Niagara County Brownfield Opportunity Area
Pre-Planning Study
Project Overview
Niagara County is undertaking a Countywide Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Pre-Planning Study to identify, inventory, and preliminarily analyze concentrations of brownfield-affected, vacant, and underutilized properties across the county.
Brownfields are real property that may be abandoned, unused, or underutilized due to known or suspected environmental contamination, which can complicate redevelopment. A Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) is a geographically defined area with a concentration of such sites and is used as the basis for more detailed, community-driven planning under New York State’s BOA Program.
The purpose of this study is to establish a data-driven foundation that supports the identification of smaller, localized areas that may be suitable for future BOA planning and designation.
Why this study matters
Niagara County has a legacy of vacant, underutilized and contaminated properties that can pose safety and public health risks to surrounding communities. These sites can contribute to blight, reduce the local tax base, limit economic opportunity and are often perceived as liabilities by developers.
The study lays the groundwork for future planning, funding and revitalization efforts by identifying and analyzing areas where brownfield conditions are concentrated. It will help position communities for reinvestment that supports economic growth, environmental health, and long term community resilience.
Study Area
The study encompasses all of Niagara County, and will place particular emphasis on identifying clusters of brownfield-affected, vacant, and underutilized properties outside of existing designated Brownfield Opportunity Areas within the Cities of Lockport, Niagara Falls, and North Tonawanda. This approach is intended to complement ongoing BOA efforts while expanding opportunities for future brownfield planning in communities across the county.
Goals and Objectives
The study seeks to:
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Identify and inventory vacant, underutilized, and brownfield sites across Niagara County
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Analyze areas where brownfield conditions are concentrated and assess redevelopment potential at a planning level
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Identify priority areas that may be suitable for future BOA planning
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Support coordination and information sharing with local municipalities and the public
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Establish a data driven foundation for future BOA planning initiatives
What the study includes
• (deliverables TBD)
What the study does not do
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Does not perform environmental remediation
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Does not fund construction or capital improvements
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Does not designate BOAs itself, but recommends areas for future study
Community Engagement
(TBD)
Resources (Coming Soon)
Meeting
Summaries
Community Engagement Surveys
Assessment
Fact Sheets
Planning
Documents
This project was prepared with funding provided by the New York State Department of State Environmental Protection Fund.
