[mucciared]

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=548548&catname=Local%20News&classif=

It's Post time
A $300-million facelift for race track in the works, but town says province has to act right now

JOHN ROBBINS / Review Staff Writer
Local News - Wednesday, May 30, 2007 Updated @ 6:17:22 AM

The province of Ontario should do what it can to make sure a $300-million deal to rejuvenate the Fort Erie Race Track becomes a reality, according to the town's mayor.

"Obviously, the track is suffering," Doug Martin told The Review in an interview Tuesday. "The owner is willing to invest a significant amount of money here. He has two choices - go high or go home...

[agrigentum]

Dan Ackroyd is opening a new winery in Beamsville. The announcement was made earlier today. The building will be designed by Moriyama and Teshima Architects, the brainchild of former Brock U Chancellor, Dr. Raymond Moriyama, and architect of the National War Museum in Ottawa.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aykroyd Winery a $12-million Niagara jewel

St. Catharines Standard
Local News - Wednesday, June 13, 2007 Updated @ 12:54:59 PM

TORONTO — Canadian actor Dan Aykroyd has gone from Ghostbuster to wine baron with the announcement Wednesday of The Dan Aykroyd Winery and the first release of a pair of Aykroyd "Discovery Series" wines.

Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd., a sales and marketing agency that owns four Niagara wineries including EastDell Estates, Lakeview Cellars, Birchwood Estate and Thomas & Vaughan will add to its portfolio of owned and operated wineries by building The Dan Aykroyd Winery, said Murray Marshall, CEO, Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits, at a press conference in Toronto Wednesday.

The $12-million, 45,000-square-foot winery will be built off the QEW highway where the company's Birchwood Estate winery is currently located. Groundbreaking on the project is scheduled for fall 2007 and the winery will be operational for the fall 2008 harvest.


"This amazing facility is a symbol of my ongoing commitment to helping sustain the growth of the Canadian wine industry," said Aykroyd.

The Dan Aykroyd Winery, which is being designed by the award-winning firm Moriyama and Teshima Architects, will feature a multi-level hospitality building that will accommodate Diamond Estates' agri-tourism strategy. The winery's theme will pay tribute to the region's terroir and to Dan Aykroyd's 30-plus years of work in film and television by showcasing some of his favourite memorabilia throughout the building.

"I am very proud to lend my name to this winery. It is a true expression of my passion for the world-class wines of the Niagara region," said Aykroyd.

The former Conehead, Blues Brother and Ghostbuster also introduced his "Discovery Series" chardonnay and a cabernet-merlot blend, both of which are now available at the LCBO, said Murray Marshall, CEO of Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits.

These 100% VQA wines from Niagara are the first to be released as part of the Dan Aykroyd-branded wine portfolio.

The Dan Aykroyd Discovery Series Chardonnay is $15 and the Cabernet Merlot at $17. Both wines are available at LCBO stores across Ontario and will be made available elsewhere in Canada later this year.

"This is another positive step toward ensuring that the Canadian wine industry receives the recognition that it rightfully deserves," said Aykroyd. "Diamond Estates has produced an incredible line of VQA wines that I will be proud to serve at home or anywhere my travels take me."

In the coming months, more Dan Aykroyd-branded wines are scheduled to hit retail shelves. They will include additional releases of Discovery Series wines ranging in price from $15 to $25.

As well, Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits will be releasing a Dan Aykroyd Signature Reserve series that will be produced in limited quantities and will range in price from $50 a bottle and more. No more than 300 cases of any of the Signature Reserve wines will be made and each bottle will be numbered and signed by the winemaker. The first wine under this brand will be a barrel-fermented Niagara Peninsula VQA Vidal Icewine.

[agrigentum]

Here's a rendering of the new winery.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/npimages/newsphotos/file613200713124PM.jpg

[realcity]

It appears that construction has halted at Hilton. Does anyone know anything. I heard that he started his the existing tower without funding in place. that he was halfway built by the time he found financing. Perhaps he's doing the same thing.

[realcity]

Everyday this summer beginning on June 30 at 4pm and 8pm Jay Cochrane will be skywalking between two 20-storey masts in the Fallsview area and Skylon Tower. He will be available for autographs after each walk in the Skylon Tower's Jay Cochrane Gallery.
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/theshawsphotos/work/Dare-Devil-Gallery-Wall-B-low.jpg?t=1181854335

[drafty]

Realcity, projects all over the province have halted due to constructions workers striking.

[realcity]

^ ahh good to hear that it's not something else.

[realcity]

I heard Great Wolf Lodge is for sale? And Casino Niagara might be closed by OLG. There highway signs (the blue tourist ones) weren't renewed. Anyone heard anything?

[realcity]

Skylon has got some new signage

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/theshawsphotos/Skylon-newfacade.jpg?t=1185202646

[steel]

Dan Ackroyd is opening a new winery in Beamsville. The announcement was made earlier today. The building will be designed by Moriyama and Teshima Architects, the brainchild of former Brock U Chancellor, Dr. Raymond Moriyama, and architect of the National War Museum in Ottawa.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aykroyd Winery a $12-million Niagara jewel

St. Catharines Standard
Local News - Wednesday, June 13, 2007 Updated @ 12:54:59 PM

TORONTO — Canadian actor Dan Aykroyd has gone from Ghostbuster to wine baron with the announcement Wednesday of The Dan Aykroyd Winery and the first release of a pair of Aykroyd "Discovery Series" wines.

Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd., a sales and marketing agency that owns four Niagara wineries including EastDell Estates, Lakeview Cellars, Birchwood Estate and Thomas & Vaughan will add to its portfolio of owned and operated wineries by building The Dan Aykroyd Winery, said Murray Marshall, CEO, Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits, at a press conference in Toronto Wednesday.

The $12-million, 45,000-square-foot winery will be built off the QEW highway where the company's Birchwood Estate winery is currently located. Groundbreaking on the project is scheduled for fall 2007 and the winery will be operational for the fall 2008 harvest.


"This amazing facility is a symbol of my ongoing commitment to helping sustain the growth of the Canadian wine industry," said Aykroyd.

The Dan Aykroyd Winery, which is being designed by the award-winning firm Moriyama and Teshima Architects, will feature a multi-level hospitality building that will accommodate Diamond Estates' agri-tourism strategy. The winery's theme will pay tribute to the region's terroir and to Dan Aykroyd's 30-plus years of work in film and television by showcasing some of his favourite memorabilia throughout the building.

"I am very proud to lend my name to this winery. It is a true expression of my passion for the world-class wines of the Niagara region," said Aykroyd.

The former Conehead, Blues Brother and Ghostbuster also introduced his "Discovery Series" chardonnay and a cabernet-merlot blend, both of which are now available at the LCBO, said Murray Marshall, CEO of Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits.

These 100% VQA wines from Niagara are the first to be released as part of the Dan Aykroyd-branded wine portfolio.

The Dan Aykroyd Discovery Series Chardonnay is $15 and the Cabernet Merlot at $17. Both wines are available at LCBO stores across Ontario and will be made available elsewhere in Canada later this year.

"This is another positive step toward ensuring that the Canadian wine industry receives the recognition that it rightfully deserves," said Aykroyd. "Diamond Estates has produced an incredible line of VQA wines that I will be proud to serve at home or anywhere my travels take me."

In the coming months, more Dan Aykroyd-branded wines are scheduled to hit retail shelves. They will include additional releases of Discovery Series wines ranging in price from $15 to $25.

As well, Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits will be releasing a Dan Aykroyd Signature Reserve series that will be produced in limited quantities and will range in price from $50 a bottle and more. No more than 300 cases of any of the Signature Reserve wines will be made and each bottle will be numbered and signed by the winemaker. The first wine under this brand will be a barrel-fermented Niagara Peninsula VQA Vidal Icewine.



Anyone know what is up with the proposed Frank Gehry designed winery in the Niagara Region?

[fastcarsfreedom]

The Frank Gehry designed building was Le Clos Jordan, a winery in Lincoln. Vincor, which has been tied up in various takeovers/mergers, etc, was the principle owner--could be that the winery's development has been delayed by 'corporate issues'

[Kitchissippi]

I recently came back from Niagara Falls and had a nice time. I don't know if it has been discussed here before, but I was wondering what is going on with the old railway right of way that runs through the city. It is nice that they've put a wide pedestrian path on it along Victoria.

It was a heck of a lot of walking, and despite the People Mover, there needs to be better ways of making it easier to get around, especially higher up the hill. I know there were plans for a monorail that died but it coud be something much cheaper and simpler. I was thinking it would be great if there was a simple narrow gauge tram that ran along that old railway, single track with doubling at every other stop so that trams could pass each other. It could do wonders to link the old historic downtown (as well as the train and bus stations) with the Falls area and its popular tourist attractions. Perhaps something like this:
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/kitchissippi/NiagaraFTram.jpg

I figure this could be done fairly cheaply and could even be offered as a free service. If Marineland could afford to put up expensive rides, this could be a drop in the bucket for the casinos to fund.

[drafty]

This article was in the papers here recently.


People Mover not dead

By Robert Lapensée

Niagara Falls
Aug 17, 2007
NIAGARA FALLS -- The People Mover project is not dead, says Mayor Ted Salci, and a committee working on making the project a reality should be back at city hall for a report next month.
But if the project is no further ahead than it was seven years ago, the city should look at selling of old railway lands it purchased when it thought the new People Mover would be a monorail system, said Coun. Carolynn Ioannoni.

"What's dead in regards to the People Mover is the monorail," said Ioannoni. "Why are we holding onto the railway land? I don't understand, when we are in a financial crunch, why we don't sell off that land?"

The city, the Niagara Parks Commission, the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation and the Falls Management Company, which operates the Niagara Falls casinos, and other stakeholders are working together on an at-grade, or ground level, public transportation system to link attractions from the Rainbow Bridge to Marineland. The partners acquired old CN and CP railway land for $35 million -- the city paid $12.5 million, the OLGC paid $15 million and FMC paid $7.5 million.

The project has also received up to $25 million in federal funding for capital costs and are looking for a private investor to build, operate and maintain the system.

Call for proposals were supposed to go out last spring, but the project was stalled.

Since the city needs to spend millions of dollars to bring back its infrastructure back up to snuff, Ioannoni said proceeds from the railway land sale could be used to rebuild the city's crumbling roads and water and sewer systems.

But Salci said the lands aren't only suited for a monorail system and the committee doesn't know what kind of technology will be proposed -- be it road-based or some sort of rail system -- by the three consortiums that are interested in financing the new People Mover.

"We have a secure investment there," said Salci. "There is a lot of weariness because it has been dealt with for seven years.

"We will come back to council to seek your decision. (The People Mover) is not dead and it would be premature to dispose of any land, in my opinion."

[drafty]

From Niagara This Week:
By Paul Forsyth

Niagara Falls
Sep 07, 2007
NIAGARA FALLS -- The federal government is committing up to $35 million toward a new $107-million convention and civic centre to be built in Niagara Falls, something supporters say will provide a huge shot in the arm for Niagara's economy and propel the region into tourism's big leagues.
Niagara Falls MP and federal justice minister Rob Nicholson made the announcement to about 100 dignitaries Wednesday at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel near the brink of the Horseshoe Falls, directly across the street from where the massive, 130,000 square-foot facility will be built.

Dragan Matovic, who is heading up Niagara Convention and Civic Centre Inc., the private sector partner in the project, said shovels could be in the ground within 12 months and the centre could be open for business by 2010.

The federal funding, which comes after a $35 million commitment from the Province of Ontario in March to the public-private sector project, is subject to final approval by the federal government once a detailed agreement with the various parties is inked. The one-third commitment from the private sector is already in place.

Nicholson said MPs from across the country would love to have $35 million for a convention centre in their ridings. But he said he sold his cabinet colleagues on the Niagara project because Niagara Falls has the highway infrastructure to support it and is within 70 miles of three international airports, and because there will be significant spinoff benefits for all of Niagara.

"This will have a tremendous economic impact for our region," he said.

Matovic earlier this year said the project, which will include one-third private sector funding, could generate at least $93 million in new revenue for the local economy and it won't cost the city of Niagara Falls a cent.

Niagara's regional government recently agreed to lease a prime piece of real estate at the site to the city for a nominal fee of $1 a year, to provide parking for the estimated 500,000 people the centre is projected to attract annually.

Once here, those people will eat in local restaurants, shop in local stores, visit local attractions and fill empty hotel rooms, meaning Niagara Falls may realize its long-time dream of transforming itself from a so-called 'day tripper' attraction in which people visit for a few hours and then just leave, supporters say.

"This is the last piece of the puzzle," said Niagara Falls Mayor Ted Salci, who is certain it will create year-round employment in a city in which many jobs right now are seasonal. "This will be the start of an exciting new chapter for our city."

Nicholson said the centre will complement such things as Niagara Falls' booming hotel industry, which has seen many high-rise hotels built in recent years, and the casinos.

"It completes the package that we wanted to present to the public," he said. "It puts us in that (big) league."

There has been talk of a world-class convention centre in Niagara Falls for 30 years. Matovic said the federal government will get good value for its investment in terms of creating economic growth in Niagara.

"We're confident their investment will bear fruit," he said.

To ensure the City of Niagara Falls is not left holding the bag for any possible deficits or cost overruns in the new centre, Salci said he is in the midst of cobbling together a blue ribbon task force that will ensure local taxpayers are protected.

Salci also praised Nicholson for championing the project at the federal government level, citing his "relentless" support for the centre. He also said local businesses, through their business improvement areas, deserve praise for contributing to the project.



2 new hotels have recently been approved by city council:

A 30 Storey Hampton Inn

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8811/scangb7.jpg

and a 30 storey addition to Marriott Courtyard

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/9629/tmp8838wv4.jpg


The new 4plex arena complex will start construction soon:

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/6743/north20elevationiw4.jpg

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1364/site20plan20and20parkinct1.jpg

[flar]

I put up some pictures (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=3058431#post3058431) of downtown St. Catharines if any of you are interested. Downtown looked pretty good (considering the things you hear about it) and it's rarely seen in City Photos.

[architect1]

Hey can anyone get the some pics of the hiltons construction I seen it when there working on the lobby and was wondering if anyone had some pics of it in the past 2 weeks.

[drafty]

Here are a couple of pics from Access Niagara (Sept.19)


http://www.accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/20070918_hilton_01.jpg
http://www.accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/20070918_hilton_02.jpg

[architect1]

Thank you so much. its been a while since I have been home to see. Wow t going up n up cant wait till it surpasses everyone. Thank you for the pics.

[agrigentum]

I went home for the thanksgiving weekend and noticed construction behind the former Hotel Dieu Hospital in St. Catharines. Does anyone know what is being built there?

[agrigentum]

I put up some pictures (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=3058431#post3058431) of downtown St. Catharines if any of you are interested. Downtown looked pretty good (considering the things you hear about it) and it's rarely seen in City Photos.


Nice work Flar! I added some of my own Dtown St. Cath photos to this post including some from Port Dalhousie.

[realcity]

Here are a couple of pics from Access Niagara (Sept.19)


http://www.accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/20070918_hilton_01.jpg
http://www.accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/20070918_hilton_02.jpg

I was there last week and it was up to about 5 floors, a set back already was evident on the 3rd to 4th floors. Why would there be a set back already on such a small footprint for the height?

Anyone heard about the hotel planned for between Oakes and Embassy? It's lot is around 50x100 feet and will be around 30 floors? It's the size of a suburban residential lot. Apparently it will be the highest density hotel with full occupation in NA.

[ikerrin]

Is there any word on VIA rail expanding access to Niagara Falls? With all the construction going on you would think that tourists would like to be able to take the train there rather than the bus.

I was In NF this summer and was amazed at how few transport connections existed given all the activity going on.

Is there any plan to upgrade the downtown near the train station?

[drafty]

Anyone heard about the hotel planned for between Oakes and Embassy
This is the Fallsview Plaza/Hampton Inn mentioned in a previous post. It is actually across Fallsview Blvd. from the Oakes.
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8811/scangb7.jpg

It was also recently announced that Canadian Niagara Hotels is going ahead with the 26 story Westin Hotel beside the Skylon.
http://www.accessniagara.com/blog/media/jolley_cut_hotel_ad_small.jpg

Hoco has announced that they will be building a permanent Titanic exibit on Clifton Hill housed in a half size replica, similar to the one in Branson, Mo.
http://www.comevisitbransonmo.com/photos/mobranson.jpg

Is there any word on VIA rail expanding access to Niagara Falls
There were some extra runs during the summer, including the Casino Train (which just won a promotion award) and the bicycle tour train. No word on increasing normal runs.

Is there any plan to upgrade the downtown near the train station?
Downtown redevelopment has been talked about to death over the past 20 years. During the past year a New York developer was going to spend $300 million and actually purchased several properties, but it never materialized and most likely nothing will ever happen.

[O-Town Hockey]

Here's a pano that I took this weekend. I spent the last month working in Niagara Falls and I had a really great time. The city is a little rough around the edges but, for the most part, the people were great!

http://www.jamieloubier.8m.com/PictureStorage/NiagaraPano.jpg

[architect1]

tHATS A NICE pano from that angle you totaly hide the hilton.

[realcity]

the skyline's looking good.

[O-Town Hockey]

tHATS A NICE pano from that angle you totaly hide the hilton.

The top of the Hilton comes out from behind the trees.....with the black windows on its top floor.

[FALLSVIEW]

Skylon has new plans for lights. Just wait. it'll be world-class.

Once again no Christmas lights up from this company, It's so sad when a company owns a prime piece of property and never does anything to enhance it. What a disappointment, I liked the lights coming off the tower it brought everything together!

[drafty]

No I don't know the timeline. I can't say, other than it will be spectacular. Think fire, lasers, and LED

Don't forget this part, Fallsview. I guess the secret is that we're supposed to 'think' that those things are on the Skylon.

[ForestryW]

Wow this thread has been inactive for 6 months now. Any updates? News?

[mucciared]

www.accessniagara.com/blog is the best place for updates in Niagara Falls.

-Hilton is now at about 26 floors.
-Table Rock will be opening Niagara's Fury this upcoming weekend and the rest of the construction should be complete in the next couple of weeks.
-Fallsview Plaza has begun digging for their 5 story expansion
-Construction on the old Pilgrim site on Clifton Hill is moving along slowly with no solid information on what is being built.
-Little places such as Cantina Charlies, Twisted T's, Build A Bear, Al Mac's, Sugar Mountain, have opened or undergone renovations

[Tony]

Wouldn't mind seeing some update photos of Hilton...<hint><hint>

Also, what's going on with the Boulevard Collection Condominiums in St. Catharines along Towering Heights Blvd? Is it dead?

AND, is there a condo tower as part of the flaky new-urbanist development that's going in near Grenadier Place off Martindale Road in St. Catharines as well?

[drafty]

Here are a few Hilton pics from Accessniagara. It's around the 30 story mark at the moment.

http://accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/20080604_hilton_01.jpg

http://accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/20080604_hilton_02.jpg

http://accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/20080604_hilton_03.jpg

The Fallsview Plaza Hotel next door has also started their expansion. They are adding 120 rooms, restaurants, pool etc. but it will all be in 4-5 story additions around the base.

[itsbryan]

Here's a picture I took of William Birch Rankine Generation Station.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/BGaines/obesssion_by_Bryantology.jpg



I'm fascinated by the history of hydro-electric power in Niagara Falls. People don't realize that beneath the tourtraps, clubs, and casinos.. lies 100 year old abandoned relics that represent amazing feats of human engineering at the beginning of the 20th century. Beneath Niagara Parkway lies a massive 2m tall tunnel running from an intake upriver, and then down the escarpment into the Ontario Power Company Generating station at the base of the Falls. The giant lighting system that illuminates the Falls was actually the surge tank for the penstocks.

Unfortunately, Niagara Parks Commission doesn't share the same respect I have. All entrances have been completely sealed up, left to be destroyed by the unharnessed power of the Falls.. remaining only through the few photographs of those who seized the opportunity and were able to visit amazing feats of early engineering.

I'm desperate to get a tour of Rankine. But contact with FortisOntario has proved unsuccessful. The last tour they offered was in April 2008, for a union of engineers. I guess there's no love for an amatuer photographer/hydro eletric ethusiast.

[Tony]

cool, thanks Drafty!

[ForestryW]

Hey Bryan, if you're an SSC member you should enter that photo in the urban photo contest, it's definitely worthy.

[Bauer_buyer]

Wow
I went to Niagara falls in 2005 and it was wonderful i expect that in the future Niagara will be the best city in Canada

The City of St Catharines has been designated a high growth area...urban growth.
It is the cultural, social, and administrative centre for Niagara.The province has recognized it as such and perhaps in the near future more development money will be heading its way.
I'm amazed as to how much attention is paid to Niagara Falls.After all the city is for tourists and personally I can't get excited about hotels and what not going up 20 or thirty stories.
Why is there no one from the Garden city making a forceful pitch for St Catharines in this forum. There is a lot happening there that is not being reported

[Tony]

^ like what? The condo at the OMB?

Nobody has any info on Boulevard Place, so outside of these two, I don't know what else is actually on the drawing board for St. Catharines.

[Calalb]

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q148/cgyboomer/Niagara_Falls_Panaromic_View.jpg
photo from wikipedia

I noticed this structure south of Horseshoe Falls. Can any one explain what it is?

After some checking, I see its a ride in Marineland.

[drafty]

It's Skyscreamer:

http://www.marinelandcanada.com/attractions/newattractions/images/sky_screamer.jpg

[Bauer_buyer]

Maybe I misunderstand the Niagara Falls retail market, but does this not leave the city without a traditional, full-line department store? For years that Bay space was a branch of my hometown's own Robinson's chain...The Bay picked it up I'm thinking in the early 90s when they bought up most of the Robinson's locations. So now, if you want a Bay/Sears type experience you'll need to go to St Catherines?

Back to Rossberg's--approximately when did it close? By the exterior it seems to have been alive into the 70s--I'm guessing probably into the 80s as it doesn't look that badly decayed.

People go to St.Catharines because it's the retail/commercial/cultural centre of Niagara..
Why is there not a St Catharines thread?
I'm not as interestd in "touristy" news as I am about development in St Catharines.
Go St kitts!!!!!

[Bauer_buyer]

^ like what? The condo at the OMB?

Nobody has any info on Boulevard Place, so outside of these two, I don't know what else is actually on the drawing board for St. Catharines.
Boulevard Place.?...there are alot more residential developments taking place in the Garden City then there are in Niagara Falls
Brock has a variety of faculty buildings proposed or about to be built.
The NHS building of a new hospital
The growth in the Louth area, along the QE
The pen centre stores and the close link the City of Thorold has with St Catharines....amalgamation?
All the new retail outlets that make St. Catharines the retail hub are simply ignored
Hardly any talk discussion on the arts centre, the proposed new Ice Dogs arena which threaders were all giddy about because the Falls was to get an OHA franchise...Wakeup! who would go to the Falls for a hockey game?
The Government has deemed St Catharines an urban growth area...GET IT!?
Highway REconstruction along QE
And yes the merits of keeping the Police building in St Catharines rather than the boonies out by the falls...
ENOUGH I'VE SAID MY PEACE!
P.S.I can appreciate the Falls people getting excited but really the rest of us are ho hum because its all for the tourists, not for you not for me

[Zeke1]

Boulevard Place.?...there are alot more residential developments taking place in the Garden City then there are in Niagara Falls
Brock has a variety of faculty buildings proposed or about to be built.
The NHS building of a new hospital
The growth in the Louth area, along the QE
The pen centre stores and the close link the City of Thorold has with St Catharines....amalgamation?
All the new retail outlets that make St. Catharines the retail hub are simply ignored
Hardly any talk discussion on the arts centre, the proposed new Ice Dogs arena which threaders were all giddy about because the Falls was to get an OHA franchise...Wakeup! who would go to the Falls for a hockey game?
The Government has deemed St Catharines an urban growth area...GET IT!?
Highway REconstruction along QE
And yes the merits of keeping the Police building in St Catharines rather than the boonies out by the falls...
ENOUGH I'VE SAID MY PEACE!
P.S.I can appreciate the Falls people getting excited but really the rest of us are ho hum because its all for the tourists, not for you not for me

I love St Catharines and enjoy many of it's amenities including retail and the arts and culture when they are completed. I consider myself a citizen of the Niagara Region (since about 80% of my taxes go to the Region) and enjoy and taking advantage of what the entire Region has to offer.

However, rather than just throwing out broad statements I would like to offer some following facts:

Niagara Falls has been designated as the Tourist and entertainment hub of the Niagara Region by the Ontario Government.

Without resorting to a shopping list, within the City Limits, Niagara Falls has far more attractions than any other City in the Region.

Niagara Falls has a much higher growth rate than St Catharines, population or otherwise.

For example;

Household construction in Niagara Falls during the period of the last Census
(2006) was 8.7% of the population of 82,184. St Catharines was 7.6% of its population of 131,982. Higher in numbers for St Catharines but not as a growth trend.

However, for St Catharines to grow will need to amalgamate with Thorold but
before that occurs, there is currently some talk of the entire Region amalgamating into one City. (Which is probably overdue).

During the period from 1996 to 2006 St Catharines population increase was 1,053 people. (130,929 to 131.982). As a comparison, Niagara Falls population increased by from 76,917 to 82,184 during that same period.

QEW expansion was not justified on the basis of growth within the City of St Catharines but the number of cars that needed to be moved past St Catharines. It's something that the citizens of St Catharines should not take credit for any more than they should for the Brock University expansion or Niagara Falls should take for the new $1.2 Billion tunnel project or the new $38 million Table Rock renovation. (It belongs to all of us)

Finally, new economic development and approved new construction in Niagara Falls totals almost $9.0 Billion as compared to St Catharines at $841 Million. (Number taken from The City of St Cathaines annual report and the Niagara Falls City site). This does not count the retail expansion slated for the Souh end of Niagara Falls
which will triple in the next two years.

[Tony]

Boulevard Place.?...there are alot more residential developments taking place in the Garden City then there are in Niagara Falls

Let's not forget this is SKYSCRAPERpage.com. The majority of the nerds here are really interested in skyscrapers. That's why it's natural to gravitate towards the Port Place and Boulevard Place condominiums when discussing St. Catharines.

Actually, come to think about it, what's being built along Fourth Ave across from Welland Vale? Is that another condominium building or what? I haven't been recently so an update would be greatly appreciated.

These are the main things I think most of us would be interested in, not a new big box store like Michael's.

the close link the City of Thorold has with St Catharines....amalgamation?

has any politician even suggested that in recent history?

The Government has deemed St Catharines an urban growth area...GET IT!?

Sure... but where are the developers? Just because the Ontario government deems it so, doesn't mean the developers will come. I'll believe it when there's actually something on the table for the lower-level parking lot.

BTW, don't get me wrong, I like your enthusiasm, but I'm just getting sick of nothing "big" being done in St. Catharines.

[WhipperSnapper]

Hard to find a city anywhere in this country without any ongoing development so a bunch of institutional/civic development and tract housing hardly interests me. Where the news on the ugly ass Boulevard tower breaking ground and/or the launch of its first of two ugly ass sisters.

[realcity]

Niagara Hilton Annex is rising
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/theshawsphotos/cities/fallsview-06.jpg?t=1220917034

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/theshawsphotos/cities/Hilton-here-we-go.jpg?t=1220917177

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/theshawsphotos/cities/Niagara-Hilton-new-tower.jpg?t=1220917211

[drafty]

Latest pics from Accessniagara:

http://accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/20080903_hilton_01.jpg
http://accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/20080903_hilton_02.jpg
http://accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/20080903_hilton_03.jpg

Still 6-7 storys to go.

[realcity]

friggin awesome tower. i think there's more then 6-7 floors to go?

[drafty]

It is presently at 47 stories, and is going to finish at 53-54. The number of stories was always in question since many of the lower floors are double height. The finished height is, I believe, going to be around 550ft, making it slightly taller than the Skylon and, therefore, the highest building in the city.

[realcity]

wicked

[architect1]

I really dont like it much I really like the old hilton it is not a huge rectangle like this one is. and the bay of windows at the top is amazing. I will wait till the end till I make my mind up. Its good its finally going up fast.

I hope they have fixed the service elevator problem, and have more then enough elevators for the guests. I know that at about, 12-4 the service elevators are a pain to get on since theirs only 2 and the cleaners are leaving.
so being kitchen staph and bring food and plats needed for the top its a pain.

[Bauer_buyer]

I love St Catharines and enjoy many of it's amenities including retail and the arts and culture when they are completed. I consider myself a citizen of the Niagara Region (since about 80% of my taxes go to the Region) and enjoy and taking advantage of what the entire Region has to offer.

However, rather than just throwing out broad statements I would like to offer some following facts:

Niagara Falls has been designated as the Tourist and entertainment hub of the Niagara Region by the Ontario Government.

Without resorting to a shopping list, within the City Limits, Niagara Falls has far more attractions than any other City in the Region.

Niagara Falls has a much higher growth rate than St Catharines, population or otherwise.

For example;

Household construction in Niagara Falls during the period of the last Census
(2006) was 8.7% of the population of 82,184. St Catharines was 7.6% of its population of 131,982. Higher in numbers for St Catharines but not as a growth trend.

However, for St Catharines to grow will need to amalgamate with Thorold but
before that occurs, there is currently some talk of the entire Region amalgamating into one City. (Which is probably overdue).

During the period from 1996 to 2006 St Catharines population increase was 1,053 people. (130,929 to 131.982). As a comparison, Niagara Falls population increased by from 76,917 to 82,184 during that same period.

QEW expansion was not justified on the basis of growth within the City of St Catharines but the number of cars that needed to be moved past St Catharines. It's something that the citizens of St Catharines should not take credit for any more than they should for the Brock University expansion or Niagara Falls should take for the new $1.2 Billion tunnel project or the new $38 million Table Rock renovation. (It belongs to all of us)

Finally, new economic development and approved new construction in Niagara Falls totals almost $9.0 Billion as compared to St Catharines at $841 Million. (Number taken from The City of St Cathaines annual report and the Niagara Falls City site). This does not count the retail expansion slated for the Souh end of Niagara Falls
which will triple in the next two years.

I wouldn't call the growth difference significant and besides, any urban planner will tell you and you can see for yourself that St Catharines is "spilling" over into Thorold, Niagara on the Lake and Vineland Grimbsy areas.
These areas use the services of the bigger city but the city cannot reap he taxes they provide and regional government sucks the monies as well.
Now with the recession in the states the "falls" is a ghost town.I have friends who go to the casino from Toronto, even given a free room...that's how desperate the hotels are. It's cyclical, simple as that...
The bottom line is that the " heart" of Niagara is St Catharines...

[FALLSVIEW]

Now with the recession in the states the "falls" is a ghost town.I have friends who go to the casino from Toronto, even given a free room...that's how desperate the hotels are. It's cyclical, simple as that...
The bottom line is that the " heart" of Niagara is St Catharines...

B_B I live in the falls and I can assure you that it is most definitely "NOT" a ghost town as you say, the amount of money changing hands may have faltered, but it is not quiet at all.

If you have things to offer on developments in St. Catharines, I would love to read about it. I follow what I can, especially when it comes to a new arena for the Ice Dogs, so if you here anything post it.

[drafty]

And how exactly does one city 'spill over' into another city? I think that would be called growth in Thorold, NOTL and Vineland.

Bauer_buyer, skyscraperpage.com does not have a group of people who travel around checking out what's happening in each city. It's simply individuals reporting about development in their own towns. If no one in St.Catharines (including you, it would seem) has any development news to offer, don't blame others on the site for ignoring St.Catharines, and don't badmouth other cities that do receive attention.
St.Catharines is a great city, so tell us about it in a constructive, informative, non-aggressive way.

[Millstone]

I'm desperate to get a tour of Rankine. But contact with FortisOntario has proved unsuccessful. The last tour they offered was in April 2008, for a union of engineers. I guess there's no love for an amatuer photographer/hydro eletric ethusiast.I will ask my dad. He's worked for CNP for the last 25 years and may know something. He used to take me down the elevator (the OLD, scary elevator) in Rankine down to the turbines when I was little.

We also used to come down the (now closed) Portage Rd access in a Chevette in the winter -- scary!

The last time I was in Rankine was 1998. I don't know what it looks like now.

[O-Town Hockey]

The Hilton project is certainly moving along (as uninspiring as ever)

http://www.niagarafalls.ca/business/new_developments/images/1531/Hilton_November 5_ 2008_003.JPG

Construction of a 5-storey podium addition to the Fallsview Plaza Hotel

http://www.niagarafalls.ca/business/new_developments/images/2081/Fallsview Plaza hotel_Page_1.JPG http://www.niagarafalls.ca/business/new_developments/images/2081/Fallsview Plaza_December 5_ 2008.JPG



(all photos from www.niagarafalls.ca (http://www.niagarafalls.ca))

[architect1]

I agree there she is vary ugly and not so attractive compared to the other 2 towers they own. it looks like a white chocolate coffee crisp. lol u think they would of added some curves or some more definition to it.

[O-Town Hockey]

I agree there she is vary ugly and not so attractive compared to the other 2 towers they own. it looks like a white chocolate coffee crisp. lol u think they would of added some curves or some more definition to it.

I think it would look so much better if they had included 2 setbacks (every 15 floors or so) and placed little terraces out on top of the setbacks. It would make for a much nicer tower and it would be sick to sit out on a terrace 40 floors above the falls.

[Lurker]

Here is an example of the re-developments happening in St. Catharines...

Brownfield infill could house 500 people
By DON FRASER
Posted 3 months ago


As an urban transformation, it is remarkable in scope.

What was once an industrial wasteland of closed factories and scrub near Queenston Street has become one of St. Catharines’ largest infilling projects.

On Wednesday, the partners of a $50-million residential brownfield development were eager to show off their pride and joy.

When all three phases of Heritage Point are completed by Ravenda Homes roughly two years from now, the new neighbourhood could house more than 500 people.

The developers say it wasn’t all smooth sailing when the Brickyard Developments Inc. project south of Woodburn Avenue began about four years ago.

“At first, we’d come here and look around and say, ‘Wow, what have we got ourselves into,’ ” said Rob Baiocco of Baiocco Developments Corp., which co-owns Brickyard with Andy Panko and Tony Difruscio of Associated Brownfields Inc.

“Then, you start to get a vision of it and walk the site. You can see in your head how it may develop,” Baiocco said as construction crews worked on foundations at the 14.8-acre site.

“It’s really exiting to see what you originally envisioned actually develop into all this.”

Panko nodded in agreement and strode along a new stretch of roadway. The project has come a long way, he said.

“We’re standing, right now, on where a brickmaking operation was,” Panko said.

“You can actually see some of the bricks they’re taking right out of the earth.”

Continued After Advertisement Below

Advertisement


A push by levels of government to encourage urban infilling cleared the way for the development, which is beside the Garden City Golf Course, where ETF Manufacturing, the former Burnstein Brick factory and other businesses once existed.

Ontario’s Brownfields Act of 2004 offers incentives for the development of abandoned urban areas under municipal community improvement plans.

The Queenston Street area, where the Brickyards project is located, is part of a St. Catharines community improvement plan.

The high cost of demolishing buildings and remediating the land will be partially recovered by tax reductions.

Those financial factors, and an excellent location, make the project especially viable, the partners said.

“This was a neighbourhood that was looking for change,” Baiocco said. “There were fires here, kids coming in at nighttime.... It was a challenge at the very beginning.”

Panko gives special praise to the City of St. Catharines and the consistent work by various municipal officials and politicians to make the infilling project happen.

“They say they’re open for business and I think they proved it to us,” Panko said.

Difruscio said the project approval process “was a learning curve for everybody, including the developers, the city and Niagara Region.

“Infilling is something really new, with new programs in place and (many) of these programs haven’t been tested.

“But I think everybody bought into it,” Difruscio said. “And I think that’s the way these things really have to run.

“It’s these types of projects that are going to create our (new) residential land.”


FACTBOX

WHAT: Heritage Point, a new $50-million Brickyard Developments brownfield residential project in former industrial/commercial lands.

Ravenda Homes of St. Catharines is the builder.

WHERE: In central St. Catharines, at Herrick and Woodburn avenues, south of Queenston Avenue.

HOW MANY? 500 people or more could end up living in the development.

PHASES: Phase 1, which should be built by fall 2009, will have 55 freehold townhouses and six freehold single homes, with prices starting at $199,000.

Phase 2 consists of two, four-storey condo apartments, with 140 units in total; construction to start early 2009.

Phase 3 will have 33 townhouse condos, with construction some time next year.






And how exactly does one city 'spill over' into another city? I think that would be called growth in Thorold, NOTL and Vineland.

Bauer_buyer, skyscraperpage.com does not have a group of people who travel around checking out what's happening in each city. It's simply individuals reporting about development in their own towns. If no one in St.Catharines (including you, it would seem) has any development news to offer, don't blame others on the site for ignoring St.Catharines, and don't badmouth other cities that do receive attention.
St.Catharines is a great city, so tell us about it in a constructive, informative, non-aggressive way.

[drafty]

Bondfield named designer for convention centre

By Lori Sherman, Staff
Niagara This Week

Niagara Falls
Dec 19, 2008

The city has officially named the designer for its multi-million dollar convention centre due to open in the spring of 2011.
Bondfield Construction, a Toronto-based builder whose portfolio includes Niagara College's Niagara-on-the-Lake campus, the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge Plaza redevelopment and the Hilton Fallsview Hotel, will take on the design of the Niagara Convention and Civic Centre planned for Stanley Avenue, near Dunn Street.

Staff from the NCCC were on hand as the announcement was made during Monday evening's city council meeting.

"We are so excited. This is a huge step in moving forward," said president of the NCCC, Kerry Painter. "It's a beautiful building that works with the surrounding landscape. It's functional and it has a shelf space for expansion."

City staff shared in the excitement, breaking out in applause after the announcement was made.

"This is certainly going to change Niagara forever," said Mayor Ted Salci who expressed thanks to both city staff and the board of directors of the NCCC who helped in the selection process. "We've all worked long and hard together ... to make this a reality."

Bondfield will lead a team of architects, including CS&P and Stanford Downey, through the $100-million project.

Their 280,778-square-foot design includes fully glazed north and west facades and a folded curtain wall of glass cascades from the roof meant to mirror the sweep of the waterfalls and jagged rock seen along the Niagara gorge.

"I think this is going to be a catalyst for a lot of good things to come in Niagara Falls," said Coun. Jim Diodati after the announcement. "I think this is something that's been a long time coming...and I couldn't think of a better way to stimulate the city."

Bondfield was selected through an extensive evaluation process, which began in June of 2008.

The bid, which initially consisted of nine companies all vying for the job, was reduced to four bidders after detailed marketing, renderings and price plans were submitted.

Construction is scheduled to begin in May 2009.



http://accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/nccc.jpg
http://accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/nccc2.jpg

[architect1]

hey can some one get some pictures of the expansion of the highway in st cats. i haven't seen it for a while and was wondering if some one can do that.

[Tony]

There's really nothing much to it... it is a highway widening afterall.

Anyway, for something more interesting, here is the Hilton Expansion from Dec 30th:

http://www.skyscraperpage.com/~trilliumphotography/NF-Dec08/001.jpghttp://www.skyscraperpage.com/~trilliumphotography/NF-Dec08/002.jpghttp://www.skyscraperpage.com/~trilliumphotography/NF-Dec08/003.jpghttp://www.skyscraperpage.com/~trilliumphotography/NF-Dec08/004.jpghttp://www.skyscraperpage.com/~trilliumphotography/NF-Dec08/005.jpg

[sparky212]

:previous: isn't it toped out by now??:shrug:

[architect1]

i was there new years and I still find it to be ugly and to boxy. Does anyone know if it was the father or the son the chose the design? I remember serving the dinner for the investors back in 2004 and I heard the Hilton parking lot that's near the church was going to be an underground parking garage. does anyone know if that's going to be true? Also whats going on in the back of the Hilton and Renaissance? they building more banquet halls and a amphitheater?

[mucciared]

The Hilton project is certainly moving along (as uninspiring as ever)

http://www.niagarafalls.ca/business/new_developments/images/1531/Hilton_November 5_ 2008_003.JPG

Construction of a 5-storey podium addition to the Fallsview Plaza Hotel

http://www.niagarafalls.ca/business/new_developments/images/2081/Fallsview Plaza hotel_Page_1.JPG http://www.niagarafalls.ca/business/new_developments/images/2081/Fallsview Plaza_December 5_ 2008.JPG



(all photos from www.niagarafalls.ca (http://www.niagarafalls.ca))

Hey O-Town I'm on the New Developments section of the niagara falls website but can't seem to find where you found the image for the Fallsview Plaza hotel. Where exactly can I find it and others?

[FALLSVIEW]

Hey O-Town I'm on the New Developments section of the niagara falls website but can't seem to find where you found the image for the Fallsview Plaza hotel. Where exactly can I find it and others?

Hey Mucciared,
You can find it in the new Developments page under "Additions" it has a couple of images in their.
CLICK HERE > http://www.niagarafalls.ca/business/new_developments/detailedInfo.asp?id=2081#

[FALLSVIEW]

i was there new years and I still find it to be ugly and to boxy. Does anyone know if it was the father or the son the chose the design? I remember serving the dinner for the investors back in 2004 and I heard the Hilton parking lot that's near the church was going to be an underground parking garage. does anyone know if that's going to be true? Also whats going on in the back of the Hilton and Renaissance? they building more banquet halls and a amphitheater?

Architect1 this was in the Niagara Falls Review in November regarding the Hilton and what will be incorporated:

Skyline giant
New 60-storey hotel towers above city
Posted By RAY SPITERI , REVIEW STAFF WRITER
Updated 1 month ago


It dwarfs everything in the city.
And proponents claim it's the tallest of its kind in Canada.
Standing at nearly 60 storeys (about 550 feet), the latest addition to the Hilton Hotel even looks down on the Skylon Tower.
The first of a two-phase redevelopment of the Fallsview Boulevard complex began in January 2007 and is slated for completion in April 2009.
It includes about 500 new guest rooms on 43 storeys, says senior project manager Chris Hawkswell. The tower is attached to the existing 36-storey Hilton structure opposite the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort. A 15- storey hotel in the centre connects the two towers. "From my understanding, it's going to be the tallest hotel in Canada and it's obviously, right now, the tallest building in Niagara Falls," says Hawkswell. "I think the tower is going to be an icon ... because of its long, tall, slender appearance. The podium level of the hotel is going to be Tuscan themed and I think it will be a real monument or landmark in Niagara Falls." Also part of the initial phase is the construction of an underground parking facility to the west of the tower, says Hawkswell, president of Niacon Construction, which was awarded the project. A "topping off" ceremony will be held today at the Hilton, where the last bit of concrete will be poured, he says. "It's a significant timeline in the schedule because the structural portion of the job is over and basically it's interior finishing ... left to do." The second portion of the redevelopment, which has yet to begin, will include a 10-storey addition to the parking garage that adjoins the hotel, as well an extensive amenity package, says Hawkswell. "Phase two ... is the further addition of a major pool facility, major conference centre and a piazza combination theatre and retail complex. The total property (the Hilton's three buildings) will end up being approximately 1,000 rooms when it's finished." Hilton Hotel owner Vincent DiCosimo Sr., says he hopes to get started on the second phase of the project next fall. "We're calling it a 60-storey building, not 60 storeys of rooms," says DiCosimo. The entire redevelopment project will cost $200 million, he says. "This is a dream come true for me. I planned this five years ago. To see it coming along so well is a big deal for me." DiCosimo says his architect in Toronto told him that while the new tower is not the biggest office building in the country, it is the tallest hotel building. "It's something I'm proud of, proud for Niagara Falls." Calls to the Hotel Association of Canada in an effort to confirm the tallest hotel structures in the country were not returned. Hawkswell says his team has suffered a few setbacks while working on the massive project. Two labour strikes and bad weather pushed the schedule back a month or two, but not enough to cause concern, he says. "Fortunately, due to some really good trades on the job, we've been able to make up most of the schedule delays." Chris Hawkswell, senior project manager for the new Hilton Hotel tower currently under construction, looks over Niagara Falls from the 47th floor. Mike DiBattista, The Review He says working with a crane on a project of such mammoth scale posed one of the toughest challenges for his team. "We've looked at bringing in a helicopter, we've looked at a very large mobile crane and we've settled with a derrick solution where we build a smaller crane on the roof and take that one down and then we build an even smaller crane and take the medium size crane down. It's a fairly long process, but it's the most cost effective." Standing atop the new Hilton addition and looking down on the rest of the city is "absolutely breathtaking," says Hawkswell. "The view of the falls, both the U. S. and Canadian and the Upper Rapids, is very impressive. With that much height, you basically have a phenomenal peripheral view. You've got the Buffalo skyline, the Toronto skyline and certainly you can see all the sort of key locations in Niagara. "It's something to be proud of. I think it's a tribute to the hospitality industry in Niagara Falls and I think it ... contributes to all the interesting things to come to Niagara Falls."

Here is an article from Buffalo Biz First in regards to the former Renaissance Hotel...

The robust hospitality market in Niagara Falls, Ont., is welcoming a pair of new residents. The Fallsview Group, owner of two major hotels in the city’s Fallsview business district, is adding a wing and switching the franchise affiliation of one of its properties. It also will build a neighboring, 30-story hotel. Together, the projects represent a private-sector investment that could top $110 million (Canadian) while creating hundreds of hospitality-related jobs. The projects are expected to be completed by 2011.
First up, Fallsview Group will change the brand name of the Renaissance Fallsview hotel to the Four Points by Sheraton. As part of the switch, the company will construct a 10-story tower to add 150 rooms to the hotel. The Renaissance is the ninth-largest hotel in Niagara Falls with 18 stories and 266 rooms. The change will take place in June. “We didn’t feel the Renaissance was the proper flag,” said Michael Rotundo, Fallsview Group chief financial officer. “Switching to a midscale property will open the door for more demand.” Work on the second tower will begin in early 2009, and the extra rooms and adjoining amenities should be ready by mid-2010. The complex will feature four restaurants, including an East Side Mario’s that opened in July. Still to come: a 40,000-square-foot Dave & Buster’s, an IHOP location and a Keg steakhouse. Dave & Buster’s and IHOP are expected to open in 2009; Keg will welcome its first diners the following year. The complex also will include retail space; 15,000 square feet dedicated to simulated rides and attractions; and an elevated crosswalk above Fallsview Avenue that connects to Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort. The entire project will cost an estimated $30 million (Canadian). Fallsview Group’s second project, meanwhile, calls for construction of a 30-story, 380-room Hampton Inn just south of the Four Points by Sheraton hotel on a vacant parcel already in the group’s portfolio. Rotundo said construction on the Hampton Inn is expected to start sometime next year, with the hotel expected to open by fall 2011.
“This is another midscale property,” he said. The Hampton Inn will feature an indoor swimming pool, workout rooms, meeting rooms and a business center. The upper floors will offer a bird’s-eye view of Niagara Falls. The cost of the hotel is expected to approach $80 million. “These are local developers doing this project,” said Niagara Falls Mayor Ted Salci Jr. “This is a project based in realism and not some pie-in-the-sky dream.” Niagara Falls has 16,000 hotel rooms – the ­third most in Canada behind Toronto and Vancouver. Hotel occupancy for the year is approaching 68 percent, according to Smith Travel Research of Nashville. Kerry Painter is president and general manager of the soon-to-be-built Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Centre. She said having more hotel options will make her job a lot easier when the city’s new convention center opens in 2011. “There’s a real advantage with having so many offerings,” Painter said. “Both of these projects gives more middle-ground product and those are the types of hotels that serve all segments in the marketplace.”

[mucciared]

Thanks Fallsview!

The Renaissance/Four Points addition seems to be moving along at Marineland expansion pace :P

[Millstone]

hey can some one get some pictures of the expansion of the highway in st cats. i haven't seen it for a while and was wondering if some one can do that.

I might be able to get some pictures. You can keep tabs on the construction at http://qewstcatharines.com/

There's really nothing much to it... it is a highway widening afterall.


There's where you're wrong. It's a very unique project.

[Tony]

I might be able to get some pictures. You can keep tabs on the construction at http://qewstcatharines.com/



There's where you're wrong. It's a very unique project.

How so? Just cuz some of the overpasses and the bridge into St. Catharines needs to be rebuilt?

[dougtheengineer]

How so? Just cuz some of the overpasses and the bridge into St. Catharines needs to be rebuilt?

From an engineering point of view, its quite interesting. Its the largest single capital project in the history of the MTO ($150 million-ish). There are 4 overpass replacements, which are/were constructed while the highway beneath is still in operation. There is a massive new drainage system (all that new asphalt!), and there was a lot of land appropriation / creative engineering to fit the new lanes in. This is all phased over 5-7 years I believe.

From a photographic point of view, there isn't much to look at.

[Millstone]

How so? Just cuz some of the overpasses and the bridge into St. Catharines needs to be rebuilt?

No, because it's a huge engineering feat due to the physical constraints of the area, and because of the detail going into the construction because of the historic value of the QEW through that area.

[drafty]

New hotel gets city approval
Posted By COREY LAROCQUE , REVIEW STAFF WRITER
Posted 1 day ago


When a homegrown company wants to build an $80-million hotel in the middle of a recession, it doesn't take city councillors long to give the green light.

Canadian Niagara Hotels got the city's approval for a 30-storey, 364- room "all-suites" hotel at the foot of the Rainbow Bridge during Monday's council meeting.

The hotel will provide a different type of accommodation from what any other hotel in Niagara Falls provides, said Michael DiCienzo, a vice-president in the family business.

The suite rooms will be more like a small apartment than a typical hotel room, giving families amenities like a kitchen and living room that will allow them to have a longer stay in Niagara Falls than if they were staying in a conventional hotel room, DiCienzo told city council members during a planning meeting Monday where they approved his zoning application.

"Family-based, family-oriented. It's a very strong complement to our site now because of the waterpark (next door)," said DiCienzo, whose company owns the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, Rainforest Cafe and two other hotels on Falls Avenue.

The new hotel will be built on a piece of land the company owns between the Crowne Plaza hotel and Planet Hollywood restaurant.

As clusters of high-rise hotels build up along the Niagara River, Niagara Falls will start to take on the look of some of the world's great cities where the skyline is made up of buildings craning to get a view of the waterfront, said Toronto-based architect Michael Kirkland. He also designed the Rainbow Tower Hotel for the DiCienzos, a 59-storey structure that's to be built between the existing Sheraton on the Falls and Crowne Plaza hotels -overtop of the Falls Avenue entrance to Casino Niagara.

"Hotels should be close to each other... They make for a great facade to the skyline," Kirkland said after the meeting.

The site for the new all-suites hotel deserved a special kind of structure because it's at the Canadian foot of the Rainbow Bridge, but is also in a prominent location where Highway 420 bends and turns into Falls Avenue, Kirkland added.

But for councillors, the selling point was the jobs it will create and the contribution to the tax base the new hotel will add.

The property tax bill on a new hotel could be more than a million dollars.

[realcity]

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b276/theshawsphotos/cities/Skywalkpic2.jpg?t=1236620003

[realcity]

Can anyone tell me anything about the Falls new convention center?

[drafty]

Realcity, if you mean info about it, I posted previously with this:

Bondfield named designer for convention centre

By Lori Sherman, Staff
Niagara This Week

Niagara Falls
Dec 19, 2008

The city has officially named the designer for its multi-million dollar convention centre due to open in the spring of 2011.
Bondfield Construction, a Toronto-based builder whose portfolio includes Niagara College's Niagara-on-the-Lake campus, the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge Plaza redevelopment and the Hilton Fallsview Hotel, will take on the design of the Niagara Convention and Civic Centre planned for Stanley Avenue, near Dunn Street.

Staff from the NCCC were on hand as the announcement was made during Monday evening's city council meeting.

"We are so excited. This is a huge step in moving forward," said president of the NCCC, Kerry Painter. "It's a beautiful building that works with the surrounding landscape. It's functional and it has a shelf space for expansion."

City staff shared in the excitement, breaking out in applause after the announcement was made.

"This is certainly going to change Niagara forever," said Mayor Ted Salci who expressed thanks to both city staff and the board of directors of the NCCC who helped in the selection process. "We've all worked long and hard together ... to make this a reality."

Bondfield will lead a team of architects, including CS&P and Stanford Downey, through the $100-million project.

Their 280,778-square-foot design includes fully glazed north and west facades and a folded curtain wall of glass cascades from the roof meant to mirror the sweep of the waterfalls and jagged rock seen along the Niagara gorge.

"I think this is going to be a catalyst for a lot of good things to come in Niagara Falls," said Coun. Jim Diodati after the announcement. "I think this is something that's been a long time coming...and I couldn't think of a better way to stimulate the city."

Bondfield was selected through an extensive evaluation process, which began in June of 2008.

The bid, which initially consisted of nine companies all vying for the job, was reduced to four bidders after detailed marketing, renderings and price plans were submitted.

Construction is scheduled to begin in May 2009.
http://accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/nccc.jpg

http://accessniagara.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/nccc2.jpg


If you mean status, Bondfield has just moved construction trailers onto the site, and they are presently doing road excavation in the area, presumedly to bring services to the site. Actual construction is set to begin in the next month or so.

[realcity]

thanks. that's awesome. two months till they break ground. nice bldg

[drafty]

From the Niagara Falls Review, Tues. Mar.23, 2009:


Toronto developer gets green light for new outlet mall
Council approves rezoning to permit new commercial development in Glenview
Posted By Corey Larocque


A new factory outlet mall that would generate 600 jobs could rejuvenate the Glenview area, following city council approval of a Toronto company's plan to develop cast-off railway property near Buttrey Street.

"The tenants would be very similar to the ones at the outlet mall on Lundy's Lane," said Rick Brady, an urban planner from Niagara Falls representing Cross-Link Bridge Corp.

The Toronto-based company got city council's green light Monday to convert industrial property in the Glenview area into an outlet shopping mall.

It would be a vast improvement to an area Coun. Wayne Thomson said now looks like "the lunar surface of the moon" because of its historical industrial and railroad use.

The company plans to build 200,000 square feet of retail space between Buttrey Street and the Canadian National railway land to the south. By comparison, the Nike store in the Canada One Factory Outlet Mall on Lundy's Lane is about 15,000 square feet, Brady said.

In its second phase, Cross-Link Bridge would add another 100,000 square feet to the shopping area, Brady said.

"If we build another outlet mall, it will complement the other one. We have an opportunity to become a bit of a shopping mecca," said Coun. Janice Wing, who said her own teenaged daughter shops at the Lundy's Lane outlet mall or forces the family to go to St. Catharines or Buffalo.

Cross-Link Bridge bought about 44 acres of land from CN Rail more than two years ago. They're still negotiating with city officials to buy some city-owned land in the area.

To build the outlet mall, the company needed a zoning change to give the area a tourist-commercial designation. A recent study by planning consultants recommended the area be designated light-industrial to reflect the other industrial uses in the area.

The Glenview area – sometimes called Silvertown because of its industrial history – has a mix of residential streets and heavy industry, such as a paving company.

The existing owners were worried the tourist commercial designation might affect them, either forcing homeowners out or preventing factories from expanding.

Some of the homes, like Donna Rose's Martin Street house, is technically a legal, non-conforming use, meaning it was built before the area was designated industrial. The neighbourhood is "very modest," Rose said, but it's her home.

"I treasure it. It's my home. It's my legacy. I don't really want it bulldozed," she said.

City planner Alex Herlovitch assured her she and other residents would be allowed to stay in their homes. As long as their property continues to be used as a dwelling, they would not be forced out.

There were concerns from Canadian Specialty Castings, a foundry, was concerned the arrival of a commercial shopping area would prevent their expansion plans.

Office manager Pauline Crump said Canadian Specialty Castings started in 2006 with eight employees and now has 50 full-time employees with an average wage of $19.75 an hour.

Herlovitch also assured her, the foundry on the north side of Buttrey Street would not be affected because the tourist-commercial designation was to apply to the south side of the street.

Coun. Carolynn Ioannoni wanted to make sure no one thought council was doing anything to jeopardize industrial jobs.

"I don't want your 50 families thinking they won't have jobs," Ioannoni said.

Brady said the company will do more design work over the summer and hopes to get approval of its site plan in the fall and proceed from there.

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2451/14923320.png


The proposal documents for this project show that it could eventually include: an 8000 seat arena, a 1500 amphitheater, a Heritage Museum, a Wine Showcase, a ski Slope and a Film Studio, 2,000,000 sq.ft. in total.

[MolsonExport]

Parts of Downtown Niagara Falls are among the most decayed urban areas in all of Canada. I had the experience of walking around downtown NF (Ontario) en route to the Via trainstation. Whole blocks of abandoned buildings, like that of the Empress Hotel.

[MolsonExport]

40,000-square-foot Dave & Buster’s:

Looks like this operation quickly folded. The sign is still up, but inside, everything is gutted.

[drafty]

Looks like this operation quickly folded. The sign is still up, but inside, everything is gutted.


That would be because Dave & Buster's hasn't opened yet. The sign just went up last week. It looks gutted because they haven't moved furniture in yet.

[MolsonExport]

^weird since they already have much promotion in those coupon books. I figured that it went bust(er's).

[drafty]

It very well may be a bust, but just not yet. The really annoying thing is their website has testimonials about how great it is. Really gives confidence in advertising.

[drafty]

From the Niagara Falls Review, June 8, 2009:


Loretto building 'jewel' of new project
Former 148-year-old school building would be preserved, flanked by skyscrapers
Posted By Corey Larocque

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/Images/Content/48/2009/6/w672009717093z5lc245o5haj53dokv4s2451.jpg

http://photos.niagarafallsreview.ca/PHOTOS/NFRV/772143/24022775T.jpg
One of the most historic sites in Niagara Falls could become one of the biggest hotel developments the city has ever seen.

Owners of the old Loretto Christian Life Centre want city council's approval to put three high-rise towers on the 7.6-acre property now occupied by the 148-year-old school and its parklike grounds. The next-door neighbours, an order of Roman Catholic priests, however, say they're concerned about the "immensity" of the project and what it would do to their "oasis."

Romzap, a company co-owned by Tony Zappitelli, wants to build a 57-storey hotel and two other towers - one 42-storeys and a second at 32 storeys on
land the Loretto Sisters, a Roman Catholic order of nuns, used to own. The site has a commanding view of the falls to the east, and the Niagara Convention and Civic Centre is being constructed on the other side of Stanley Avenue.

The two smaller buildings would either be additional hotels or a combination of hotel and condominiums, depending on economic and market conditions, Zappitelli said.

His company plans to preserve the stately grey stone building, which was home to a convent, religious school and finally a spiritual centre over its nearly 150- year history. They would build the 57-storey hotel between the building and Stanley Avenue.

"What you see now, you'll see after," Zappitelli said. "It's a great building. I love this building. I know it can work."

In fact, Romzap plans to restore the fourth floor that was destroyed by fire in 1938, along with the original domed-roof structure.

"We always envisioned this building to be the jewel of the larger development in this respect and restore what was here."

They would also preserve 1.6 acres of greenspace in front of the Loretto building, meaning it would still have the same view of the Horseshoe Falls.

"This was not an easy feat to do because the original building occupies half an acre. We have to work around the existing building to make the others happen," Zappitelli said.

Zappitelli's company bought the property in 2006 after the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the formal name of the Loretto sisters' order, decided to sell it.

"We've dreamed about this for a long time," said Zappitelli, president of Romzap, which negotiated a deal years ago to take over the Loretto property if the nuns ever wanted to sell.

The application for an amendment to the city's official plan is on the agenda for Monday's council meeting. The city's planning department has recommended council approve the project as long as it retains and preserves the original Loretto building and it adheres to other standard rules for high-rise development.

None of the city's other departments, nor regional staff raised any objections to the plan.

But the priests at the Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre next door are worried about how such a big development would change the idyllic setting they've enjoyed for decades.

The Carmelites are not opposed to development because it creates jobs and tax revenue that benefit city residents, said Rev. Stan Makacinas, the executive director of the Mount Carmel centre.

"Our concern is with the immensity of this project and the impact it's going to have on Our Lady of Peace church and the graveyard and the changes on the monastery," said Rev. Stan Makacinas.

The Mount Carmel centre is "an oasis where people can be refreshed and renewed," Makacinas said.

"It imposes a huge building on our retreatants who come to Mount Carmel for peace and tranquility," Makacinas, who will attend today's meeting at city hall with a planner they've hired to outline their concerns.

The planning meeting at city hall is the forum for Zappitelli's company to publicly describe the plan and for the Carmelite priests to explain their concerns, said Mayor Ted Salci, who said city officials are "excited" about the project.

It's difficult to estimate the cost for all three buildings or the time-line, Zappitelli said. They will depend on the economic conditions and demand for hotel rooms and condominiums. But once all three buildings are completed, it would represent an investment of more than $250 million, Zappitelli said.

By comparison, the DiCosimo family spent about $200 million on the Hilton hotel on Fallsview Boulevard and the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort's price tag was about $1 billion.

Zappitelli said the project adheres to the Tourist Area Development Strategy, the city's guidelines for high-rise hotel development. They suggest tall buildings be built on a four storey podium, but have setbacks at various stages to create space between buildings and to avoid the appearance of a wall along the escarpment. The guidelines also emphasize unique roof structures to add variety to the city's skyline.

"At the end of the day, we wanted a project that fits the TADS guidelines to a 'T,'" Zappitelli said.

Salci agreed it appears Zappitelli's company has tried to follow the city's guidelines for high-rise hotel developments.

"It looks like he's meeting the requirements," Salci said.

The official plan amendment is needed to add the property to the land where high-rise hotels are allowed to be built. That area ends at Livingstone Street, just to the north. The 30-storey Sheraton Fallsview hotel is Loretto's neighbour.

By comparison, the new Hilton hotel on Fallsview Boulevard -the tallest building in Niagara Falls - is 53 storeys. The plan for the Loretto property would be like building a Hilton and two Embassy Suites hotels on a 7.6- acre (three-hectare) site.




From The Review June 9

Loretto site approved for high-rises
Developer vows to preserve historic school, while flanking it with three high-rise towers
Posted By Corey Larocque

The Loretto property, a treasured, historic site overlooking the falls is a suitable location for three high-rise hotels, city council says.

They granted hotelier Tony Zappitelli’s request to put three skyscrapers – a 57-storey hotel and 42- and 32-storey towers that could either be hotels or condominiums – on a 7.4-acre site on Stanley Avenue.

But he has to preserve and restore the Loretto Christian Life Centre, which served as a convent, religious school and spiritual centre in its 148-year history.

Councillors voted 6-2 in favour of an official plan amendment, despite some objections from Niagara Falls residents about the expansion of tall buildings in the Fallsview tourist area.

“I’m normally not opposed to a project like this – if it were to take place in Manhattan,” said Peter Meier, a Niagara Falls art dealer, who urged council to reject the official plan amendment.

But a city staff report recommended the change because it’s next door to an area already populated with hotel towers.

“This is the district where we want to see high-rise development,” said Bob Bolibruck, a member of the city’s planning department.

The Loretto property is south of the Fallsview area and had not been included when boundaries were drawn for the high-rise hotel area because the site was owned by the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an order of Roman Catholic nuns better known as the Loretto sisters.

But the Loretto nuns, an order whose members concentrate on teaching, sold the property in 2006 to Romzap, a company co-owned by Zappitelli.


An official plan amendment is the first step Zappitelli’s company needs before what lawyer Ed Lustig estimated would be an investment between $200 million and $300 million. The next step is a zoning change to allow tourist-commercial land uses, including a hotel.

“The jobs will be in the thousands. The taxes will be in the millions,” Lustig said, noting the region’s high unemployment rate during the recession.

It made city resident Norma Guindon wonder if money talks at city hall.

“As soon as anybody with money applies for a zoning change, it seems to fly through she said,” during the public portion of Monday’s planning meeting.


But it was Zappitelli’s reputation that gave councillors confidence he will preserve the Loretto building and 1.6-acres of greenspace in front of it, something his lawyer said will add $7 million to the cost of the development.

“Mr. Zappitelli is one of those good corporate citizens who does the right thing. One of our objectives is to save the (Loretto) building. The group is prepared to preserve restore and protect (it),” Coun. Jim Diodati said.

Coun. Kerrio said the planning department had recommended “very onerous conditions” on Romzap to preserve the historic building and a section of greenspace between it at the escarpment.

Fisher said she was worried the construction of the high-rises will damage Our Lady of Peace church.

Wing said Romzap’s promise to preserve the Loretto building could be “a lot of lip service.”

Giving the building an official historic designation is the best way to ensure its preservation, Wing said, but no one would second her motion to put a designation on the property.

Councillors Shirley Fisher and Janice Wing voted against it. Coun. Wayne Thomson did not vote after declaring a conflict of interest because he works for a nearby hotel company.


Last week, the strongest opposition to the proposal was coming from the Mount Carmel Spiritual Centre, Romzap’s neighbour to the south.

The Carmelite priests who run the tranquil monastery and religious retreat area were upset by “immensity” of the building, said Rev. Stan Makacinas, Mount Carmel’s director.

Romzap’s plans showed the four-storey podium for the southern 32-storey tower within feet of Our Lady of Peace church and an old graveyard.

Over the weekend, Makacinas and Zappitelli met and were able to resolve some of their concerns, especially after the development company agreed to move the tower five feet north of where it was first proposed.

“We were able to talk some more. We had a frank discussion and it was good,” Makacinas said after the meeting.

The Carmelite priests filed a formal letter of objection to Romzap’s proposal, something Makacinas said is a necessary to preserve the priests’ right to challenge the project at the Ontario Municipal Board if they’re unable to resolve their concerns with Romzap. They can withdraw it if the two sides resolve their differences in the next few weeks.

“I didn’t want this to become an ugly mess, but at the same time, I had to protect our property,” Makacinas said.

Zappitelli agreed his company has smoothed over its differences with the Carmelites and has a better understanding of its neighbour than it did last week.

“We’re happy and they’re happy. We have such a relationship that our bonding is greater now than it was before,” Zappitelli said as he left city hall.


How they voted – Moved by Coun. Jim Diodati, seconded by Vince Kerrio to permit high-rise towers on the Loretto property.

For: Councillors Jim Diodati, Carolynn Ioannoni, Vince Kerrio, Bart Maves, Victor Pietrangelo, Mayor Ted Salci.

Against: Councillors Shirley Fisher, Janice Wing.

Not voting due to conflict of interest: Coun. Wayne Thomson.

[MolsonExport]

As nice as the falls are, I am amazed by the sheer quantity of hotel rooms present and future.

[Northern Light]

Quick question to those in the Niagara area; are we any closer to seeing a Regional Transit Service?

Seems to me that with lots of people now taking the new GO Train in to the Falls that its no good to get them here and then they can't get around.

I don't count hourly service or disconnected service as a real option.

Seems to me there should be a 30min or better service (s) connecting the major tourist points and trip generators in the region.

The falls, Marine Land, Queenston, Niagara on-the-Lake, downtown St. Kitts, etc.

I understand the St. Kitts Mayor backs this idea; but haven't heard about anything coming of it yet.

[Bauer_buyer]

How so? Just cuz some of the overpasses and the bridge into St. Catharines needs to be rebuilt?


HOTELS DO NOT A CITY MAKE...THERE IS NO SOUL IN NIAGARA FALLS...NO IDENTITY...THERE WAS A TIME WHEN AS UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WE WOULD GO TO NIAGARA 'GO OVER THE RIVER' AND SHARE SOME BREWS...NOW WE DON'T EVEN GO THERE...I PREFER THE PEN CENTRE OR EVEN DOWNTOWN ST KITTS....AND EVEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THE THEATER AND ARTS CENTRE BEING PLANNED BY THE CITY AND BROCK....THIS CITY HAS CHARACTER...ST PAUL STREET WILL BE THE MAGNET IN A FEW YEARS...

[FALLSVIEW]

I live in the Falls and love it, but I work in St. Kitts. And I have to agree with B_B, St. Kitts definitely has more of an identity as far as being a city goes. And with the new performing Arts center and hopefully a new arena for the Ice Dogs, it will have even more of an identity and Character. I still love Niagara Falls though!!!

[Millstone]

Nothing on Rosberg's?

[Tony]

Should there be news on Rosenberg's? I'd love for there to be news on that building. :(


So.. is the Hilton expansion done yet?

[drafty]

The former Rosbergs Department store at the corner of Queen St. and Erie Ave. was completely destroyed by fire last week. It had been empty for 20 years, but was going to be part of the downtown redevelopment that is taking place. It was Niagara Falls' largest store for many years before the malls destroyed the downtown. :(


http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/Images/Content/48/2009/10/w106200974444psmcy2risr4rh245bhapyhrg1.jpg

More articles here: http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/Default.aspx



The first part of the Hilton expansion (the 54 story tower, new restaurants, etc.) has been open since the spring. The second phase (parking, theater, banquet rooms, etc.) is set for next year.

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:5ngO_nZlmk0FrM:http://www.globalgiants.com/archives/fotos20/HiltNiagaraHotel-01.jpg


And the Convention Center is coming along nicely.
http://fallsconventions.com/images/screen_capture.jpg?rand=247

[Tony]

^ really sad about Rosenbergs. Fortunately, it wasn't a real architectural gem unlike the old police station up the street.

So I finally got some photos of the completed Hilton expansion so I guess I should get to work on the diagram. :D

(I'll post photos here soonish too)

[drafty]

Rosbergs!!

[Tony]

^ lol, oops. sorry.

Here's the completed Hilton Expansion:

http://www.skyscraperpage.com/~trilliumphotography/hilton_expansion/001.jpg
http://www.skyscraperpage.com/~trilliumphotography/hilton_expansion/002.jpg
http://www.skyscraperpage.com/~trilliumphotography/hilton_expansion/003.jpg
http://www.skyscraperpage.com/~trilliumphotography/hilton_expansion/004.jpg

[drafty]

Niagara Falls Review Jan 22, 2010
Posted By COREY LAROCQUE , REVIEW STAFF WRITER

Ontario has locked down Casino Niagara's long-term future with a 15-year extension on the lease at its Falls Avenue location.

The government's commitment could unleash up to $1 billion in private investment in the area around Clifton Hill -money investors were afraid to spend when the casino's location was uncertain, said Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor.

Ontario Lottery and Gaming, the Crown corporation that owns the province's casinos, reached a deal with Canadian Niagara Hotels, the company that owns the building Casino Niagara has occupied since its 1996 opening.

"Today is really great news for the employees that work at Casino Niagara," said Craitor, during a Friday afternoon ceremony at the casino.

It ends uncertainty that has surrounded Casino Niagara's future for years. While the province was committed to keeping two casinos running, there was no guarantee Casino Niagara would remain on Falls Avenue.

The lease was set to expire at the end of March.

"From our end, the important issue is the certainty," said Dino A. DiCienzo, a vice-president in the family-run business.

"It allows people to plan for the future and invest with certainty. It protects the jobs that exist now, and allows us to grow those jobs."

DiCienzo said his company gave the province a substantial rent reduction to secure the long-term lease. But neither Craitor nor DiCienzo would disclose how much rent the government will pay to Canadian Niagara Hotels. OLG has treated that as proprietary information and never released it.

When Casino Niagara opened in 1996, it was supposed to be a temporary facility until the permanent Fallsview Casino was built. Its lease was extended for five years at a time since then.

But a 15-year lease gives tourism operators and their banks the confidence they need to proceed with new projects.

Moments after Craitor's announcement, Canadian Niagara Hotels released a statement about its plans to start work on a 30-storey 300-room hotel.

The new hotel will be built on land the company owns near its Planet Hollywood restaurant.

The $75-million Marriott Residence Inn would be the first all-suites hotel in the area around Clifton Hill.

Conservative tourism critic Bob Runciman again questioned why the Liberal government approved the deal with Canadian Niagara Hotels without seeking competitive bids from other potential landlords.

" It's hard to know how good a deal could be unless you go through the competitive process. That's what's missing here," Runciman said in a phone interview.

OLG should have invited bids from other property owners before making a deal with Canadian Niagara Hotels, he said.

"Our problem has been McGuinty promising, during the whole eHealth mess, he was going to end the practice of sole-source contracting," Runciman said.

Now that the deal has been made, it's one that couldn't be undone easily without costing the province considerable penalties, he said.

The Liberal response has been that the government has invested so much money in the current location and would have to spend more to move Casino Niagara, that it wasn't feasible to seek other bidders.

Mayor Ted Salci called it "the simplest and easiest decision the OLG could have made."

Salci and tourism operators like Harry Oakes and Frank LaPenna pushed the province for several years to secure Casino Niagara's future because it would protect jobs in the area and lead to other investments.

After the government brought casino gambling to Niagara Falls in 1996, private sector investors responded with $2.5 billion in spending on new hotels, restaurants and attractions, Salci said.

[WhipperSnapper]

hmmm ... 30 storeys


Anyone have info on The Boulevard Collection?

[Tony]

I'm gonna guess that it's dead.

[drafty]

Anyone have info on The Boulevard Collection?

What is that?

[Bauer_buyer]

How many times does the Hilton Hotel need to be posted...ok already it is an interesting 'phallic' inspired structure...but it's empty...and they are building more?
I was recently in Niagara Falls and was struck by the empty hotels along Lundy's Lane.
Las Vegas has apparently seen a dramatic downturn in the 'casino' business as has Niagara Falls...they are actually bulldozing new homes there simply because they cannot be sold...hope the same isn't true for Niagara Falls

[Bauer_buyer]

Apparently with Ontario's "places to grow plan"...the city of St Catharines is seeing some meaningful growth and support as the next few years will see a new multi million dollar hospital and cancer treatment center, new theater arts complex along with Brock university's Faculty of Arts, new multi story parking garage, the Port Place theater/condo complex, hundreds of millions in new residential construction and millions for commercial /retail developments...
St Paul Street should be quite an interesting destination point with the theater goers, restaurants and the like and you know what...it's not even a tourist trap...