NIAGARA FALLS, NY
LANDSCAPE OPPORTUNITY CROSS-BORDER DRIVERS
LANDSCAPE
MEET NIAGARA FALLS
TOURIST DESTINATION
• Ranked #5 World’s Most Visited Tourist Attractions
• In 2017, approximately 7.6 million visitors from around the globe visited the international tourist destination of Niagara Falls.
• Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in America
BI-NATIONAL REGION HISTORIC + CULTURAL
• Niagara Falls is the closest American city to the growing population of the Greater Toronto Are
• Buffalo Niagara bi-national region encompasses a population of over 8 million people and generates over $400 billion in gross domestic product.
Source: https://www.ny.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/Niagara_Falls_DRI_Strategic_Investment_Plan2021.pdf
• It is one of only 55 National Heritage Areas (NHA) registered throughout the United States.
• Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Area is one of 20 Heritage Areas that preserves and develops by the New York State Heritage Area Program.
https://www.buffalorising.com/2011/10/niagara-falls-worlds-most-visited-tourist-attractions/#:~:text=Travel%20and%20Leisure%20has%20ranked,World’s%20Most%20Visited%20Tourist%20Attractions.
https://www.thepartnership.org/initiatives/economic-development/cross-border-economy/
https://www.niagarafallsusa.com/planning-tools/about-niagara-falls/fun-facts/#:~:text=3%2C160%20tons%20of%20water%20flows,Niagara%20Falls%20State%20Park%20annually.
The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area (NFNHA) is one of 55 designated National Heritage Areas in the United States.
The Niagara Falls National Heritage Area (NFNHA) is launching “100 Years of Life on Main Street: Remembering Our Past to Shape our Future,” a multimedia oral history project to document life in the north end of the City of Niagara Falls. The project is being sponsored by Blue Cardinal Capital, which is investing in the future of Main Street.
Source: https://www.wnypapers.com/news/article/current/2020/09/04/143127/100-years-of-life-on-main-street-remembering-our-past-to-shape-our-future
NIAGARA FALLS DOWNTOWN
NIAGARA FALLS, NY 48,252
Decreased 20.2% since 2000 48 $15,967
Source: https://datausa.io/profile/geo/niagara-falls-ny https://www.ny.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/Niagara_Falls_DRI_Strategic_Investment_Plan2021.pdf
DEMOGRAPHICS
OVER 10.5 MILLION
PEOPLE
crossed into the United States in passenger vehicles through Buffalo Niagara Falls border crossings in 2019
Source: https://www.lohud.com/story/news/politics/politics-on-the-hudson/2019/03/05/attendance-new-yorks-parks-grew-again-heres-where-people-visited/3058108002/ https://www.wkbw.com/news/local-news/new-plans-for-niagara-falls-to-bring-in-tourists-during-winter-months#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20NYS%20Office,their%20way%20to%20the%20falls. https://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/leaders-and-businesses-in-niagara-falls-new-york-stress-the-urgent-need#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20U.S.%20Bureau,Buffalo%20Niagara%20 Falls%20border%20crossings.
Source: https://www.glassdoor.com/Explore/top-companies-niagara-falls_IL.14,27_IC1131882.htm
Source: https://www.glassdoor.com/Explore/top-companies-toronto_IL.14,21_IM976.htm
CROSS BORDER
Toronto is Canada’s largest city, with one of the most diverse populations in the world.
Source: https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/data-research-maps/toronto-at-a-glance/ https://www.thepartnership.org/initiatives/economic-development/cross-border-economy/
$19BILLON goods and services are exported from New York to Canada Trade between NYS and Canada is valued at $30 BILLION
680,900 JOBS in NYS depend on trade and investment with Canada Canadianowned businesses employ nearly New Yorks
1,084
79,000
Niagara Falls area is the closest American city to the growing population of the Greater Toronto Area
Hamilton
St. Catharines
Mississauga
NIAGARA FALLS
Source: https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Toronto/Niagara-Falls-NY-USA
CASCADIA INNOVATION CORRIDOR CASE STUDY
In the recent literature on economic geography, cross-border regions have been highly heralded as potential sources for reaping the benefits of innovation (OECD, 2013). In fact, those regions have gained a reputation as being endowed with comparative advantages to compete in global markets (Vance, 2012)
Source: https://cedar.wwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1115&context=bpri_publications
CASCADIA INNOVATION CORRIDOR CASE STUDY
Source: https://cedar.wwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1115&context=bpri_publications
CASCADIA INNOVATION CORRIDOR CASE STUDY
• Increase border infrastructure investments
• Modify immigration policy
• Increase transportation investments
• Institutional forum with cross-border peers
• Lobby federal governments
• Branding the Cascadia region
• Establish a shared vision for regional planning
• Lure private companies
• Provide funding for crossborder interactions
Source: https://cedar.wwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1115&context=bpri_publications
• Constitute Bi-national forums
• Build stronger links between r&d and Business communities
• Invite communities to build an agenda for Cascadia regional development
DRIVERS
NIAGARA FALLS
TORONTO
CANADIAN AI COMPANIES INCREASED 88% YEAR OVER YEAR
TOURIST DESTINATION
LIMITED HOUSING STOCK IN TORONTO
GOOGLE HAS INVESTED $5 MILLION IN THE VECTOR INSTITUTE MARKET
UNREALIZED GROWTH POTENTIAL CLOSE PROXIMITY TO INDUSTRY MARKET DIFFERENTIATOR
AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE
REAL ESTATE
INCREASING TORONTO POPULATION AND TALENT
BLACKBERRY, IS ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY FOR SELF-DRIVING CARS
SAMSUNG TO OPEN AN R&D HUB FOR AI FOCUSED ON HEALTHCARE
INNOVATION DISTRICTS | KEY INGREDIENTS
INCLUSIVE + INTEGRATED DRIVING INNOVATION
CREATING AN EXPERIENCE
SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL NEEDS
INCLUSIVE + INTEGRATED | DEFINING THE FOURTH PLACE
“...to
foster networking, to promote mingling, and to favor collaboration, face-to-face interaction and the exchange of tacit knowledge.”
- Arnault Morisson
CREATING AN EXPERIENCE | THE FOUR REALMS
“FINDING THE SWEET SPOT”: The strongest, most positive and most effective user experiences are achieved by combining all four realms of an experience: entertainment, educational, escapist and aesthetic.
ABSORPTION
EDUCATIONAL
CREATING AN EXPERIENCE | THE EXPECTATION GAP
Q: When it comes to making purchase decisions, how important is customer experience in each of the following industries?
Generally speaking, how would you rate the customer experience in each of the following industries today?
Source:
CREATING AN EXPERIENCE | THE PRICE PREMIUM
Scale is out of 25%
Q: How much would you pay for the following product or service if the company provides a great customer experience?
Source: PwC Future of Customer Experience Survey 2017/18
SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL NEEDS | VARIETY & CHOICE
MULTI-SENSORY
PERSONALIZATION FLEXIBLE
Environments that allow for many personality types & learning styles.
TOOLS
VARIETY + CHOICE
An array of textures, level changes, & space types to provide a rich sensory environment.
ACCESS + LINKAGES
Spaces, opportunities, & resources to accommodate a range of activities & behaviors.
COMFORTABLE + INFORMAL
SUPPORTING INDIVIDUAL NEEDS | BIOPHILIA
WORKERS IN GREEN CERTIFIED BUILDINGS SCORED 26.4% HIGHER ON COGNITIVE TEST SCORES
SOURCE: MACNAUGHTON ET AL., THE IMPACT OF WORKING IN A GREEN CERTIFIED BUILDING ON COGNITIVE FUNCTION AND HEALTH
79% OF EMPLOYEES SAID THEY WOULD CHOOSE A JOB IN A LEED-CERTIFIED BUILDING OVER ANOTHER
SOURCE: USGBC, EMPLOYEES ARE HAPPIER, HEALTHIER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE IN LEED GREEN BUILDINGS
FIRMS RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR AWARD-WINNING APPROACH TO HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE OUTPERFORMED S&P 500 BY 3% TO 5%
SOURCE: CDC, BUSINESS PULSE HOW THE CDC PROTECTS THE HEALTH OF YOUR BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITY
ATTRACTORS
“Perhaps the most essential component to the creation of a startup community is a culture that entrepreneurs and their employees want to be a part of.”
– Constance Aguilar, Entrepreneur Magazine Online
OPPORTUNITY ZONES
Source: https://www.niagaracountybusiness.com/opportunity-zones
2,141
POPULATION
COMMERCIAL, MIXED-USE, AND RESIDENTIAL
ZONING
• PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (41%)
• HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL ASSISTANCE (31%)
• MANUFACTURING (6%)
TOP INDUSTRIES
1,464
NUMBER OF JOBS
INFRASTRUCTURE
INTERNATIONAL RAILWAY STATION, INTERNATIONAL PASSENGER CROSSING, HISTORIC MAIN STREET, CULTURAL AND CIVIC CENTERS
OPPORTUNITIES | REAL ESTATE
RECENT INVESTMENTS
CASCADES $470 MILLION GREENPAC MILL, A SUBSIDIARY OF THE CASCADES PAPER COMPANY.
SANDSTONE SPRINGS INVESTED
$5 MILLION INTO 3625 HIGHLAND AVENUE TO REDEVELOP THREE BUILDINGS FOR ITS COUNTERTOP RECYCLING PLANT. TULIP CORPORATION INVESTED $11 MILLION TO BUILD A STATE-OF-THE-ART MOLDED PLASTICS MANUFACTURING PLANT AT 3125 HIGHLAND AVENUE.
SENECA THE SENECA NIAGARA RESORT AND CASINO WAS BUILT AS WELL AS A NEW CONFERENCE & EVENT CENTER AND A NEW VISITOR CENTER.
THE 600 RIVER ROAD APARTMENTS
A $20 MILLION PROJECT COMPLETED IN 2019, CREATED ANOTHER 88 UNITS OF WATERFRONT HOUSING.
REMINGTON LOFTS REDEVELOPMENT OF AN UNDERUTILIZED FACTORY INTO THE REMINGTON LOFTS ON THE CANAL, A $25 MILLION PROJECT RESULTING IN 80 LUXURY APARTMENTS AND A NEW RESTAURANT.
Source: https://www.niagaracountybusiness.com/opportunity-zones
OPPORTUNITIES | LIFE SCIENCE & TECH CONVERGENCE
RECENT AI INVESTMENTS
UBER (2018)
ANNOUNCED PLANS TO INVEST MORE THAN $200 MILLION IN SELFDRIVING CAR CENTER
NVIDIA (2018)
ANNOUNCED PLANS TO OPEN AN AI RESEARCH FACILITY
ETSY (2018) SELECTED TORONTO AS LOCATION FOR ITS NEWEST MACHINE LEARNING CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
SAMSUNG (2018) OPENED A NEW R&D OFFICE FOCUSING ON COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH IN AI
OPENTEXT (2017)
INTRODUCED A NEW FLEXIBLE AI PLATFORM
THOMSON REUTERS (2016) OPENED A NEW TECHNOLOGY CENTER FOR COGNITIVE COMPUTING
Source: https://torontoglobal.ca/AI
OPPORTUNITIES| AVAILABLE LAND
Source: https://www.niagaracountybusiness.com/opportunity-zones
OPPORTUNITIES | RETAIL MARKET
AS OF 2018, THE NIAGARA MARKET HAD NEARLY 4.1 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF RETAIL INVENTORY, WITH 429,000 SQUARE
FEET AVAILABLE (10.5% VACANCY RATE)
TOP
SUPPORTABLE
RETAIL CATEGORIES IN THE DRI AREA
Source: https://www.niagaracountybusiness.com/opportunity-zones
OPPORTUNITIES |TOURISM MARKET
TOURISM IS A CRITICAL PART OF THE CITY’S SUCCESS, DUE TO ITS LOCAL AND NATURAL ASSETS. THIS SECTION PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF TOURISM MARKET OPPORTUNITIES SPECIFIC TO THE DRI AREA.
NIAGARA FALLS VISITOR SPENDING
SOURCE: NIAGARA FALLS 2017 VISITOR REPORT
Source: https://www.ny.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/Niagara_Falls_DRI_Strategic_Investment_Plan2021.pdf
$761,000,00
TOTAL SPENT BY TRAVELERS IN NIAGARA COUNRY IN 2019
1.1% INCREASE OVER 2018
OPPORTUNITIES | TALENT
APPROXIMATELY 24% OF THE DRI AREA POPULATION HAS NO HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, ONLY 15.9% OF THE DRI AREA POPULATION HAS A BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR MORE IN THE FIRST FOUR YEARS OF THE DRI, THE STATE HAS COMMITTED $400 MILLION TO INVEST IN DOWNTOWNS THAT ARE RIPE FOR REVITALIZATION AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME MAGNETS FOR REDEVELOPMENT, BUSINESS, JOB CREATION, GREATER ECONOMIC AND HOUSING DIVERSITY, AND OPPORTUNITY. 24%
$400M 30,500SF BY 2029, NIAGARA FALLS CAN EXPECT TO ADD 122 NEW MEDICAL OFFICE JOBS CONTRIBUTING TO A MEDICAL OFFICE SPACE DEMAND OF OVER 30,000 RENTABLE SQUARE FEET (RSF) WITHIN THE CITY.
OPPORTUNITIES | TALENT
TORONTO REGION HAS BEEN SEEN A 40% INCREASE IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPER AND DATA ANALYSTS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS
THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITTED TO INCREASING THE NUMBER OF POST-SECONDARY STEM GRADUATES BY 25% OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS FROM 40,000 TO 50,000 - MAKING THE PROVINCE THE TOP PRODUCER OF STEM GRADUATES IN NORTH AMERICA
THE TORONTO REGION’S 11 UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, AND MANY SPECIALIZED TRAINING INSTITUTIONS OFFER SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDUSTRY-ACADEMIC PARTNERSHIPS 40% 25% 11+
Source: https://torontoglobal.ca/AI
ATTRACTING | FILM & ENTERTAINMENT
ATTRACTING BUSINESSES
HOTELS
TEMPORARY OFFICE SPACE
ATTRACTING
TALENT
FLEXIBLE RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
ACTIVE FILM SCENE CHAUFFER SERVICES
ROBUST EXISTING FILM INFRASTRUCTURE CATERERS
ARCHITECTURAL & GEOGRAPHIC DISTINCTIVENESS
EASE OF TRANSPORTATION
ATTRACTING | HEALTHCARE
ATTRACTING BUSINESSES
INCUBATOR SPACE
COLLABORATIVE R&D SPACE
ATTRACTING TALENT
DIVERSE MIX OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, MEDICAL CENTERS & BUSINESSES
ACCESS TO TALENT
PROXIMITY TO MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS
ACCESS TO A CULTURALLY VIBRANT AND LIVABLE CITY
FLEXIBILITY AND WORK-LIFE BALANCE
CO-LOCATION WITH TECH
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT
ATTRACTING | STARTUPS OR INTERNATIONAL COMPANY
ATTRACTING BUSINESSES
TAX INCENTIVES
THRIVING CREATIVE COMMUNITY
EXISTING START-UP SCENE LOCAL RESOURCES
ATTRACTING TALENT
AFFORDABLE COST OF LIVING AND HOUSING
VIBRANT LOCAL CULTURE HIGH CONCENTRATION OF WELL-PAID TECH JOBS UNIVERSITY SUPPORT
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMP GREEN SPACE, RESTAURANTS & BARS ACT GOOD COMMUTE
ATTRACTING | TALENT
OF TECH WORKERS WOULD RELOCATE FOR A JOB
SAID COST OF LIVING WAS THE TOP FACTOR
OTHER TOP FACTORS INCLUDED WEATHER & CLIMATE, COMMUTE TIMES, AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND GREEN SPACE
TOP 10 FACTORS IT PROS CONSIDER WHEN DECIDING WHERE TO LIVE
% RATING FACTOR AS VERY IMPORTANT
Source: According to a CompTIA April 2019 survey of 916 IT professionals
OVERALL COST OF LIVING
WEATHER AND CLIMATE
COMMUTE TIMES
AVAILABILITY OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
QUALITY PARKS/GREEN SCAPE
CRIME RATE
NUMBERS OF TECH JOBS AVAILABLE
AVERAGE TECH SALARIES
RESTAURANT/BARS
PROXIMITY TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS
ATTRACTING | TALENT
AFFORDABILITY, COMMUTE TIME, LIFESTYLE AMENITIES AND GREEN SPACE ARE HIGH PRIORITIES
WHAT MATTERS MOST TO IT PROS WHEN DECIDING WHERE TO LIVE AND WORK?
TOP 10 FACTORS FOR GEN Z IT PROS
1. OVERALL COST OF LIVING
2. AFFORDABLE HOUSING AVAILABILITY
3. RESTAURANTS/BARS
4. CRIME RATE
5. QUALITY PARKS/ GREEN SPACE
6. WEATHER/CLIMATE
7. COMMUTE TIMES
8. PROXIMITY TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS
9. NUMBER OF TECH JOBS AVAILABLE
10. AVERAGE TECH SALARIES
TOP 10 FACTORS FOR MILLENNIAL IT PROS
1. OVERALL COST OF LIVING
2. COMMUTE TIMES
3. WEATHER/CLIMATE
4. QUALITY PARKS/GREEN SPACE
5. CRIME RATE
6. AVERAGE TECH SALARIES
7. AFFORDABLE HOUSING AVAILABILITY
8. NUMBER IF TECH JOBS AVAILABLE
9. RESTAURANTS/BARS
10. HIGHLY RATED K-12 SCHOOLS
OPPORTUNITIES | LIFE SCIENCE & TECH CONVERGENCE
THE LIFE SCIENCES SECTOR IS EVOLVING INTO A TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD
TORONTO IS POSITIONED TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS CONVERGENCE
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)
THE POTENTIAL TO REVOLUTIONIZE DIAGNOSES, TREATMENT PLANNING PATIENT MONITORING AND DISCOVERY
CO-LOCATING LIFE SCIENCE & TECH LEVERAGES OVERLAPPING TALENT POOLS
INTERNET-OF-MEDICAL-THING (IOMT)
VALUE AT US $41.2 BILLION IN 2017, THE IOMT MARKET IS EXPECTED TO RISE TO US 158.1 BILLION IN 2022
BLOCK CHAIN
POTENTIAL SOLUTION TO MORE EASILY AGGREGATE AND SHARE HEALTH DATA IN A SECURE, TRUSTED, AUTOMATED, AND ERROR-FREE WAY
DIY DIAGNOSTICS AND VIRTUAL CARE
• CONSUMERS ARE INCREASINGLY OPEN TO NEVER CHANNELS OF CAREPARTICULARLY AT-HOME DIAGNOSTIC TESTING
• COULD HELP LOW-INCOME OR RURAL CONSUMERS DETERMINE IF A CONDITION WARRANTS A VISIT TO A DOCTOR OR HOPITAL SOFTWARE-AS-A-MEDICALDEVICE (SAMD)
• ALLOWS PATIENTS TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE
• SAMD HAS, AT TIMES OUTPREFORMANED THE ACCURACY OF DIAGNOSES BY TRAINED CLINICIANS
• REGULATION OF SAMD IS EXPECTED TO NEED TO BECOME MORE AGILE
FUTURE OF MOBILITY
• SHIFTING ATTITUDES TOWARDS MOBILITY AND CHANGING THE WAY PEOPLE AND GOODS MOVE
• COULD IMPROVE ACCESS TO CARE
LOOKING FORWARD
TALENT BUSINESS
• Who would the workers be in your innovation district?
• How would you attract talent to the innovation district?
• Why do you want to create an innovation district?
• How would you measure success?
• What is the unmet need of the district? what pinch points might occur when developing an innovation district?
• What symbiotic relationships could be developed with other industries in the area?
• What other innovation districts do you see as models for what you want to develop?
TOURISIM
• How can you use the nearby tourist attraction to your advantage?
• How can you use the nearby border crossing to your advantage?
• What partnerships would you want to create both locally and beyond?
• What infrastructure would be required to support a new innovation hub?
• What other cross-border cities provide a useful precedent when considering this project?
• How do you see the innovation district changing the surrounding community in downtown niagara falls?
• What support exists at the local, state and national level for this type of
