[flar]

While downtown NF, ON is dead, you don't see the residential abandonment of NF, NY there. I wouldn't blame the mall for downtown's demise. The suburbanization/mall phenomenenon is always a factor but is fairly constant across North America, it hasn't affected NF more than anywhere else. The entire Niagara region (except Niagara-on-the-Lake) is classic depressed rustbelt. Look at St. Catharines, Fort Erie, Welland or Port Colbourne. Look at the two nearest cities, Hamilton and Buffalo. Downtown NF is dead because thousands upon thousands of good paying manufacturing jobs are gone and because it's just a little too far away from the falls.