Downtown Niagara Falls is now a buzzing hub of culture surrounded by art galleries, small businesses, and last weekend, daredevils and street entertainers.

But once upon a time a few years ago, the same downtown core was almost completely deserted with store fronts boarded up and metaphoric tumbleweeds blowing down the street. However after collaboration between the city of Niagara Falls, Downtown Board of Management, and Historic Niagara Development, the area has quickly become an arts and culture destination for residents and visitors alike.

Niagara Falls councillor Jim Diodati said the redevelopment of the downtown area has been an issue since early 2003 when council wanted to see something done to rejuvenate the area and draw people in.

"It became a big issue in the 2006 election," Diodati said. "There was an American developer that came in with a proposal to bring in business to Queen Street but he required the city to spend $30 million to improve things like streetscape and add a parking garage. It was a heated and over the top issue."

Diodati said plans with the American developer fell through. That is when Historic Development Niagara, a company that owns more than 60 properties in the city, came in to "rewrite the plan" and make revitalization plans more acceptable for visitors and locals alike.

"Council and Historic Niagara had a common ground on what we wanted to see for the downtown," Diodati said. "We wanted to see something good."

This good included turning downtown Niagara Falls into an arts and culture destination, an idea it is hoped will help a staggering local economy, Diodati said.

In November 2007, Celebrate Old Downtown was formed. The organization is a non-profit venture by the Niagara Falls Downtown Board of Management.

The purpose of the group was to create a series of events that would rejuvenate visitation to the downtown core through a series of family, arts and culture, and heritage themed events throughout the year.

Shane Sargant, executive director of Celebrate Old Downtown, told Niagara This Week last month the group is deeply involved in making the downtown a premiere arts and culture destination.

"It's all part of an overall strategy," Sargant said. "We first bring the arts into the area, then the visitors come. The draw of people will lead to more businesses opening up in the area and we'll have a thriving downtown again."

Sargant admits that the downtown used to be bustling with activity on weekdays but dead by weekends. Sargant said he hopes through planned events such as the upcoming Days of Elvis from Sept. 5 to 7, fashion shows and car shows will produce a regular flow of visitors.

"We always want something going on in the streets," Sargant said.

"Visitors to the city can visit Clifton Hill, but I always tell people that they should grab a large Timmy's coffee and explore the downtown area," Diodati added. "It's the real heart of Niagara Falls."