Giving North Tonawanda’s Waterfront a Future Worth Investing In

North Tonawanda once called itself the Lumber City. For more than a century, Tonawanda Island and the Niagara River waterfront powered the local economy through lumber production and distribution. When that era ended, it left behind 546 acres of underutilized land, vacant brownfield sites, and a waterfront that the community could see but couldn’t really use. The potential was obvious. The path to unlocking it was not.

The City of North Tonawanda engaged our firm to complete a Step 2 Nomination Study through New York State’s Brownfield Opportunity Area program, covering Tonawanda Island, portions of the River Road corridor, and downtown North Tonawanda. The study delivered a detailed analysis of existing conditions, a master plan for the area, and a series of recommendations and action items to guide revitalization. It became the foundation for everything that followed.

From Study to Strategy to $10 Million in State Investment

Building on that work, our team assisted the City with the Step 3 Implementation Strategy, rebranded as NT Momentum. The scope expanded significantly: strategic site analyses, financial proformas for potential end uses, a transportation enhancements plan for River Road, zoning updates, design guidelines, a 3D GIS model, and preparation of a Generic Environmental Impact Statement. We also led a comprehensive branding and marketing strategy to position the study area for developers, investors, and visitors.

The momentum proved to be more than a name. In 2021, North Tonawanda was awarded $10 million through Round 5 of New York’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative, funding 14 transformational projects across the study area. Today, mixed-use development is rising along River Road, Tonawanda Island is attracting serious developer interest, and the waterfront is becoming what the community always knew it could be. Our planning work didn’t just describe a vision. It built the case that brought the investment.