Niagara Falls Launches Revitalization With Historic Jenss Building Redevelopment

Empire State Development and the City of Niagara Falls have finalized agreements for the first four of 38 properties slated for redevelopment in the city’s Bridge District. Among them is the long-vacant four-story Jenss Department Store on Main Street, once a prominent retail hub in the community.

The initiative marks the beginning of a larger plan to redevelop the north Main Street area with a mix of ownership and new uses, building upon the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative. As part of this effort, Empire State Development awarded the Niagara Falls Urban Renewal Agency (URA) $2.5 million to reimburse costs for property purchases, building stabilization, and developer recruitment tied to all 38 properties.

The developers named for the first four sites are: 1708 Main Street, LLC for the former Jenss Department Store at 1708 Main Street; Develop Niagara, Inc. for both a vacant lot at 717 Division Avenue and a historic home at 723 Division Avenue; NFNHA Holdings, LLC for the former church at 1509 Main Street; and RJ Niagara, LLC for the former bar and nightclub at 2109 Main Street.

Earlier this year, the URA purchased the 38 properties from Bank on Buffalo. Since then, the agency has worked with ESD, the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency, and the Niagara Orleans Land Improvement Corporation to stabilize the buildings. Many properties have been cleaned out and secured while others are slated for roof and masonry repairs to protect them through the coming winter.

The former Jenss building, to be rehabilitated by 1708 Main Street, LLC, has a long history in the city. Established in the early 1900s by two German immigrants, the department store operated for decades before closing in 1995 amid competition from nearby retail centers. Develop Niagara will focus on revitalizing the historic Division Avenue house built in 1900, while NFNHA Holdings will take on the church at 1509 Main Street, constructed in 1932. RJ Niagara is set to redevelop the NFusion Night Club building which was originally constructed in 1960.

“These properties have been vacant and damaged for years under single-party ownership,” Mayor Robert Restaino said in a statement. “By acquiring them and then transferring ownership on a more community-oriented scale, we are advancing the community’s vision for revitalization. I thank Governor Hochul and our partners for their assistance as we move forward with repurposing these buildings and filling vacant lots to create more business and job opportunities.”

City officials emphasized that all projects must enter into a development enforcement mortgage, ensuring progress will be monitored until completion. The broader vision is to transform the Bridge District with new residential, retail, entertainment, office, and educational opportunities, reversing years of decline.

Niagara Falls Launches Revitalization With Historic Jenss Building Redevelopment