NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Third Street has seen its share of ups and downs.

It's also where five of the 32 properties purchased as part of a $25 million transaction are located. 

Things could be looking up soon. 

"There's a lot of traffic on this street, more like vehicle traffic than foot traffic right now," said Joseph Hotchkiss, co-owner of two-year-old Power City Eatery. "There's nowhere for people to really stop except ourselves and Donatello's and Wine on Third, and if they want some Indian food. So, it's a good amount of restaurants. We're busy. So, we're happy with where we're at right now," said Hotchkiss.

 

 

Chris Schoepflin, president of the USA Niagara Development Corporation, is encouraged by the purchase but wants people to remember that things won't change overnight. 

"Great downtowns aren't built, they evolve over time. I think we want to be mindful of that," he said. 

The organization is looking at a number of different uses for the properties.

“A lot of what we're doing is looking at the real estate and saying instead one use on this site, could there be 10? Could there be five?," Schoepflin said. "So, more of a densely built, compact, more walkable, more pedestrian friendly, mixed use series of developments, active ground level uses, upper level commercial office, or residential uses."

Hotchkiss knows how he'd like to see Third Street transformed.

"First and foremost there need to be more retail shops," he said. "There are people coming down the street, there has to be a reason for people to stay and some shopping is definitely the number one priority in my eyes."

Schoepflin say they'll be listening to business owners and residents as they determine which developers are right for the properties.