GIS-Supported Strategic Planning in Niagara Falls

Community engagement was critical to the process of developing the Mid-City housing and community assessment and was used to inform the public about the project, obtain information on opportunities and challenges in the community, and involve the community in the planning process. The assessment included a wide range of community engagement strategies, including forming a steering committee (Niagara Falls Neighborhood Evaluation Committee), holding multiple open houses and webinars, and working with students at Niagara University.

The Niagara Falls Neighborhood Evaluation Committee, comprised of representatives from diverse groups and organizations committed to improving the standard of housing and quality of life in Mid-City, was responsible for guiding the overall direction of the Mid-City housing and community assessment as well as setting the guidelines for data collection.

Students enrolled in Niagara University’s computer science course, taught by steering committee member Professor Dr. Tong, were engaged in the project early on. This allowed them to explore the field of geospatial analysis and learn how to use GIS software for conducting housing and community assessments.

Niagara University students were engaged throughout the project in several ways, including:

• Members of the consultant team delivered a presentation to students about the application of GIS in their professions and the career opportunities available in the field.
• Students were invited to observe and assist with field data collection during Phase II of the housing survey.
• Students were provided a dataset containing a significant portion of the GIS data collected during the process, enabling them to conduct their own research.
• Students in the computer science course will assist in periodically updating information on the webpage.

To develop a greater understanding of the current housing conditions in Mid-City, housing surveys were conducted to evaluate the housing stock and identify areas for future targeted investment. The housing survey had two components. Initially, a “windshield” survey assessed the general condition of all 3,320 parcels in Mid-City on a scale of 1 to 4. A rating of 4 indicated houses were in standard (good) condition, while a rating of 1 indicated houses were considered “dilapidated.”

Next, a detailed survey conducted an in-depth analysis of housing conditions within two target areas selected by the committee. These areas included 357 houses, which were evaluated based on the condition of the foundation, the façade and front porch, the roof, and the windows. Each category was rated on a scale of 1 to 5, which was then combined to provide an overall condition rating ranging from above-standard (excellent) to dilapidated (unlivable). Data was collected using mobile GIS tools and made available to the Niagara Falls Neighborhood Evaluation Committee via ArcGIS Online web mapping tools.

The final product of the Mid-City housing and community assessment was the development of an interactive online web mapping tool. The tool serves as an easily accessible resource for the City of Niagara Falls and its partners, as well as the greater public. It offers information on demographics, land use and zoning, environmental features, housing characteristics and conditions, and a range of other factors that contribute to the overall quality of life for residents in Mid-City. Developed by utilizing ArcGIS Experience Builder and ArcGIS Hub tools, the online mapping tool will be instrumental in helping the city and its partners create a comprehensive housing strategy backed by actionable goals that are supported by real-life conditions.

Following the development of the interactive mapping tool, a webinar was hosted for interested agencies, organizations, and other partners invested in revitalizing the City of Niagara Falls, particularly the Mid-City neighborhood. During the webinar, attendees received an overview of the mapping tool, including the data collection methodology and potential applications for their work. Emphasis was placed on how the tool supports grant applications and the possibility of integrating additional valuable data sources in the future.