Niagra Falls New York

Niagra Falls Ontario

Business Week recently posted an excellent and extensive article on the fall of Niagara Falls, New York.   For the past four decades, Niagara Falls has continued to plummet into ever increasing decline.  The city today has both a high level of crime and a high level of unemployment.   While similar decline has taken place in a large number of rust belt cities throughout the United States, what is most remarkable about Niagara Falls, New York is that it sits beside of the world’s greatest natural wonders (Niagara Falls).  The city is visited by more than 8 million people per year, a number that would generally keep the city’s economy fairly strong, yet the city continues to plummet despite all of these tourists.

What is also remarkable is the success of Niagara Falls, Ontario on the other side of the border.  While Niagara Falls, Ontario still has it’s share of problems, the city’s tourism industry is booming with dozens of hotels and attractions.  Having visited Niagara Falls, Ontario several times, I can tell you that many parts of the city are buzzing throughout the year.  The article provides some excellent insight into how such an odd situation has occurred with regards to the two Niagara Falls cities and why Niagara Falls, New York has consistently struggled throughout the decades.

Photo Courtesy of Inhabit.com

The creation and maintenance of traditional asphalt roads has always been both time consuming and expensive.  Recently, the environmental movement has reinstagated  the idea of creating brick roads.  Brick’s are generally durable and aren’t nearly as susceptible to cracks due to freezing and thawing.  Yet, once again, paving the roads would be extremely time consuming.  However, a new machine may change how roads are built throughout cities.  An article at Inhabit.com recently showcased a brick laying machine that literally lays out a brick road on a sand bottom like a carpet.  Crazily enough, the machine isn’t somehow magic, but actually uses gravity to pack the bricks tightly together. With a little more polish, this machine could truly help save a lot of time and money for a city while also being far better for the environment.  Seems like something we truly invest in.