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.
The project is funded through the New York State Department of State's Brownfield Opportunity Area program.
Why this study matters
Niagara County has a legacy of vacant, underutilized, and environmentally impaired properties that present challenges to redevelopment and private investment. These sites can contribute to blight, erode the local tax base, and constrain economic opportunity. Often perceived by developers as complex or high-risk, they can stall growth in otherwise strategic locations.
This study establishes a data-driven foundation for future planning, funding, and revitalization initiatives by identifying and analyzing areas where brownfield conditions are concentrated. By clarifying redevelopment priorities and market potential, it positions communities to attract investment, stimulate job creation, expand the tax base, and advance long-term economic competitiveness and 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
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Brownfield Inventory & Analysis Report
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Maps
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Other types of supporting documentation
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
Fact
Sheets
Planning
Documents
This project was prepared with funding provided by the New York State Department of State Environmental Protection Fund.
