North Tonawanda: NYS announces completion of $1M upgrades to Charles R. Fleischmann Park & Webster St.

Part of Downtown Revitalization Initiative, project features new accessible walkways and sidewalks; a clock tower; new landscaping & lighting

Submitted by the New York State Department of State

New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley announced the completion of upgrades to Charles R. Fleischmann Park and Webster Street as part of North Tonawanda’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The city was awarded $1 million from the DRI for enhancements that have created a welcoming, iconic gateway for the community and visitors alike. 

“Investing in public spaces like Charles R. Fleischmann Park is an investment in the people and future of North Tonawanda,” Mosley said. “Through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, we are helping communities create welcoming, accessible and vibrant places that strengthen neighborhoods, support local businesses, and give residents and visitors more opportunities to gather and enjoy all that their community has to offer. These improvements have transformed this important downtown gateway into a space that North Tonawanda can be proud of for years.”

Included among the enhancements to Charles R. Fleischmann Park are: a clock tower; new shade trees, landscaping and other green infrastructure; electric vehicle charging stations; new accessible walkways and sidewalks; and lighting.

North Tonawanda has also received and implemented several other grant awards from DOS, including:

•$130,000 to update the plan for the city’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP).

•A total of $1.35 million for LWRP implementation projects over the past 13 years.

•$423,450 for its Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) plan for the redevelopment of vacant and underutilized areas with known or suspected contamination.

•$100,000 Smart Growth Community Planning Program grant to develop a smart growth comprehensive plan.

North Tonawanda was selected as the Western New York winner of the fifth round of the DRI in 2021. Other DRI winners in the region include Jamestown, Olean, Lockport, Niagara Falls’ Bridge District, Buffalo’s Broadway-Fillmore Neighborhood, Dunkirk, Tonawanda and Cattaraugus. 

In addition to the upgrades to Charles R. Fleischmann Park, the following projects were also funded by the DRI in North Tonawanda:

•Develop a mixed-use building at 122 Webster St. ($1,360,000): The project involves developing a two-story mixed-use building with commercial storefronts on the first floor and apartments above.

•Improve the walkability and streetscape of Oliver Street ($1,500,000): The project includes sidewalk and crosswalk enhancements, bump outs, green space, pedestrian-scale lighting and other amenities to improve the walkability and appearance of Oliver Street.

•Update and expand the Riviera Theatre ($1,200,000): The project, which has already been completed, helped modernize and expand the National Register-listed Riviera Theatre through a 6,000-square-foot-plus expansion that includes new ADA restrooms, concession area, box office and artist merchandise area.

•Renovate 27 Main St. ($1,000,000): The project will convert a vacant former furniture store into a commercial prep kitchen, a seasonal ice cream shop/restaurant, and include multiple retail spaces.

•Revitalize 78 Bridge St. ($750,000): The project will create public access to the waterfront on Tonawanda Island, adjacent to a site planned by the city for new private development. Funding will be used for shoreline stabilization, safety improvements including railings and outdoor lighting, a public walkway, benches, trash receptacles and landscaping. 

•Rebuild 211 Main St., as a PROFESSIONAL SERVICES INCUBATOR ($549,000): The project, which has already been completed, involved remediating a brownfield site and constructing an office building that serves as an incubator for architecture, landscape architecture, engineering and construction-related businesses seeking a collaborative work environment.

•Rehabilitate 230 Oliver St. ($250,000): The project, which has already been completed, involved converting a historic building into a mixed-use property with ground floor commercial and residential units on the second and third floors. 

•Improve the Railroad Museum of the Niagara Frontier ($470,000): The project, which has already been completed, helped enhance and improve the pedestrian and visitor experience at the museum through rehabilitation of buildings, grounds and displays/exhibits. 

•Restore the Allan Herschell Company Complex Music Room ($210,000): The project, which has already been completed, involved restoring a portion of the Allan Herschell Company Complex that collapsed in 1995 through construction of a new music room connected to the rest of the complex.

•Upgrade 235/239 Oliver St. ($100,000): This project involves upgrading two low-income apartment buildings through interior and exterior improvements.

•Create a public river walk at 624 River Road ($156,000): The project, which has already been completed, involved constructing a 300-foot walkway along the Niagara River, extending an existing 450-foot walkway, providing expanded public access to the waterfront and connection to the existing Niagara River Greenway Trail along River Road. This project was one small component of a much larger project involving the construction of 108 market-rate apartments with luxury amenities and 7,200-square-feet of commercial space.

•Construct a new apartment complex at 10 Goundry St. ($525,000): The project involves demolishing an existing building and replacing it with a new apartment complex.

•Establish the Commercial Property Improvement Grant program ($630,000): This was established to fund small-scale commercial property improvement projects within the DRI area. The program is being administered by North Tonawanda’s Lumber City Development Corp. (LCDC).

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “The completion of these upgrades marks an exciting milestone in North Tonawanda’s ongoing transformation, driven by Gov. Hochul’s commitment to revitalizing our downtown cores. By combining public space enhancements with critical support for historic landmarks, housing, and mixed-use developments, the DRI program is fostering long-term economic momentum. These beautiful, new improvements create a welcoming, iconic gateway that honors the city’s heritage while paving the way for a prosperous future.”

Mayor of North Tonawanda Austin Tylec said, “This completion of this project brings new energy to our downtown while preserving its charm and historical character. Through “Smart Growth 2.0,: we are investing in infrastructure that supports walkability, attracts small businesses, and creates spaces where people want to gather.”

Assembly member Bill Conrad said, “North Tonawanda’s remarkable renaissance is a testament to government and community teamwork, and to Mayor Tylec and the council’s cohesive, forward-thinking approach to their downtown. These upgrades will add to the entertainment and dining district’s walkability and identity, entice even more visitors to explore NT, and boost quality of life for residents and business owners alike. Finally, I offer my thanks to Gov. Hochul for her continued support of our small cities and all they have to offer.”

More about the Downtown Revitalization Initiative: The DRI was created in 2016 to accelerate and expand the revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods in all 10 regions of the state to serve as centers of activity and catalysts for investment. Led by the Department of State with assistance from Empire State Development, Homes and Community Renewal and NYSERDA, the DRI represents an innovative "plan-then-act" strategy that couples strategic planning with immediate implementation and results in compact, walkable downtowns that are a key ingredient to helping New York rebuild its economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as help reduce emissions by promoting the use of public transit and reducing dependence on private vehicles. Through nine rounds, the DRI will have awarded a total of $1 billion to 99 communities across every region of the state. The FY 2027 enacted budget provides $100 million for the program.