New life and new jobs are on the way for a pair of vacant buildings on Buffalo's Outer Harbor. The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority has agreed to sell its remaining waterfront property to Gracious Living Corporation, a Toronto based manufacturer.
Gracious Living is a leading manufacturer and distributor in Canada of outdoor furniture and house wares and it's looking to grow in the U.S. Company President Enzo Macri says proximity to the border, and rail access played a role in selecting the site.
“We’re looking forward to some great times and we’re looking forward to embracing our new home,” Macri said.
Macri says over the next three years - they expect to hire 250-employees for a variety of jobs. If the goal is met Albany will provide 2-million-dollars in tax credits.
Gracious Living plans to pay $4.7 million in cash for the 49-acre site which includes two large vacant buildings.
NFTA Chairman Howard Zemsky says the sale of the port terminal property will not have a major impact on public access to the waterfront.
“These are industrial properties that were not being enjoyed at any time in the last half century by the public. I don’t think we’re in any way changing the use that they have had or in any way impairing the public’s enjoyment of the waterfront,” Zemsky said.
Gracious Living expects to begin production by late 2014.