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The Native American Center for the Living Arts is a closed cultural center that pre-dates the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. The Center opened in 1981, and closed its doors in 1996.

Status
The Center is owned by Niagara Falls Development Turtle LLC. It has been closed since 1996. The LLC has forwarded the idea of razing the building and replace it with a 20-story hotel.

History
The Native American Center for the Living Arts began as a non-profit cultural organization based in New York City in 1970. The founding members included: Tuscarora sculptor Wilmer "Duffy" Wilson, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Cherokee actor Arthur Junaluska, artist Philip Robert Spoonhunter, Santee Sioux activist John Tudell, Lumbee artist Lloyd Oxendine, Cahuilla historian Rupert Costo, Northern Arapaho architecture student Dennis Sun Rhodes.

The non-profit group moved the organization to the [|Niagara Falls, NY] in 1975, to a storefront gallery on 466 Third Street.

In 1976, the organization applied for a Department of Commerce grant for a new building as its operational and cultural center.

"Duffy" Wilson contacted Dennis Sun Rhodes, an architect with architectural firm Hodne-Stageberg Partners based in Minneapolis, Minnesota to develop concepts for the new facility. After discussing the design motif as a turtle form with Native elders, it was agreed that the form was appropriate for the Center.

On September 19, 1977 ground was broken for the foundation of the building. The building was opened on May 17, 1981 and given the nickname - "The Turtle".

Financing
In April 1977, a $4.9 million dollars Local Public Works grant was awarded from the Federal Economic Development Administration's Department of Commerce for the construction of The Native American Center for the Living Arts.

The organization's lease agreement with the City of Niagara Falls put its rent at $30,000 per year.

In 1979, before the opening, the organization found funds to be inadequate for opening and operations of the Center as "the U.S. Economic Development Administration's grant covered only construction costs, but provided no startup or operational funds".

In March 1980, a $750,000 loan from Chase Manhattan Bank was secured. Another $250,000 was secured via grants and loans from Niagara Falls Community Development Department and NFC Development Corporation.

From opening through 1988, the State of New York gave the Center between $500,000-$700,000 per year for operations.

Closure
After fourteen years of operation, The Turtle was forced to close its doors on June 15, 1995 due to debt incurred over the years.

Architecture
"The turtle is one of the highest symbols of the Eastern American Indians and represents an all-encompassing holding up of the earth, said Dennis Sun Roads, design architect, an Arapaho Indian who lives on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. Behind the architectural concepts are Indian philosophy and cultural values."

Programming
The Turtle collection of over 7,000 artifacts as well as local artist artwork to seed its exhibits. The Turtle Head, housed a kitchen for lunches, dinners, and banquets.

Director Bruce King also developed "Indian Time Theater" a performing arts group creating various productions, hosting arts groups and talent shows, dance presentations, and comedy. The Center also hosted a children's theater workshop as an outreach program to bring performing arts to local Native American communities via its children. Hosting plays like "The Creation - The Peacemaker" a legend adaptation of the creation story of man and the world, as told by the Haudenosaunee.

The Center also hosted a number of PowWows with dancers from all over North America.

The Center also produced the "Turtle Quarterly" a publication - "Gain insights into various Native American arts, histories, cultures, athletics, politics, and philosophies."

Ownership History
1979-1999 Native American Center for the Living Arts, Inc.

1999-2000 City of Niagara Falls, NY

2000-Present Niagara Falls Redevelopment, Turtle LLC.

Note: Public tax records also have "The Niagara Turtle Corp." also the owner of record with the transfer date to Turtle, LLC on the same date: 6/1/2000.

Niagara Falls Redevelopment is a business entity owned by Howard Milstein, a NYC Billionaire.

Current Status
In 2000, Niagara Falls Redevelopment (NFR) worked with US Representative John LaFalce, and others to reopen the Turtle with as a Native American Museum affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution. The effort was not realized.

The building has been shuttered since its closure.

In 2013 NFR posted on their website a development opportunity of the Turtle site.

In 2017 NFR announced its plan to build the 16-story Niagara Falls Grand Hotel & Spa to be built on the Turtle parcel. The plan never came to fruition due to the city zoning requirements. The zone has a restriction of buildings no taller than 5-stories in height.

In 2022, the Niagara Gazette ran an article regarding the Mayor's Centennial Park Project on land owned by NFR. In that article it was stated:

"[Edward] Milstein also proposed that the city transfer "development rights," relating to properties subject to height restrictions, from an area owned by NFR, to what is commonly known as the NFR-owned Turtle building. The Turtle site is currently subject to a height restriction of no more than six stories."

and ""In casual conversation" with the developer, Restaino said it appeared that Milstein was seeking permission to build upto 20 stories high on the Turtle site. The mayor said Milstein also revealed that NFR has no current plans to build on the site and was seeking relief from the height restrictions to "increase the value of the property."

In 2023 City Preservationist developed a local landmark application to help preserve the Turtle.

"Representatives from Preservation Buffalo Niagara assisted members of the city’s Historic Preservation Commission in developing a formal application to designate the building, located at 25 Rainbow Blvd., as a city landmark. Landmark designation would mean the Turtle building could only be demolished under an emergency determination. Formally designating a building as a local landmark requires approval by the Niagara Falls City Council."

"In response to questions from the newspaper in October, NFR spokesperson James Haggerty said the company has continued to actively market the parcel, and “there has been no viable interest in developing the site. He described the condition of the building as “substantially the same” as when NFR acquired it, indicating that it has the “usual issues and required upgrades you’d expect in a building its age.”

As to the effort to secure landmark status for the building, Haggerty said NFR and its owners, the Milstein family, real estate developers from New York City, remain open to discussing potentially viable reuse options. “We are aware of the latest efforts, and are always willing to work with the community on practical solutions,” he said.""

February 2024 the Niagara Falls Preservation Commission voted 6-0 to move the Turtle landmark application to the City Council for a vote to landmark.