Revitalizing Niagara Falls: New Funding Program to Renovate Vacant Apartments
Preservation Buffalo Niagara (PBN) is launching an exciting new initiative to breathe life into vacant rental properties in Niagara Falls, NY. Funded by New York State and administered by the Office of Community Renewal (OCR), The Vacant Rental Improvement Program (VRP) offers financial assistance of up to $75,000 to property owners who want to renovate empty apartments. The program aims to help owners of rental properties bring vacant units and spaces in small-scale properties back into productive use to create safe, quality, and affordable long-term rental units.
Deadline for First Round Application Submittal: Applications can be submitted through May 20th, 2025 at 5pm. You can submit the application here. Paper applications can be mailed, picked up or delivered if necessary – please call us for that.
Construction Timeline: Summer 2025 – Spring 2026.
Questions? Email VRP@pbnsaves.org or call 716-852-3300
How It Works
The program provides grants to cover renovation costs for eligible vacant rental units. Funding can be used for essential repairs, safety upgrades, and modernization—turning neglected properties into safe, quality housing. This program does not give money to owners directly – PBN administers the funds and will hire and manage all constriction. PBN will not approve any property owners that evict tenants specifically to take advantage of this program.
Eligible Participants
An eligible participant must meet the following criteria:
- Ownership: must be the legal owner of one of the following:
- 1-5 unit residential property
- Mixed-use building with up to five (5) housing units
- Other buildings that will be converted to one of the above
- Compliance Period: A 10-year Regulatory Period will be required during which the owner must be willing to execute an agreement and rental covenant on assisted units that will subject units to rent limits and other requirements.
- Additional eligibility requirements do exist and can be found on our website: https://preservationbuffaloniagara.org/techservices/vacant-rental-program-niagara-falls/
Informational Session for Property Owners
Virtual: May 13th from 12:00 Noon – 1:00 pm
Preservation Buffalo Niagara is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom webinar. This webinar will cover the basics of the program and will have time for Q&A.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bqTLyn57SF-p03Btz3LZpg
Passcode: 14301
Virtual: May 14th 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Preservation Buffalo Niagara is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom webinar. This webinar will cover the basics of the program and will have time for Q&A.
Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yAMKJVTBQOS5G5W00cLo5Q
Passcode: 14301
In Person: May 15th 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Constance will be at the Misty Guild Café’ from 10am – 2pm to answer any questions and review the program with you as needed. No “presentation” will be given, this is meant to be a place to stop in casually if you have any questions / concerns. We will have paper applications on hand if anyone needs one.
Address: Misty Guild Café’ at 324 Niagara Street, Unit 103 New York 14301 (716) 215-6009.
We are excited to be able to assist property owners with important repairs! If there are any, please email VRP@pbnsaves.org or call 716-852-3300. For more about this program across New York State, you can find the details here: https://hcr.ny.gov/vrp