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The Niagara Falls Urban Renewal Agency was established in and by General Municipal Law §593 in 1964.  Its original and continued mission is to revitalize, redevelop and eliminate slums and blighted areas of the established Urban Renewal District. The Agency was formed for the purposes specified in General Municipal Law Article 15 and 15-A, and has the powers and duties conferred by those Articles. NFURA is governed by a ten (10) member board, whose members include the Mayor, City Council Members, and four (4) private sector members selected by the Mayor and approved by City Council.

NFURA generally meets once per quarter at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 745 Main Street. Meetings may be cancelled due to lack of agenda items or quorum.

See below for additional information on current members, vacancies, agendas, meeting minutes and other information related to NFURA

Description of Duties
The Niagara Falls Urban Renewal Agency (URA) is a ten (10) member body as set forth in the Agency’s Constitution and by-laws. The URA’s powers derive from New York State General Municipal Law Section 554. 

Authorized to plan and undertake one or more urban renewal projects and shall have the powers necessary or convenient to carry out and effectuate such project or projects and the purposes and provisions of this article and article fifteen of this chapter. The following powers are a edited list granted by the above referenced Municipal Law:
Make and execute contracts and all other instruments necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers and functions.

Acquire or contract to acquire from any person, firm, corporation or government, by subsidy, contribution, gift, grant, bequest, devise, purchase, pursuant to the provisions of the eminent domain procedure law, or otherwise, real or personal property or any interest therein, including but not limited to air rights, and easements or other rights of user, necessary for the use and development of such air rights, to be developed as air rights sites for the elimination of the blighting influences over an area or areas consisting principally of land in streets, alleys, highways, and other public rights of way, railway or subway tracks, bridge or tunnel approaches or entrances, or other similar facilities which have a blighting influence on the surrounding area and over which air rights sites are to be developed for the elimination of such blighting influences, provided, however, that the acquisition of any air rights over railroad tracks, rights-of-way or facilities and easements or other rights of user necessary for the use and development of such air rights are to be subject to the provisions of section fifty-one-a of the railroad law. 

Invest any moneys held in reserve or sinking funds or any moneys not required for immediate use or disbursement at the discretion of the agency in obligations of the state or the United States government or obligations of which the principal and interest are guaranteed by the state or the United States government.

Apply for and accept advances, loans, grants, subsidies, contributions and any other form of financial assistance from the federal government, or from the state, county, municipality or other public body or from any sources, public or private, for the purposes of this article and article fifteen of this chapter; and to give such security as may be required and to enter into and carry out contracts or agreements in connection therewith,

Apply for and accept the local grants-in-aid required under such federal laws, in the form of appropriations, cash, municipal services and facilities, or any other form.

Borrow money and issue bonds or other obligations.

Provide for demolition and clearance of property, improvement of property, or development and use of air rights and concomitant easements or other rights of user necessary for the use and development of such air rights and air rights sites, including the remedying of unsuitable topographical, subsoil or other physical conditions which impede development within the urban renewal area, and construction of foundations and platforms as well as other necessary sitework, by the agency or by the municipality or by the persons, firm or corporation to whom such property, air rights and easements or air rights site, is sold or leased.

Develop, test and report methods and techniques and carry out demonstration and other activities in relation to or in connection with one or more programs of urban renewal or other programs relating to the arrest and prevention of conditions of deterioration or blight. 

Prepare or cause to be prepared a general neighborhood renewal plan for an area consisting of an urban renewal area or areas, together with any adjoining areas having specially related problems, and which is of such size that urban renewal activities may have to be initiated in stages.

Prepare or cause to be prepared a community-wide plan or program for urban renewal which shall conform to the comprehensive community plan for the development of the municipality as a whole.

Conduct examinations and investigations, hear testimony and take proof, under oath at public or private hearings on any material matters. 

Convey, assign, grant or otherwise transfer all of its right, title and interest in any urban renewal program, or part thereof, or any right, title or interest in or to any real or personal property, contract, claim or other interest acquired or held by it in connection with such program, or part thereof, with or without consideration, to the municipality.

Members

Staff