encourages tourists to travel beyond the parks and into the downtown core. In addition, these upscale transformations to Niagara Falls will be conducive to encouraging up-and-coming millennials to relocate to Niagara Falls, NY. Niagara Frontier Publications –March 23, 2021
   

A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats

Beautiful Buffalo and its Billions have been making quite a difference throughout the whole region. It seems like transformations are happening everywhere, bringing much good news for a change. Good economic change that is…

Lots to do in Buffalo

• Canalside and Silo City.
• Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus
• Waterfront Village
• Great Parks and Hiking Trails
• Festivals and Events

New Developments on Grand Island

June 2022 – The new Rivertown Center Plan was announced. It will transform a vacant site into a mixed-use development of homes, townhomes, retail stores, and recreational attractions. The almost $100 million project will take about four years to complete. It is expected to be able to accommodate several hundred new residents near the center of the town of Grand Island.

August 4, 2022 – Thermo Fisher Scientific – the life sciences manufacturer on Grand Island, NY, has completed a $76 million expansion adding more than 44,000 square feet to its bioproduction campus on Staley Road. One hundred new jobs will be added. The facility features a Dry Powder Media, a cell culture raw material used to manufacture anti-cancer therapeutics, etc.

Niagara Region Quaintness is: “Charmingly odd, especially in an old-fashioned way,” that bids you to live, laugh, and play.

Quaint is here!

• Having old-fashioned charm
• Fondly picturesque
• A quaint old house, “as in a peculiar or unusually interesting way.”
• Possibly amusing adventures that spark a unique sense of humor
• A touch of secret quaintness – almost hidden unless you look for it
• Skillful, wise, and clever people disguised as quaint and colorful souls.
• Real Estate is still available for handy people who would like to restore an older home.

So what is it like to live in Niagara Falls?

Long-term residents in Niagara Falls, New York, have long understood that jobs are the key to polishing up this city, which was a sparkling diamond only a few decades back. It has been ten years since moving here and learning firsthand about this tale of two cities. After receiving dire warnings of neighborhoods in decay with hotbeds of crime, we had to take a serious look. Yes, there are such things, but most news reports focus on the negative side of things.

Actually, a lot of friendly people live here. During several election times, I’ve volunteered to get signatures and knocked on many doors. I met and chatted with wonderful people. You do have to be street-smart. Neighborhoods can change in just a few blocks. I found that our realtor, Candace Corsaro, gave us the best advice. Neighbors look out for each other and get to know who belongs. The services are good, and there is a lot of help if you need it.

You can be like the two prisoners in jail looking out a window. One sees the beauty of the stars; the other sees only the bars.

After moving here, I made friends, and we sat in restaurants talking about what things were like in the heyday of Niagara Falls. Back then, Main Street was full of shops and a charming hustle and bustle. People recalled going to the Jenz department store. The history of Niagara Falls is impressive. I won’t go into all the reasons for the downfall of Niagara Falls, but after years of decline, residents were hard-pressed to say anything positive, and most had given up. But you can’t always listen to hearsay. You have to do your own look around to find out what is really happening. For example, people who have not lived in other places may not realize that most cities in North America have pockets of Niagara Falls look-a-like neighborhoods.

When you look at real estate listings online, they usually have a walkability rating. This is a good indication. You get to know a place if you can walk door to door and meet people. Unfortunately, this is not always welcomed unless you are a door-to-door salesperson, and even then, not so much. So I was glad to have the opportunity to volunteer because it allowed me to get to meet so many fine people who live here.

At election time in New York State and many others, people running for election must get enough residents’ signatures to appear on the ballot. Friends are enlisted to go door to door to get signatures. I volunteered for this in three elections. This is not everyone’s cup of tea, but I enjoy meeting and talking to people. This is where I learned about the other brighter side of Niagara Falls, New York.

Of course, when you walk to get signatures, there are some houses you would not walk up to alone, that is for sure! Fortunately, we usually went in pairs; one of us would walk on one side of the street while the other knocked on doors on the opposite side of the street. I would say the people on the really dark side of life we met were in the extreme minority.

Niagara Falls is a Family Community.

Marketside, a Family Restaurant Tradition

People get to know who is who in the neighborhood and watch out for each other. Children laughing and playing around town is delightful. Forget the quiet place in the country. I’ll take the sounds of the city block, like the two chattering ladies who walk by every morning like clockwork. Then there is the comforting whooshing sound of the 3:00 A.M. street sweeper and the school bus’s squeaking wheels that stop on our corner.

The Italian community is big in Niagara Falls. Pine Avenue is known for the Italian Festival. They have a colorful history and wonderful Italian foods.

From my kitchen window, I can see whole classrooms of little kiddies with hands-on ropes, and all joined together following their kindergarten teachers. I watch as children go with friends for bike rides after school. Since my kids are all grown up, this is fun. People walk by at all hours, with and without dogs. This is a neighborhood! One of the boys who live nearby saw me working in the garden this summer and, suddenly, came across the street and handed me a little bouquet of blue chickory flowers, saying, “Here you go mam.”

I know they were weeds, but I placed them in a vase and had them on my fireplace mantle for a week. This was a heartwarming act of kindness I’ll never forget.

I love Niagara Falls, New York, and all the things it has to offer. Unfortunately, tourists only see half of it. You have to live there to experience it best. I’ve walked almost all the parks, with *Devil’s Hole being my favorite.

Knack’s Parkview Café, a local meeting place

Walking on the lazy upper path among the towering trees, you are at eye level with the eagles as you look out from the top of the Gorge. Venturing down the four or five hundred steps to the Niagara River is an amazing all-afternoon adventure culminating in standing feet from its foaming waters. You always find friendly people who greet you along the way.

Here is a list of Niagara Attractions and more reasons to move here…

Happening Now: Amtrak from Niagara Falls and its new modern train station is already here, set to welcome travelers from beyond New York City, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls to Ontario, Canada, and all points beyond.

Future Developments: The Toronto to Niagara Go Train Service already exists on weekends in Niagara Falls, Canada. Going the extra mile on weekdays and into Niagara Falls, NY, is just a short hop across the Gorge by train or car. No swimming allowed 🙂

The Greater Toronto Area is the largest business hub in Ontario and closer to Niagara Falls than New York City. You can drive there in from 1 1/2 to 3 hours. (If there is no traffic, it is only an hour and a half drive, but Toronto Rush Hour and Tourist traffic can change that) It makes for an easy business meeting and day trip. Short on time? Taking an off-weekend idle helicopter ride could become commonplace.

See and Experiencing These Attractions

• Niagara Falls State Park -the best view of the Falls during the day and for nighttime Fireworks Displays.
• Discover Niagara Shuttle, Adventure Theater, Cave of the Winds, Bridal Veil Falls, and Goat Island.
• The Aquarium of Niagara, Elevator to trails, Hiking At Devils Hole, Maid of the Mist, Fine Dining, Visitor Center, and Gift Shops.
• Niagara Falls Underground Railway Heritage Museum
• Little Italy and the Farmer’s Market on Pine Avenue
• Niagara Arts and Cultural Center (NACC) is an entire building devoted to artists, performers, cultural organizations, theaters, and galleries.
• The Portage Road Historic Tour includes – The Cradles, Post at Mount Pleasant, Montressor Redoubt, Campbell’s Defeat, *Devils Hole, Old Portage, Fort du Portage, Old Stone Chimney, and Fort Schlosser.
• Art Park: While you are there, make sure you walk through the Sonic Trail; it is a special treat that features sounds from the past.
• Lewiston Council on the Arts Events
• It is just a short drive to Historic Lewiston with its quaint shops, entertaining events, and the Jet Boats.

Should you see both Niagara Falls, USA, and Niagara Falls, Canada? Both sides are unique and offer a lot to experience for sure. The Canadian side is known for its hurly-burly action, Wax Museum, History museums and shops, rides, a few tucked-away walks, the Brock Monument, and more. The US side features many nature walks, Whirlpool Park, Art, Theater, and History Museums.

Both Niagara Falls, USA, and Niagara Falls, Canada, feature up close and personal views of Horseshoe Falls. You can see the American Falls best from the Canadian side, while the American side gets you almost close enough to touch. (But fair warning, don’t touch!) You get the best view of the Bridal Veil Falls and the nighttime Fireworks Displays from the American side.

*The Evil Spirit Cave Within Devils Hole

If you have heard the legend of the Devil’s Hole, where the evil spirit’s Cave is filled with ice and foreboding, fear not. In ancient times, LaSalle met with this mythical creature and was eventually lost to its curse… this is no more! Many have now passed this Cave on the cliff. Though dark and gloomy, the ice of the evil spirit’s heart has melted.

You see, the story continues with that
Of a little girl
Who braved the peril one day…
Yeah, she met this spirit
Who-of-the-wild and terrible -groaned in misery.
Meaning to make her pay
For disturbing his slumber;
That only relieved a little of his ache…
It stopped in its slithery-slidey tracks;
When kindly, gently, yes, very cleverly
She pulled the chains that bound its bloody legs
Freeing the spirit’s soul.
With a clear deep voice, he spoke aloud,
“My dear, your gift which I do now avow
Is to let all walk this beauteous path
Who true in heart as you
Seek only to save and heal what’s suffering now.”

Trina Astor-Stewart

The wheels of progress in Niagara Falls, NY, have moved slowly upwards in the past decade. To many, this is a slow process hardly noticeable. Statistics and progress charts paint quite an interesting picture for those thinking of moving here.

Niagara Falls Honeymoon

Many people honeymooned in Niagara Falls beginning in 1841. It continued to be an exciting destination, with most honeymooners choosing this in the 1920s, and the trend did not wane until after the 1980s. Why, well, the secret is possibly this saying.

“Lovers can whisper sweet nothings to each other by the Falls, and no one will hear them.”

Niagara Falls: 1850-2000 Images of America
by Paul Gromosiak and Christopher Stoianoff

When we first moved here, Tucker, our Cat, escaped during the move and got lost.

Broken-hearted, I walked through the neighborhood, asking people if they had seen an orange cat as I posted flyers. I met so many caring, nice people, including a cat lady who fed strays. I found out who our neighbors were, and I was amazed at how many people phoned if they spotted a wayward orange cat.

It actually took months to find him. I’d given up hope when there was another phone call in the depths of winter. There he was, afraid and almost starving, except for another kind cat lady. Getting him into the car was hard; I wondered if this was him or a lookalike. He was pretty wild. Upon bringing him home, he sniffed around and came across one of his old favorite toys hidden in a cupboard and, picking it up, brought it over and dropped it at my feet. In his own way, he said how grateful he was to be home. Although he had become a very different frightened cat, we knew this was him at that moment. Slowly, he came around, enjoyed massages behind the ears, and was almost his old self again.

So, if you are a Creative Type or just looking for someplace to settle and start your new life, Niagara Falls welcomes your contributions to this city.

Please note: The author of this post has received no financial remuneration for mentions of creative people, books, products, places, or businesses mentioned in this post.