USA Niagara’s best known project other than the “Conference Center” is the Third Street, “streetscape” project, a $3.7 million initiative completed in 2005.  

A drive down Third Street shows fruits of their work - broken sign posts. Decorative grates rusted; some removed. The wood-paneled garbage cans and benches rotted or gone. 

Brick pavers at crosswalks had to come out because they were installed improperly and created a hazard. The city put asphalt over them as the street became a series of bumps and sink holes. There are more vacant stores now than before.

Then there are the "cut-outs" -- the hallmark of USA Niagara's streetscape project - enlarged areas of sidewalk intruding where Third Street was. The road narrowed to where cars travel down other roads to avoid it, and pedestrians don’t travel down a mainly vacant street.
And parking was lost on the street.

Restaurants and bars like Shadow and Café Etc. now closed tried various solutions, including valet parking, to alleviate the parking problem, since unattended lots in the alleyways behind the street quickly became havens for muggers and other dangerous predators.

Frank Smith and his partner Paul Morreale have owned Third Street Liquors since 2000 and have seen the results of USA Niagara’s efforts firsthand. 

Asked whether business has improved, Smith said, “We’ve lost some, gained a couple, at best I would say it’s a wash. You can probably call me back in ten years and I’ll tell you the same thing.”

The difference, of course, is that business owners who were there before, entrepreneurs who worked hard and used their own money were essentially pushed out by the botched streetscape and the new ones that came in had to be incentivized to invest here.

Wine on Third was one of the businesses incentivized by USA Niagara.  A clean comfortable ambience, the bar has a seating capacity of 99, and its owners received $100,000 from USA Niagara.

“That gave us money to do the build-out of the interior. The building was a complete gut out,” said co owner David Giusianna. “(my partner) Shawn Weber and I would have absolutely not have done Wine on Third without that incentive. 

“However we were led to believe that this was going to be an entertainment district, and that we would be one of 25 or more restaurants and bars on Third Street. USA Niagara never fulfilled that promise…. I think there are less functioning businesses here then there was before they started on the street.”

Lewiston developer Craig Avery also received $355,000 in state and city grants to develop 451 Third Street, a building he bought for $180,000. Avery said he would not have bought the property or developed it without the grants.  It is now an eight unit apartment building with a liquor store, variety store and a bakery and café coming. 

Ironically, Smith said, at a recent meeting of Third Street shareholders that USA Niagara officials promised to re-widen at least a portion of the street they spent millions narrowing seven years ago. 
The work is expected to begin sometime this fall, Smith said.