Two outer harbor warehouse complexes will find new life thanks to a Canadian company. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) Board of Commissioners met and approved the sale of its remaining land and property holdings on the Outer Harbor to Gracious Living Corporation. A leading manufacturer and distributor of outdoor furniture and housewares based in Canada, Gracious Living will locate its first U.S. plant on the waterfront property, invest tens of millions of dollars in injection molding equipment and infrastructure, and create 250 new jobs.



“Gracious Living Corporation will breathe new life into two abandoned waterfront structures and facilitate private sector investment and job growth in Western New York,” Governor Cuomo said. “We are pleased to welcome the company to build their first U.S. plant to serve its growing U.S. market, as we continue to foster redevelopment on Buffalo’s waterfront and revive New York’s manufacturing industry. Just three weeks ago, we announced a new plan to dramatically transform Buffalo’s waterfront to pave the way for new investments and business opportunities, and today’s sale by the NFTA is another step forward in our goal to build a world-class waterfront for the community.”



“The U.S. market is an important part of our growth plans and having a U.S. based facility demonstrates our commitment to serving and growing our U.S. customer base. We have found the state and local governments very helpful and supportive in building the case for locating our first U.S. plant in Buffalo which we appreciate and look forward to working with them going forward,” said Gracious Living President Enzo Macri.



“The sale of this property is a very sound strategic decision that follows Governor Cuomo’s visionary plan for Buffalo’s waterfront,” said NFTA Chairman Howard A. Zemsky. “It provides the NFTA with a global solution for exiting its waterfront property; at the same time helping to create job growth in the region and generate much needed revenue for the NFTA.”



Gracious Living Corporation will receive $2 million in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits from the State in return for the company’s job creation commitments resulting from its investment.





Port Terminal buildings A and B on Buffalo’s Outer Harbor have much deferred maintenance, and the NFTA has been anxious to put these two buildings to use as a job-creating project and pass on the cost of maintaining them. Gracious Living is proposing to pay cash for these buildings to set up a plastic injection molding plant and warehouse at the site.



The approximately 49.5 acres of real property located at 901 Fuhrmann Boulevard in Buffalo will now be sold at a negotiated price of $4.7 million. Upon execution of the Disposition Agreement, Gracious Living will have a 120-day due diligence period to conduct environmental testing and other investigations.



The Niagara Frontier Port Authority purchased the property from the Ford Motor Company in 1962, and then the NFTA took it over from the Port Authority when it was formed in 1967. Over the years, the buildings have been used by Tops Markets, Euro United, Sonwil Distribution, Nano Dynamics and Empire Liquidators, but most recently have been unoccupied. The buildings have been mothballed since December 31, 2010.



Buffalo Niagara Enterprise has been working with Gracious Living since November 2012, assisting the company with site selection, workforce, access to incentives and international due diligence.

Established in 1990, with headquarters in Woodbridge, Ontario, Gracious Living Corporation is a leading Canadian manufacturer and global importer of outdoor furniture, indoor outdoor organization solutions, utility garage systems, as well as pet products accessories. The company has manufacturing and warehouse facilities in Canada and over $100 million in annual sales. Gracious Living has been serving U.S. customers from its existing Canadian manufacturing facility.