[FALLSVIEW]

" THE CITY OF THUNDER "



http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/4707/river3xc4.jpg


:fingerscrossed: HIGHRISE IMAGE PROPOSALS :fingerscrossed:


:rainbow: Rainbow Plaza Hotel 229 m 59 floors:
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/8308/2978595040086450214eaeiklphfr4.jpg
http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/3941/457152jy2.jpg
Proposed Hilton expansion 52 floors:
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/4086/hiltoniiky7.jpg
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/5277/hiltonexpansionmt5.jpg
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/4441/niagarahiltonuz4.jpghttp://img214.imageshack.us/img214/468/2812502550086450214aazaodphja4.jpg
http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/4279/tmp9938mm3.jpg http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2981/tmp6453cq7.jpg
Hampton Inn 30 stories
http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/8811/scangb7.jpg
Skylon North and South Tower 26 & 24 floors:
http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/826/tmp4348bj3.jpg
Skylon Holiday Inn Tower
http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/2815/skylonrenderingks1.jpg
Westin Hotel/Hotel at Jolley cut 27 floors:
http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/6442/westinsk2.jpg
"Skywheel" Amusement Park and Comfort Suites:
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/8673/hocoqh4.jpg
http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/6264/457126ck4.jpghttp://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1305/2205882630086450214yiorrbphnw9.jpg
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2421/2178387900086450214wjnydophnm6.jpg
Marriott @ Courtyard:
http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/9097/2515860430086450214rxragmphoi3.jpg
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/9282/springhill1ls0.jpg
http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/2458/tmp8887ga6.jpg http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/9629/tmp8838wv4.jpg
Crowne Plaza Hotel "On Hold" Eighth Wonder Hotel & Condominiums
http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/1870/crowneplazarenderingzt2.jpg http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6382/nfallscondosmallwu2.jpg
http://img464.imageshack.us/img464/41/copyofnewarena001ag8.jpg http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/6876/054820bridgenewaw6.jpg
Marineland Parkway Luxury Condominiums
http://img483.imageshack.us/img483/4738/balconyresize20rec27d20declf1.jpg

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/255/aerial20arrowat9.jpg
Eagle Valley Condominiums 10 Floors:
http://img417.imageshack.us/img417/3301/future1da3.jpg
Niagara Falls Sports and Entertainment Centre
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/6614/fourpadir5.jpg
Niagara Convention & Civic Centre.....Image Is Example Only
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/66/shreveport20convention2ag4.jpg
http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/2192/liverpoolechoarenatcm13wc5.jpg
Ripley's Aquirium of Canada
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/3063/ripleysniagarapd8.jpg
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4985/bhripleyaquariumkf2.jpg
Skylon Tower Pavilion
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/4517/proposedskylontowerandpavilionpe7.jpg
Skylon Development, New Niagara Falls Tourism Centre:
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/6797/2008171160086450214csblvvphau6.jpg



FUTURE SKYLINE?
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3998/0703boomhv4.jpg
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/9493/niagaratowersxr3oh0qj7.jpg

:blink:

H:psycho:TEL PROJECTS COMPLETED:1. RENAISSANCE FALLSVIEW.......16 FLOORS 1986
2. PARK PLAZA HOTEL.................11 FLOORS 1998
3. MARRIOT FALLSVIEW .............20 FLOORS 1998
4. THE HILTON............................30 FLOORS 1999
5. SHERATON ON THE FALLS........22 FLOORS 1999
6. RADISSON HOTEL...................15 FLOORS 2000
7. SHERATON FALLSVIEW ...........31 FLOORS 2000
8. MARRIOTT COURTYARD..........10 FLOORS 2000
9. CLARION HOTEL .....................8 FLOORS 2000
10. DAYS INN BY THE FALLS.........7 FLOORS 2001
11. MARRIOTT FALLSVIEW .........13 FLOORS 2001
12. SUPER 8 MOTEL ....................7 FLOORS 2001
13. EMBASSY SUITES ..................36 FLOORS 2003
14. OAKES HOTEL .......................22 FLOORS 2003
15. DAYS INN CLIFTON HILL........7 FLOORS 2003
16. DOUBLETREE RESORT.......... 18 FLOORS 2004
17. FALLSVIEW CASINO ..............32 FLOORS 2004
18. GREAT WOLF LODGE............. 3 FLOORS 2006
19. QUALITY HOTEL ...................11 FLOORS
20. IMPERIAL TOWERS................7 FLOORS
21. HAMPTON INN ......................6 FLOORS
22. RAMADA RESORT ..................6 FLOORS
23. BEST WESTERN ....................6 FLOORS
24. HOWARD JOHNSON...............6 FLOORS
25. COMFORT INN........................8 FLOORS


C:psycho:MMERCIAL PROJECTS COMPLETED:
1. MACBAIN COMMUNITY CENTRE
2. HOME DEPOT
3. WALMART
4. ZELLERS
5. CANADIAN TIRE
6. A&P GROCERY STORE
7. STAPLES
8. REITMANS
9. FAIRWEATHER
10.PENNINGTONS
11.FASHION MAX
12.MOORES CLOTHING
13.FABRICLAND
14.SLEEP COUNTRY
15.SLEEP FACTORY
16.EB GAMES
17.MARKS WORK WAREHOUSE
18.PAYLESS SHOES
19.HALLMARK
20.SPORTMART
21.SPORTCHEK
22.CINEPLEX ODEON THEATRE
23.WINNERS
24.FUTURE SHOP
25.LINENS N THINGS
26.PETCETERA
27.SOBEYS
28.SHOPPERS DRUG MART EXPANSION
29.CANADA ONE FACTORY OUTLET
30.CARDINAL KIA DEALERSHIP
31.FALLS CHEVROLET
32.MITSUBISHI DEALERSHIP
33.AUTOVALUE HYUNDAI
34.APPLEBEES
35.BOSTON PIZZA
36.REMINGTONS
37.TGI FRIDAYS
38.TONY ROMAS
39.MONTANAS STEAK & SEAFOOD
40.OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE
41.HOOTERS
42.SWISS CHALET
43.A YOUNG GARDEN
44.CANYON CREEK CHOPHOUSE "FALLSVIEW CASINO"

ATTRACTIONS C:psycho:MPLETED:
1. CASINO NIAGARA
2. FALLSVIEW CASINO
3. GREG FREWIN THEATRE "Master Illusionist"
4. WORLDS TALLEST TRIPLE TOWER RIDE
5. FIRST EVER WWE OUTLET STORE + PILEDRIVER TOWER DROP
6. HERSHEYS CHOCOLATE STORE
7. MGM MEMORABILIA STORE
8. PLANET HOLLYWOOD
9. HARD ROCK CAFE
10. HARD ROCK CLUB
11. RAINFOREST CAFE
12. WOLFGANG PUCK
13. AVALON BALLROOM "Fallsview Casino"
14. SPORTS ZONE
15. CIRQUE NIAGARA "AVAIA"
16. YUK YUK'S "Casino Niagara"
17. OH CANADA EH! DINNER THEATRE
18. IMAX THEATRE
19. BUTTERFLY CONSERVATORY
20. NIAGARA FALLS AVIARI "Birds of the Lost Kingdom"
21. FALLSVIEW INDOOR WATERPARK
22. GREAT WOLF LODGE and INDOOR WATERPARK
23. AMERICANA INDOOR WATERPARK
24. CLASSIC IRON MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM
25. LOUIS TUSSAUDS WAX MUSEUM
26. MOVIELAND WAX MUSEUM
27. GREAT CANADIAN MIDWAY
28. GALAXY GOLF " Glow in the Dark"
28. GHOST BLASTERS & FX THRILL RIDE
29. MAD RACER 4-D
30. DINO ISLAND 3-D & 7th PORTAL 4-D
31. DINO RAMPAGE 4-D & DEEP SEA 4-D
32. RIPLEYS MOVING THEATRE 4-D
33. SPIDERMAN ULTIMATE RIDE & FUNHOUSE
34. MGM GREAT MOVIE JOURNEY
35. PINK PANTHER BALLOON RIDE
36. NIAGARA "SKYWHEEL " GONDOLA RIDE!
NIAGARA SKYWHEEL
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/9287/01pz4.jpg
GREAT WOLF LODGE & "INDOOR WATERPARK"
http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5626/niagarapictures248dm5.jpg

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/8274/wolfwater01dc5.jpg
FALLSVIEW WATERPARK
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1070/162812di0.gif
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/3865/fallswp6qy2.jpg
"SKYSCREAMER" AT MARINELAND
http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/1200/skyscreamer10blastcoasterut5.jpg
"WWE" PILEDRIVER RIDE
http://image42.webshots.com/42/4/66/32/2373466320014262649AHgoGC_ph.jpg
PLANET HOLLYWOOD
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/6950/niagara4kk0.jpg

HARD ROCK CAFE
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/8914/4webniagarafallshrconbb4.jpg
FALLSVIEW CASINO
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/2247/1ncextyq6.jpg
CASINO NIAGARA
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/3862/casinoniagaradt4.jpg
AVALON BALLROOM
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3250/fallsviewcasinoreview2bl8.jpg
GREG FREWIN THEATRE AND MAGIC SHOW
http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/4276/theatrecorp1bn7.jpg

ATTRACTIONS :notacrook: CLIFTON HILL (http://www.cliftonhill.com/niagara_falls_attractions/attraction_guide/)

[bhbhbh]

you cant deny it, niagara falls is reaching for the sky

[architect1]

seen them all but the condo and the marriot court yard. It be nice if the guy would beable to build the crown to. but I hear he can't clam i money legally.

[Tor2Ott]

way to go Niagara...it's been a decade since i've been there...gotta make a trip...

[FALLSVIEW]

BUILDINGS THAT ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

MOTEL 6
http://img426.imageshack.us/img426/1751/prototitlekq1.gif

COUNTRY INN & SUITES
http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/8163/niagara4073qz6.jpg

GREG FREWIN THEATRE HOTEL
http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/9263/newarena056tn4.jpg

GREATER NIAGARA GENERAL HOSPITAL
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/869/new20er20at20gnghthumbun9.jpg

[architect1]

Yep looks like a turist trap.

[upinottawa]

I would imagine that the United State's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will have a significant impact on whether many of these proposed developments actually are built. If and when Americans are required to have passports to enter or re-enter the United States, the number of Americans heading to Niagra Falls will continue to decline. I wonder if any increase in Asian and European tourists will be able to fill the additional rooms in all these proposed hotels when WHTI comes into affect over the next 4 to 16 months. I cannot imagine very many of these huge projects getting off the ground until the passport issue is resolved.

[FALLSVIEW]

Yep looks like a turist trap.

What exactly is a "tourist" trap anyway? I mean is New York a tourist trap, how about Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Atlantic city, Dubai, of course. All these places introduce the same so called seedy elements to there cities, yet it's ok because they are not building it around a natural wonder. I guess if it was just a desert it would be ok, you know the catch phrase, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Now that's seedy. See I love both sides of Niagara, the beauty of the parkway and the falls, and the excitement of the carnival act that is Clifton Hill. It has something for everone, and you don't have to be a part of the tourist trap too enjoy it.

[FALLSVIEW]

THE "NIAGARA" NEW CONDO TOWER OVERLOOKING THE FALLS

Condo will attract new people to city: Developer

COREY LAROCQUE
Local News - Wednesday, July 12, 2006 @ 02:00

Condominiums with a view of the Niagara River will be attractive to retirees from Toronto looking to downsize to the "condo life," as well as to international investors who might want to live in Niagara part-time, says the business development director for The Niagara condominium residence.

"When somebody can actually see those kinds of views from their residences, that's pretty incredible," said Marc Baronette, the business development director for ORE Development Corp.

The Mississauga company plans to build The Niagara, a 29-storey condominium residence on River Road. By building the tallest residential building in Niagara Falls, it will attract new people to the city.

"How you make great cities greater ... It's really residents that make a city greater," said Baronette, who grew up in St.
Catharines and has kept in touch with the Niagara region during his career as a developer.

"As a company, we really like the peninsula," he said.

This is the first residential condominium project for ORE Development, which has previously developed industrial property throughout southern Ontario. The company is the Canadian office of the Opus Group of real estate development companies that has completed more than 2,300 projects.

ORE Development issued a press release Tuesday announcing plans to have Harvey Kalles Real Estate act as the exclusive sales agent for the 250 units.

That announcement came the day after city council passed the bylaw authorizing the official plan amendment for the project.

Until now, their marketing had been confined to signs erected on River Road near the corner of John Street and a website.

ORE hopes to have all the city and regional council approvals in place by the fall. They would start construction next spring and open in 2009, Baronette said.

The company advertises condos starting at $169,900 for the smallest of the units. An average two-bedroom condo would go for about $250,000.

The company still has some details to work out about sales prices, Baronette said.

At an average price of $250,000, a 250-unit building would bring in about $62.5 million in sales revenue. But the press release says it will be a $70-million project.

"Seventy million is a round figure. There's parking revenue as well ... There's some penthouse units that are going to sell for even more. We haven't really figured out those things yet," Baronette said.

Some people have asked about buying an entire floor in the building, which will measure about 7,500 square feet.

While ORE said The Niagara will be a good addition to the city's residential real estate mix, some existing neighbours haven't been as welcoming. More than 200 people signed a petition urging council not to approve it. Council voted for it despite its planning department's recommendation against the tower. Now, a group of neighbours are planning to appeal the city's decision to the Ontario Municipal Board.

"Anybody can appeal anything. If a group of ratepayers decides to pursue that avenue, that's something we have to deal with as a developer," Baronette said.

:tup: THE REVIEW (http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=106191&catname=Local%20News&classif=)

[FALLSVIEW]

THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING IS AN ATTRACTION IN ITSELF

Power station gearing up for new life; Rediscovering Niagara

ROBIN HEALEY / Review Staff Writer
Local News - Tuesday, August 01, 2006 @ 02:00

After 33 years of dormancy, there is new activity behind the columns of the Toronto Power Generating Station.

But the stately building that sits above the falls won't be used to generate electricity. It is being dismantled 100 years after it was built.

In May, around 50 workers began removing the machinery inside. They are expected to clear out the plant, but leave the building intact by January of next year, said Rick Everdell, director of project management for the hydroelectric division of the Ontario Power Generation.

OPG will turn over building to the Niagara Parks Commission when the work is completed. The commission will then assess the building before its future is decided, said Marika Kozachenko, who is managing the commission's takeover of the power station.

The building's massive interior and grand facade have provoked interest ever since it was decommissioned in 1973.
In 1983 it underwent a trial as a science and engineering museum. Nine years ago there was talk of turning it into a museum or a tourist attraction.

"This was a real showpiece at the time," said Dean Norton, public affairs officer for OPG. He said the Electrical Development Company completed the building in 1906 using the designs of celebrated Canadian architect E.J. Lennox, who also designed Toronto's Old City Hall and Casa Loma.

"As far as I know, there's nothing else comparable," added Everdell. He said the architecture was enhanced because of its location on parks land by the falls.

Parks Canada designated the building a national historic site in 1983 for its importance to early power generation and its Beaux-Arts style of architecture. The style combined classical Greek and Roman design with Renaissance forms.

"With the concrete columns you'd think they were holding up the world," said Norton.

He said water dropped down through the bay at the back of the building and turned turbines that drove the generators on the main floor when the plant was operational. After the water went through the turbines, it flowed over the falls.

The building's proximity to the falls allowed for a famous rescue in 1918, added Norton.

A scow broke loose from its towing tug and was headed over the falls. The two men aboard opened the scow's bottom dumping doors to sink it, but were left stranded in the Niagara River.

Rescuers shot a line out from the roof of the powerhouse with a breeches-buoy to save the men the next day.

There are several reasons for the station being decommissioned, Everdell said.

He said a geological phenomenon called rock squeeze shifted the rock around the wheel pit, which is buried deep below the building and houses the turbines. The shifting rock threw the machinery out of alignment, causing it to deteriorate.

The generating station also needed a costly upgrade to produce 60 hertz of power instead of 25 hertz and was inefficient compared to the Sir Adam Beck complex.

Despite its deficiencies as a power plant, the exterior and the marble entrance have endured.

"You could take a bucket of soapy water to (the entrance) and it would look brand new," said Norton.

:tup: THE REVIEW (http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=137453&catname=Local%20News&classif=)

[FALLSVIEW]

CITY LOOKING TO REVITALIZE THE DOWNTOWN.

City budget needs $36M more: Report
Cash for downtown projects

By Corey Larocque
Local News - Saturday, May 27, 2006 @ 02:00

NIAGARA FALLS City council should spend about $36 million between now and 2008 creating the right conditions to encourage more activity in the downtown area, a report from the city’s finance department says.

“We’ve designated downtown as an area for revitalization,” said Ald. Wayne Campbell, chairman of the city’s corporate services committee. “We’ve got a developer (interested in investing). There needs to be some further money into the ground.”

The report is on the agenda for a budget amendment meeting Monday at 6 p.m.

It lists three downtown projects and associated costs:

n $14.1 million to construct a parking garage

n $12.8 million for streetscaping, sewers, new lighting and road reconstruction

n $8.7 million for parks

n $540,000 in associated legal and planning costs

The report says the city would have to borrow about $27.8 million of the $36 million costs. Applying $6.75 million from the sale of city-owned land at the northwest corner of McLeod and Montrose roads would also go toward the downtown project. They could find $2 million from other funds already existing in the budget, the report states.


Though the report put the full cost of the improvements at more than $36 million, Mayor Ted Salci said assistance from other governments could reduce the city’s commitment. If Niagara Falls can get the federal and provincial governments to contribute one-third of the cost each, the city’s commitment would drop to about $12 million.

“We’ve got to focus our attention over the next year or so on getting those monies,” said Salci, who has often said he would only support a downtown project “if it makes sense financially.”

“I don’t want to see that borne on the backs of the taxpayers’ assessment,” Salci said.

Since 2004, council has adopted recommendations in two studies aimed at revitalizing downtown the Community Improvement Plan and the Strategic Implementation Plan.

Both studies recommend public money be used to make the area more attractive. But they indicated those improvements be made over a longer period that is being suggested now.

The pressure to move faster came earlier this year when New York City businessman Aaron Lichtman presented the Historic Niagara plan. Lichtman has said a group of investors will spend $100 million to renovate commercial property they own and attract a variety of retailers to the Queen Street area. But Lichtman has said the city’s public realm improvements need to be in place by 2008.

Lichtman had said he planned to be in Las Vegas for a convention this week, promoting to retailers the idea of setting up shop in Niagara Falls. He could not be reached to comment on whether the proposed budget changes would give his investors what they need to move ahead.

City council members support the goals of the Community Improvement Plan and Strategic Implementation Plan. But they are divided over how much money they should commit and how quickly it should unfold.

“I support the CIP. I always have,” said Ald. Janice Wing. “I can’t support doing that much in so short a period of time.”

The city shouldn’t go further into debt over the downtown project when roads and sewers need work and there are drainage problems in the rural areas of Niagara Falls, Wing said.

The $36 million council will consider adding to its capital budget Monday is in addition to the budget passed in March. That five-year plan called for the city to spend $156 million over five years on construction projects.

A capital budget is a five-year plan for spending on big-ticket items. Typically, it shows how to pay for large construction projects using long-term borrowing.

Under the budget that has been passed, the city’s debt would peak at about $53 million in 2008. It would cost about $7 million a year to pay the interest and principal repayment on a debt that size.

Adding more spending to the capital budget isn’t a guarantee it will happen. Every year, politicians adjust their capital budget to fit their current financial position.

“We can pretty well put that into next year’s budget and have a sober second look at it then,” Campbell said.

But the reason for showing the downtown improvements occurring by 2008 is to give Historic Niagara the confidence it needs to proceed.

“There would be no purpose to change that unless they weren’t walking down the same path with us,” Campbell said.

[FALLSVIEW]

I would imagine that the United State's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will have a significant impact on whether many of these proposed developments actually are built. If and when Americans are required to have passports to enter or re-enter the United States, the number of Americans heading to Niagra Falls will continue to decline. I wonder if any increase in Asian and European tourists will be able to fill the additional rooms in all these proposed hotels when WHTI comes into affect over the next 4 to 16 months. I cannot imagine very many of these huge projects getting off the ground until the passport issue is resolved.

I absolutely agree with you upinottawa, but I do know that some of these projects are indeed being pushed through, I've also heard that the parcel of land directly across from the Oakes Hotel is going to be developed into a 20 story hotel. I have also talked to members of the Hilton who say that the expansion is a go in the near future. Here is what the city engineering department had to say: The new 59 storey Rainbow tower and hotel project is currently in aholding pattern. The necessary amending zoning by-law has not been passed yet and a section 37 agreement is still outstanding. We understand that the owner may be contemplating a redesign. We are working on the amending by-law and the section 37 agreement for the 58 storey Hilton expansion. We have heard about a potential Westin hotel but have seen nothing to date. We are in the process of preparing the amending by-law and section 37 agreement for the condo on River Road. We believe the Great Wolf Lodge aquarium will proceed when the developer is prepared to build it. I know that Niagara Falls is talking to the Chinese government to grant Canadian destinations permission to market to the country's 1.3 billion people. "Niagara Falls is a very revered destination with the Chinese." With the new passport law around the corner the Chinese market could make a huge difference in tourism, and could be a way of shoring up flagging American business. With that said there are numerous proposals on the table, they are even talking to a golf course about purchasing it for a Nascar track,:D we'll just wait and see what happens.

[FALLSVIEW]

THIS WOULD BE A HUGE INVESTMENT!

$300M Resort Expansion Planned for Niagara Falls

August 14, 2006
By Dees Stribling, Special Correspondent


Grand Niagara Resort Inc., a partnership that owns and operates a new golf course in Niagara Falls, Ontario, is planning a C$300 million expansion of the facility. At its completion, scheduled for 2010, the 800-acre complex will include another golf course, a Hilton hotel, conference facility, time-share condos, homesites, a winery and a pair of manmade lakes.

"The biggest driver for the development is that the area is lacking a 12-month conference destination," Graham Cocking, director of sales and marketing for Grand Niagara, told CPN this afternoon. "Also, there's a tremendous demand for a full-service golf resort."

According to Cocking, the Grand Niagara development will be the first such full-service golf resort built in Ontario in the last two decades. The development will also benefit from the fact that Niagara Falls is already an established tourist--and more recently, meeting--destination, he noted.

The project is a joint venture between A.D. Sharp Development Co. and the Consulate Development Group, both of Mississauga, Ontario. The JV has been assembling land for the project along the Welland River for about seven years. Last year it opened the 18-hole Grand Niagara Golf Course, which was designed by renowned golf course architect Rees Jones Inc.

Investors in the first course included golfer Greg Norman, who will lend his name to the second 18-hole course. The Hilton will include 350 rooms and a 20,000-square-foot spa and recreation area, and there will be about 300 time-share units and 220 homesites.


__________________

[y2k_pony]

I was in Niagara about a month ago for a little vacation. I dont know how they plan on filling all these new hotels. When I was there it was dead. On a weekend too. Even the Casino wasnt busy. I stayed at the Sheraton and they told me they were only 25% full. It really pissed me off as well that the city of Niagara falls charges a tax on top of everything purchased. I won't be back for a while.

[architect1]

NYC is a huge city. So the buildings match the city. Niagara Falls last posted 76,000 people and they have a lot of high-rise buildings going up soon. The prices there are way to much. Working in the hotels and big restaurants and growing up there I really don't like it to much anymore. I use to be great but now all they want is money. The other downfall is they only higher seasonal.

I love Niagara on the lake its pricy but its beautiful. Everyone has there taste.

[FALLSVIEW]

I was in Niagara about a month ago for a little vacation. I dont know how they plan on filling all these new hotels. When I was there it was dead. On a weekend too. Even the Casino wasnt busy. I stayed at the Sheraton and they told me they were only 25% full. It really pissed me off as well that the city of Niagara falls charges a tax on top of everything purchased. I won't be back for a while.

I will agree that most things are overpriced, but if they intend to constantly lure peole to the area, then they had better start giving the public more incentives ie.. cheaper hotel rooms. I know another thing that has hurt the casino is that you can no longer smoke and you can in the Seneca casino in NF New York. Now I know the numbers are down, but living here I would never suggest that it is dead here, especially on a weekend. I have noticed that it seems to be alot busier in August than it was in July, but that's only my perspective. I think it is safe to say that because of the Falls themselves, this city will never "not" have people come too visit, it just might not be the same after the passport law comes into affect.

[FALLSVIEW]

Work continues on Niagara Square Mall, in this image you can see their new sign as well as the storefronts of the Future Shop, Linen & Things, Petcetera and inside the mall opening August 24th, is Winners.
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/3715/niagarapictures4010rd5.jpg

[architect1]

Looking great I have been, wanting to go back home and see the square. But sad thing is the rest of the building is not symmetric with the other 3/4 of the building. I hope that when it’s finished it will boost the mall and make it a lot better.

[FALLSVIEW]

DOWNTOWN NEWS.

Council OKs $40K for new market study; Report to convince senior government to share costs to revive downtown
COREY LAROCQUE
Local News - Tuesday, August 22, 2006 @ 02:00

City council will spend about $40,000 on an independent market study to try to convince senior government levels to contribute to a plan to revive downtown by turning it into a retail shopping district.

Council voted 6-2 Monday to get an independent market study and business plan, eight months after first hearing investor Aaron Lichtman's Historic Niagara downtown revitalization plan.

It will provide the kind of information the city will need whether it's Lichtman or some other investor who is going to revive the ailing business area, said Ald. Wayne Campbell. The market study is expected to take three months to complete.

Lichtman, a New York City-based businessman, has said he can bring $100-million in private investment to attract retail chains to spruced-up downtown buildings. But the plan can only work if the city can guarantee about $36 million worth of improvements to the area, including a parking garage and new parks, he has said.

City politicians have said they hope to split the $36-million public portion evenly among the city, province and federal governments.


The downtown issue had been simmering since the spring, but flared up Monday after four council members met last week with Ontario's public infrastructure minister David Caplan.

Ald. Carolynn Ioannoni said she asked Caplan directly whether or not the province would contribute. His comments revealed it's going to be difficult to get the province's - and probably the federal government's - financial support for the plan, she said.

"Let's not dream in Technicolor. We don't have federal and provincial money," Ioannoni said.

When they met Caplan at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario convention last week, he left Ioannoni with the impression Ontario would be more interested in supporting a convention centre here than in backing the downtown project.

Mayor Ted Salci said after the council meeting it was "unfair" to put words in Caplan's mouth.

"It's unfair to suggest the minister, at this point, has said no. I'm not giving up yet," said Salci, who has often talked about splitting the cost of public-area improvements with senior levels of government.

"There's more than one way to skin a cat," the mayor said, adding there are many sources of government assistance available to explore.

To make the Historic Niagara Plan work, Niagara Falls will seek a big contribution from the province. But the concept hadn't been on the radar at Queen's Park.

In an Aug. 8 interview with the Review, Premier Dalton McGuinty said the Niagara Falls' downtown plan had not yet come to his attention. McGuinty said he was "delighted" the community had taken the initiative to develop a plan and he would be "very interested in learning more about the issue."

The study and business plan council voted to get will help convince the province to take part, Salci said.

Lichtman hired American marketing consultant Bob Gibbs to study the market that exists in Niagara Falls for a retail district. Gibbs had been involved in revitalizing Charleston, S.C., a city Lichtman has held up as a model for Niagara Falls.

It has been difficult for city officials to get much specific information from Lichtman about his business plan and investors, Ioannoni said.

"I'm starting to have a real problem with the monies we've spent and are continuing to spend, absent of any real information," she said. Ioannoni told council members she will make a motion at the Sept. 11 meeting that would limit the city's financial commitment to the downtown project to $12 million, even if the other government's won't contribute to it.

Campbell, who has consistently voted for the Historic Niagara plan, accused Ioannoni of taking a "disgruntled-employee approach" toward the project.

:tup: http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=161963&catname=Local%20News&classif=

[FALLSVIEW]

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DEVELOPMENT, YET HAS EVERYTHING TO DO WITH NIAGARA!

Niagara Falls is a Barrel of Fun
Niagara Falls is like an enormous, un-gated theme park. Instead of fairy tales or cartoon characters, the theme is the falls. The lure of the falls is so powerful, it attracts visitors from all over the world. I don't think I've ever seen a more diverse crowd than the multi-culti throngs vacationing there. While there's plenty to do on the U.S. side of the border (the state park is especially beautiful), the Canadian Niagara Falls is more developed and offers a slew of diversions. There is an impressive array of attractions designed to give visitors a view of the falls from every conceivable vantage point. While there is one actual theme park and three indoor water parks, Niagara Falls also offers many stand-alone attractions, particularly on Clifton Hill, the tourist haven across from the American Falls. Read more about things to do in Niagara Falls, Canada.

READ MORE @ :tup: http://themeparks.about.com/od/themeparksincanada/a/NiagaraCanada.htm

[mclancer]

Sticky for Niagara Falls

Other Ontario cities have it,
soon Niagara Falls will have the second best skyline in Ontario....

[dougtheengineer]

I had originally typed a big rant in here about how I think Niagara Falls is developing out of control, and it has turned into a cheesy Vegas-North tourist trap. It was unnecessary, so I'll shorten it :)

I maintain this belief, but I hope the city CAN move in a better direction. Development needs to be considered more carefully. Living 20 mins from the falls, I have a unique view on this. Money always wins over logical land development. This is the way of Niagara (the actual city AND the Region).

I hope the city can begin to move in the right direction....not all development is good development.

[Tony]

Work continues on Niagara Square Mall, in this image you can see their new sign as well as the storefronts of the Future Shop, Linen & Things, Petcetera and inside the mall opening August 24th, is Winners.
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/3715/niagarapictures4010rd5.jpg

hmm, interesting. so what's happening to it? They're putting up a new facade with new stores, but what happens to the interior? What will happen to Waterloo's Conestoga Mall's twin!? I hope they don't alter the interior too much, it was quite attract for a mall.

The mall seriously needs some housing development around it to make it more viable.

[dougtheengineer]

hmm, interesting. so what's happening to it? They're putting up a new facade with new stores, but what happens to the interior? What will happen to Waterloo's Conestoga Mall's twin!? I hope they don't alter the interior too much, it was quite attract for a mall.

The mall seriously needs some housing development around it to make it more viable.

The Niagara Falls Factory Outlets have definetly contributed to the downfall of the Niagara Square. The addition of a Future Shop should really help it though.

Then Pen Center in St. Catharines is also sucking the life out of all other malls in the Region. The Seaway Mall in Welland is a ghost town!

Thats cool that it has a twin in Waterloo.

[FALLSVIEW]

I hope the city can begin to move in the right direction....not all development is good development.

That is true, I think some things should be pulled off the table. Yet I would love too see things developed for the good of the city, the new twin pad arena is a plus, especially if it is upgraded to a 5500 seat arena. And I would love to see the downtown re-developed and re-vitalized. The hospital is receiving an upgrade, and the Great Wolf Lodge has recently redone a residential home in the area for resale, to try to clean up the area. They are also considering with land they have purchased, putting in a outdoor winter park with a skating path. What I like about what is happening to the city, has more to do with the fact that businesses are being renovated, and roads and infrastructure are finally being looked after for the residents. This would not happen as quickly or at all, if their was not outside investments going on in Niagara Falls.


Local News - Wednesday, August 23, 2006 @ 02:00

One of the busiest intersections in Niagara Falls, Highway 420 and Montrose Road, is getting $1.8 million in road work to improve traffic flow and safety.

"These repairs will improve this intersection and logically complete the work that was done last year and this spring on Montrose Road," said Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor.

More than 19,000 vehicles use the intersection every day.


Highway 420 construction work includes adding a right turn lane and improving the Montrose Road intersection, improving the Wanless Street and Watson Street intersections and upgrading lighting and traffic signals.

Craitor said this project is part of the Ontario government's $3.4-billion, five-year Southern Ontario highways program.

He said in 2004 more than 13 million visitors toured the Niagara region and spent almost $1.7 billion.

"This section of Highway 420 is an important route linking the Queen Elizabeth Way to the Lundy's Lane tourist district in Niagara Falls. The $1.8-million construction contract was awarded to Hard Rock Paving Company Limited of Port Colborne. The work is expected to be complete by late 2006.

To minimize disruption to drivers, construction will be done in stages using temporary traffic signals to direct traffic. Two lanes on Montrose Road will be maintained at all times.

[Tony]

The Niagara Falls Factory Outlets have definetly contributed to the downfall of the Niagara Square. The addition of a Future Shop should really help it though.

Then Pen Center in St. Catharines is also sucking the life out of all other malls in the Region. The Seaway Mall in Welland is a ghost town!

Thats cool that it has a twin in Waterloo.

I'm curious what will happen to Seaway if the 406 is finally expanded to a fully divided 4 lane highway all the way into Welland. The City of St. Catharine's current strategy is to be the Region's major retail commercial centre. So far, in combination with the ever expanding 4th Ave. Big Box area and the Pen it's working.

But then again, Seaway really hasn't been much over the past 15 years or so, if anything it has improved recently. I'm sure a lot of the sucking is being caused by the mega Wal-Mart up the street too.

Both Conestoga Mall in Waterloo and Niagara Square were originally identical twins, right down to the locations of the Bay, Zellers, Shoppers Drug Mart, CIBC. While the Square started dying, Conestoga thrived and even expanded to have a Zehrs connection with additional shops. I wonder if the Winners going into Niagara Square will be in the same location that is sits in, in Conestoga. (Across from the food court)

[Tony]

I would just like to add that regarding Niagara Falls development, I think you guys are in for tough times. With the strength of the Candian Dollar to the USD (fucked up because of those in power), as well as the requirement for passports soon, development might really dry up in the Falls. I originally had some information about two developments going up in the Falls that were not even official proposals yet but seemed to been withdrawn (a 60 storey hotel and a huge Days Inn expansion).

Hopefully if there is indeed coming problems with bringing in tourism $$$ and filling the hotel rooms, developers are going to shift to the condominium, retirement / baby-boomer population as their target. It may be that the 29 storey condo is a sign of things to come for Niagara Falls. This of course will result in something rather desirable, increases in population.

[FALLSVIEW]

This is how I see it Tony, in Niagara Falls you still have a somewhat diverse city which has been able to sustain itself for years. There is more to Niagara than just the tourist side of it, just like there is more to Windsor than the big three. Sure these are your most influential parts of your cities, but this is not the only element to this region, after all it is the region that makes the clock tick. People who live in Niagara work in Toronto, Hamilton, St.Catharines, Grimsby, Welland, and yes even the Falls themselves. I agree that if the city does not find a way too "replace" the US residents who won't be back, than yes they could and I repeat could be in trouble. The people of this region will find a way to survive despite the short-comings of the tourist industry. And my personal opinion is that the people of Ontario will come back to the Falls instead of Disney once the law comes into affect and those from other countries will continue to come because they allready have passports. I know that this does not solve the lack of Americans, but the industry will just have to give more incentives, which in turn will make it more desirable for all parties. On the issue of more Condominiums I could not agree with you more, this is the future of this community whether people like it or not. I could even see some of these highrise hotels turning coat and switching to a multi-use building. This area has three things that stand out to me , the 1st is obvious and that is the view of the Falls are priceless, the 2nd is that this is the Queen region of retirees, "INSERT CONDOS HERE," and the 3rd is that the prices of houses is the fastest rising in Ontario, that tells me that this area is becoming more desirable to live and play, while they commute to work in the Toronto and Hamilton region.

Niagara's housing prices fastest rising in Ontario


It's not Alberta, but Niagara's housing prices are rising faster than anywhere else in the province.

Statistics Canada released the June housing price figures this week, showing the average cost of a home in Niagara (excluding Grimsby and West Lincoln) is $328,000, up 4.9 per cent from last year.

Other than Hamilton, where the cost of a new home also went up 4.9 per cent, the Niagara housing market is heating up faster than any other region in Ontario.


Still, it isn't even within shouting distance of Alberta, where in the last year, the cost of a single detached home has jumped 49.2 per cent in Calgary and 28.1 per cent in Edmonton.

David Lan, who monitors the Niagara market for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, said the main driver continues to be Torontonians moving to the southside of Lake Ontario.

This is largely because of the cheaper houses. The average new home in Hogtown is $122,000 more than the same house here. And while many of the migrants are retirees, Lan said some are just looking for a lifestyle switch.

Inflating the local price tag is a higher cost for land, caused mostly by a shortage of developable property, particularly in St. Catharines.

Looking ahead into 2007 and 2008, Lan predicted prices will cool off a tad, but continue to climb.

"We're forecasting slower growth in prices for the next year, partially because mortgage rates are edging up," he said.

:tup: http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=150536&catname=Local%20News&classif=

[FALLSVIEW]

WIND TOWER PLANT OPENING NEAR NIAGARA FALLS.

Found on Canada NewsWire, Aug 22, 2006

Attention News/Assignment Editors:
Media Advisory - Minister of Energy celebrates wind tower plant opening

FORT ERIE, ON, Aug. 22 /CNW/ - Minister of Energy Dwight Duncan will be
joined by Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop and DMI Industries president Lars
Moller to open Ontario’s first dedicated wind tower manufacturing plant.

DATE: Wednesday, August 23, 2006

TIME: 11:00 a.m.

LOCATION: Event is at the DMI facility located at 2677 Winger Road, Stevensville, Ontario. From Toronto/Hamilton take the QEW Highway west toward Niagara Falls / Fort Erie. Take Exit 12 - RR25 W / NETHERBY RD. Travel west on Netherby to Winger Rd. Turn left on Winger Rd. Go south on Winger Rd to DMI facility.

CANADA TURNS TO NIAGARA FALLS FOR ENERGY

Niagara Falls has meant honey moon since the late 19th century. Oscar Wilde made wisecracks about it; and a song about newlyweds shuffling off to Buffalo for a look at the falls is part of the classic 1933 musical, 42nd Street.

It's also the most powerful waterfall in North America, producing more hydroelectric power than any other waterfall in the world. They started making power here about the same time the honeymooners first arrived.

That means it's looking increasingly attractive to Ontario's government as an alternative power source as energy costs rise and the government struggles to make sure it has enough electricity.

The Ontario authorities have also vowed to shut down its coal-burning power plants.

Now the second largest tunneling project ever will bring more water to existing turbines on the Canadian side, generating enough new electricity to run 160,000 homes.

"The focus is on how to find as much clean and renewable energy as possible, and this fits the bill," says Emad Elsayed, vice president of hydroelectric development at Ontario Power Generation, which is owned by the Ontario government and operates the hydroelectric plants on the Canadian side of the falls.

The giant drilling machine, made by the Robbins Company of Solon, Ohio, will start boring through hard rock in early September. The machine cuts through about 50 feet a day. At that speed, the 6.4 mile tunnel will be ready in 2009.

At 47 feet in diameter it is 1 1/2 times the width of the Channel Tunnel between England and France. And it was a lot easier boring under the soft chalk of the English Channel than through hard rock 460 feet below Niagara Falls.

The $535-million tunnel will take 17,500 cubic feet of water per second from the Niagara River above the falls, to the Sir Adam Beck generating station below the falls.

"We are in effect adding more fuel by adding more water, making sure the existing turbines run at top capacity," says Mr. Elsayed.

The falls on the US side produce even more hydroelectric power than the Canadian side. All that water diversion means there is less water flowing over the falls. Hydroelectric projects on both the American and the Canadian sides divert 50 percent to 75 percent of the water in the Niagara River into tunnels to run turbines.

A 1950 US-Canadian treaty ensures there will be enough water to see, even after the new tunnel is built.

Copyright © 2006 Christian Science Monitor, All Rights Reserved.

:tup: http://www.topix.net/r/0xJlQ2FLnB65suUqEP1pb55NzSmNcZqEz=2BLgcb02VR9DOdu=2BfukBFvDe4tD7qhLNW=2FwvkMyHDLR3cmobyYpf=2B9RucTe0eDabWrWyrNWA3FikhW5x=2BI9jk9FfpIxyqCFaq

[dougtheengineer]

I wonder if the Winners going into Niagara Square will be in the same location that is sits in, in Conestoga. (Across from the food court)

I would imagine the Winners is going to be along side the Future Shop, Petsmart etc in the space that used to be a big box store (Zellers?)

I think the space that you are referring to, across from the Food Court in Niagara Square is now a Sport Chek.

As for NF development, its a tough call on the future. There has been a lot of money poured into the Falls in the last few years, and development continues even though the investors presumably know about the new passport thing coming up. So, lets hope that someone did their homework on this one. Half of downtown Niagara Falls looks like a warzone already, it'd be a shame to see those fancy new hotels in disrepair.

oh and LORD HELP US if no one can afford to go to the casino!!! :yuck:

[dougtheengineer]

Oh and Tony, the 406 is currently under construction to expand to 4 lanes as far as Port Robinson Road. This isn't quite all the way into Welland, but its getting there. The stepping stone is the cost to twin the bridges over the old Canal and the Welland River. $$$$$$$$

But I think if the Seaway Mall can manage to fill the big store empty spaces, then it should do ok.

Zellers is moving to Wal-Mart's space and Winner is apparantly going into Zellers. But I can't see Winners filling that all itself, so if they can get another good store in there (for example, a Sport Chek would stop the need to go the the Pen Centre for sporting stuff), the mall could come back.

Its not a lost cause....yet.

[FALLSVIEW]

GREAT WOLF LODGE NEWS


Ripley Launches MICROS 9700 HMS with RFID at Great Wolf Lodge Indoor Waterpark Resort in Niagara Falls, Canada

MICROS Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MCRS) , a leading provider of information technology solutions for the hospitality and retail industries, is pleased to announce that Ripley Entertainment, a global leader in the attractions industry and the owner of Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls, Canada, went live with MICROS 9700 Hospitality Management System (HMS) supporting 27 MICROS workstations with integrated RFID readers, on June 28, 2006.
Ripley's has enhanced both the guest experience and the ease of system use for the staff with property-wide integrated RFID, which allows guests at the lodge to wear waterproof RFID wrist bands that facilitate payment at any MICROS POS workstation in the lodge's food and beverage and retail locations. This allows the guest to enjoy the fun and entertainment afforded by the 103,000 square foot indoor water complex without having to carry cash or other forms of payment. The days of wet money are over at Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls.

Ripley's also required a solution that offers more robust POS functionality such as currency conversion, multiple tax capabilities, and automated start-of-day and end-of-day processes. Because MICROS 9700 is an open solution, Ripley's was able to utilize existing legacy hardware which resulted in considerable cost savings.

"Before starting this project, our IT department developed an extensive list of requirements that outlined our vision for the guest experience," stated Joe Tenczar, Director, IT, Ripley Entertainment. "We were able to meet directly with MICROS R&D to discuss how best to leverage the flexibility of the MICROS 9700 system. Based upon our business needs and specs, MICROS seamlessly integrated the ability to utilize the RFID technology that is so critical to our business model. We've been very impressed with MICROS's technology, attention and dedication to this account."

"We are very pleased with the successes we've achieved with Ripley Entertainment," stated Jenny Kurdle, EVP, Leisure and Entertainment Business Unit. "We look forward to a strong and lasting partnership that leads to MICROS deployments at additional Ripley's locations in the future."

About Ripley Entertainment

Ripley Entertainment is a global leader in the attractions industry. Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls, Canada is owned by Ripley's Niagara Water Park Resort, L.P., a Jim Pattison Group company, through a license from Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. Great Wolf Lodge captures the adventure and the intrigue of the Northwoods with nature-inspired accommodations, multiple family-themed restaurants, an Aveda(R) concept spa, an arcade with more than 100 games and an interactive miniature golf course. Measuring 103,000 square feet, with 2.5 million liters of water, the indoor waterpark complex includes 13 waterslides, interactive pools, indoor and outdoor whirlpool spas, a giant wave pool, a winding lazy river, and a 12-level interactive water play fort with 4,000 liter tipping bucket. Worldwide, Ripley Entertainment has 53 attractions in 10 countries, including Ripley's Believe It or Not! museums, two world-class aquariums, Louis Tussauds Wax Museums, and Ripley's Moving Theaters. In 2006, Ripley's attractions are expected to welcome nearly 13 million visitors.



:tup: http://www.hotelresource.com/article23557.html

[Tony]

But I think if the Seaway Mall can manage to fill the big store empty spaces, then it should do ok.

Zellers is moving to Wal-Mart's space and Winner is apparantly going into Zellers. But I can't see Winners filling that all itself, so if they can get another good store in there (for example, a Sport Chek would stop the need to go the the Pen Centre for sporting stuff), the mall could come back.

Its not a lost cause....yet.

Wow, didn't even know. Good for Seaway! That's really promising news.

[FALLSVIEW]

LOOKS LIKE A "WINNER"

Winners is officially open for business, and by the looks of the parking lot it's off to a good start.

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/5682/niagara4080ss9.jpg

[FALLSVIEW]

IMAX THEATRE IS GETTING SOME NEW SIGNAGE!

The truck is here to unload the new signs.
http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/3701/niagara4002pu4.jpg

And here they are in their new location.
http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/1469/niagara4068uv5.jpg
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2033/niagara4069je0.jpg

[FALLSVIEW]

INN BY THE FALLS UNDER RE-DEVELOPMENT!

This building is proposed at 7 floors, and 108 rooms.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/8163/niagara4073qz6.jpg

Thanks for pointing that out Tony, not sure what I was thinking?

[Tony]

^ I think you mean demolition or redevelopment, not renovation. :haha:

[architect1]

Did they by any chance repaved the parking lot? I know there was a huge whole over by the pay. Its a rough parking lot. Has any new stores moved into the old part of the mall because of the hype? I haven't been in the square for at least 2 years.

[FALLSVIEW]

MARINELAND DEVELOPMENT UPDATE


My understanding is that the footings are now being worked on for the Topple Tower ride and that the ride itself will be delivered in October 2006. The construction manager is telling me that, if all goes according to schedule, the ride should be ready for when we open on the Saturday of Victoria Day Weekend next year.

As you might know, we had hoped that the Topple Tower ride would have been ready towards the end of this season, but delivery was delayed at the ride manufacturer’s level.

You will most likely be able to see them working on the site of the Topple Tower ride when you visit. It will be located by Dragon Mountain next to our black bear display.

As for Dragon Mountain, I am afraid that I don’t really know anything about what’s going on with that - sorry. I didn’t even know it was being worked on until I passed it saw them working there. If I find anything out, I will let you know.

Ann Marie, Marketing Office Manager.

This article is found @ Accessniagara
Published by Graham August 25th, 2006 in Niagara Falls Attractions, Niagara Falls Developments

http://www.accessniagara.com/blog/index.php/2006/08/25/marineland-development-update-topple-tower-and-dragon-mountain/

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7751/db20060731toppletower31gw6.jpg

[FALLSVIEW]

Did they by any chance repaved the parking lot? I know there was a huge whole over by the pay. Its a rough parking lot. Has any new stores moved into the old part of the mall because of the hype? I haven't been in the square for at least 2 years.

The parking lot hasn't been paved yet, but it will once all the construction is completed, and the heavy equipment is removed. They have put up new light posts which makes it look much cleaner, and once it is paved it will look great. As far as the inside goes, no nothing new has been added but they are hoping that this will kick-start this mall.

[FALLSVIEW]

THIS CONDOMINIUM IS A MYSTERY?

FEATURED NIAGARA FALLS, CANADA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The Eighth Natural Wonder of the World
Hotel & Condominium Residences, Niagara Falls, Canada

Proposed by *First-In Developments

Residential Development Designed By: Beata Czajka

Developer: * First-In Developments is a Club of prospective purchasers, qualified investors, licensed real estate sales representatives, and experienced real estate developers who invest, at the inception stage, in the underlying real estate of prolific real estate developments such as the Eighth Natural Wonder Project, proposed for Niagara Falls, Canada. First-In Developments incorporates a new company for each project and is in the process of incorporating for the Project for its founding investors/purchasers, in the Province of Ontario or Canada.

Development Status: The site for the Eighth Natural Wonder Hotel and Condominium Residences by First-In Developments is confidentially being negotiated now and therefore the developmoent does not have any government approvals. The approval process is expected to be completed by August, 2006, and the project is expected to be completed by September, 2007. At this time, prospective purchasers can pre-register now as a First-In Prospective Purchaser or Investor of the underlying realestate asset for this development.

:tup: VISIT: WIRED CITY NETWORK.COM (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geuqm2H.9Ec2UAcztXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2dnJjNGs1BGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMgRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANPT1A1Xzgz/SIG=11vkl98s0/EXP=1156608310/**http%3a//www.wiredcitynetwork.com/gpage7.html)FOR MORE DETAILS.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6382/nfallscondosmallwu2.jpg

[mucciared]

INN BY THE FALLS UNDER RE-DEVELOPMENT/DEMOLITION?

This building was proposed at 30 floors, not sure what they are doing with it now.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/8163/niagara4073qz6.jpg


You may want to take a look at this webpage: http://www.accessniagara.com/blog/index.php/2006/03/16/inn_by_the_falls_notice_of_public_meetin/

I have a question. Is this site related to SkyscraperCity Forums?? I see a few familiar usernames. Anyways I haven't been able to access the SkyscraperCity Forums for a few days now. Is anyone else having that problem?

[FALLSVIEW]

[QUOTE=mucciared]You may want to take a look at this webpage: http://www.accessniagara.com/blog/index.php/2006/03/16/inn_by_the_falls_notice_of_public_meetin/

Thanks for the info on the Inn by the Falls. I am glad that they are ripping down that old building and hopefully replacing it with a nice size 7 story building, it will clean up that area even more. Yes they are having difficulties at SSC I think they are installing a new server. Anyway here is more info: :tup:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=108647

[mucciared]

Hey Fallsview! I was 99% sure you were buckster since the posts are the exact same just different usernames. Thanks so much for posting the answer to get back on SkyscraperCity. I'm going back to school soon and I need websites like these to see what's going on back home. Thanks for keeping this thread up!!

[Tony]

THIS CONDOMINIUM IS A MYSTERY?



:tup: VISIT: http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geuqm2H.9Ec2UAcztXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2dnJjNGs1BGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMgRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANPT1A1Xzgz/SIG=11vkl98s0/EXP=1156608310/**http%3a//www.wiredcitynetwork.com/gpage7.htmlFOR MORE DETAILS.

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/6382/nfallscondosmallwu2.jpg

I'm leaning to the BS-side on this development. How could you secretly get approvals to build this with approvals expected by August? You can't, it's called REQUIRED PUBLIC MEETINGS.

[FALLSVIEW]

I'm leaning to the BS-side on this development. How could you secretly get approvals to build this with approvals expected by August? You can't, it's called REQUIRED PUBLIC MEETINGS.

Amen to that Tony, you can smell BS all over it. I e/mailed for information awhile ago, and I have received nothing back from them.

[dougtheengineer]

Tony why don't you like Tim Hortons?

Wrong place for this question I know, but I don't think it warrents an entire thread....unless you have a particularly controvertial answer.

[Tony]

LOL, I guess I've become somewhat of a coffee snob.

[dougtheengineer]

^ ah ok. Just curious. I find if people don't like a coffee shop, its starbucks or some huge conglomorate because they use slave labour, blah blah blah. But I see this is not the case, lol.

Actually I prefer starbucks too, so I shouldn't be one to talk.

Anyways on with NF development.

[Tony]

^ ah ok. Just curious. I find if people don't like a coffee shop, its starbucks or some huge conglomorate because they use slave labour, blah blah blah. But I see this is not the case, lol.

Actually I prefer starbucks too, so I shouldn't be one to talk.


Actually it's the other way around. Starbucks treats it's employees quite well, I think it's run by like a bunch of Hippies with good Business Sense. Walk into Timmy's, see how many employees are actually smiling and you'll know what I mean.

--------


Maybe we can make this a Niagara Falls & Region Development thread to encompass the whole region?

[dougtheengineer]

Actually it's the other way around. Starbucks treats it's employees quite well, I think it's run by like a bunch of Hippies with good Business Sense. Walk into Timmy's, see how many employees are actually smiling and you'll know what I mean.

--------


Maybe we can make this a Niagara Falls & Region Development thread to encompass the whole region?

Good call on the entire Niagara Region development thread.

[Tony]

Obviously we've read about this hideous thing coming to St. Catharines:

http://www.blvdcollection.com/

But SOMETHING is better than nothing I guess.

It's interesting that it is a 3 building development, it seems most multi-phase developments in St. Catharines almost always fail after building the first structure. For example:

1) Grenadier Place along Martindale Road was suppose to be 6 Buildings (only 1 built)

2) Meadowvale Green was suppose to be 3 buildings (one built, one partially built, never finished and then demolished)

And the tallest,

3) Towering Heights Blvd., 4 phases, 3 built ending with the city's tallest at 17 storeys, the 4th phase was suppose to be 27 storeys, never built.

Perhaps times have changed and with the aging population and the shrinking desire to maintain a single-detached home with lawn and all when you're getting up there in age, as well as Provincial legislation, things are literally looking "up". I guess we'll find out based upon how quickly this and Port Place sell out.

[FALLSVIEW]

Rerouting River Road gets red light from NPC; Letter to city staff outlines concerns against proposal

COREY LAROCQUE
Local News - Wednesday, August 30, 2006 @ 02:00

The Niagara Parks Commission has "serious concerns" about the city's proposal to reroute River Road to pass through the downtown core.

COMPLETE ARTICLE AT:NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW (http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/)

[FALLSVIEW]

Tourism numbers reflect a tough year in Niagara
Visitors from U.S. down to lowest level since 1993

"There's been a slight increase in Canadian tourists but there's been a real decrease in American tourists," said Noden. "Americans spend three times (in Niagara) what a Canadian would spend."
He said the SARS crisis was the point when tourism in Niagara turned downward, more so than in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001. He said 9/11 reduced tourism and travel for a short time but it rebounded. When SARS hit, it squashed the Americans' urge to travel abroad and kept travellers closer to home, said Gedge.
Word around the Niagara Falls council horseshoe has tourism operators in the city calling 2006 mediocre at best. But while it's been tough, there is a silver lining -- new markets which are starting to open up. Noden said more travellers are visiting from overseas. Visitors from Europe, Asia and other countries from the eastern side of the world won't need passports to enter Canada or return home. The rising Canadian dollar is also not really a concern because it still beats the Euro or the British pound.
"A trend we are starting to see is people from Britain coming for shopping weekends in Toronto and Niagara," said Noden. He said those markets are big spenders since they make up only 10 per cent of Niagara Parks traffic but 33 per cent of its revenue.
"Asia and Europe are spending four times more than what the Americans are spending. We are really putting a focus on these markets. Not ignoring the U.S., but really focusing on increasing our market share." COMPLETE ARTICLE FOUND AT:NIAGARA THIS WEEK (http://www.accessniagara.com/lo/?l=423)

My concern is why in the hell are they only thinking about "market share" now!
I have been saying this for a year now, increase advertising and incentives in other countries. I'm not saying ignore the American market, but we are all seeing a trend of Americans staying home. They have enough to keep them occupied in their own country. Residents from foreign countries have more of a spirited visit when they see this World Wonder for the first time on foreign soil. They look like little kids when they see it for the first time.

[dougtheengineer]

Obviously we've read about this hideous thing coming to St. Catharines:

http://www.blvdcollection.com/

But SOMETHING is better than nothing I guess.

It's interesting that it is a 3 building development, it seems most multi-phase developments in St. Catharines almost always fail after building the first structure. For example:

1) Grenadier Place along Martindale Road was suppose to be 6 Buildings (only 1 built)

2) Meadowvale Green was suppose to be 3 buildings (one built, one partially built, never finished and then demolished)

And the tallest,

3) Towering Heights Blvd., 4 phases, 3 built ending with the city's tallest at 17 storeys, the 4th phase was suppose to be 27 storeys, never built.

Perhaps times have changed and with the aging population and the shrinking desire to maintain a single-detached home with lawn and all when you're getting up there in age, as well as Provincial legislation, things are literally looking "up". I guess we'll find out based upon how quickly this and Port Place sell out.

Green belt legislation makes going up a must. There is little option any more.

[FALLSVIEW]

FUTURE NIAGARA SQUARE MALL DEVELOPMENT:

I ventured into the new Winners store today at the mall, looks good! The mall was busy too which was nice. The administrative office confirmed for me that the Canadian Tire on Mcleod rd. will be moving too a new pad in the Mall parking lot, she said near the Cineplex Odeon Theatre and the Sunoco Gas station which is not in the parking lot but across the street. They have also had quite a few inquiries about vacant stores, so they should be full by winter. International Clothier is moving in by the new Winners entrance. Other things mentioned but cannot be confirmed are a grocery store and a Kelsey's Restaurant?

On another note I noticed the other day that the blue and white information centre on the corner of Stanley Ave. and Roberts st. / HWY 420 has been sold. It has been up for sale for awhile and is a prime location for just about anything, wait and see what goes in there.

[Tony]

^ Excellent news. That mall has been struggling for so many years, now it's managed to reinvent itself.

now... about Downtown....

[dougtheengineer]

I fear that downtown NF, like downtown Welland, is a lost cause that only a cluster bomb can solve.

[FALLSVIEW]

One way too re-invent the DT is too make it another bar snene like Calgary's Electric ave. or Windsors Ouellette, ave. It would get them away from the main cluster of tourists on a Friday night who are trying to enjoy time with there families. It might be crazy enough too work, allthough it wouldn't fly with those in the city.

Wind turbines will blow away province's energy strain

NIAGARA FALLS -- Sky-reaching hotels and condominiums may not be the only things towering over the city's whirling waters as interest is building for wind turbines to help reduce the strain on the province's power supply.

FULL ARTICLE AT: NIAGARA THIS WEEK (http://www.niagarathisweek.com/na/news/story/3661386p-4233200c.html)

[FALLSVIEW]

Spectacles drew crowds as summer progressed; After good first season Silver Mist, Cirque planning for 2007

JOHN LAW / Review Staff Writer
Local News - Saturday, September 02, 2006 @ 02:00

They arrived with lots of hype, hope and hoopla.

Now that Cirque Niagara and Silver Mist Productions have survived their first summer in Niagara Falls, work is already underway for 2007.

Both companies were the new kids on the block this year, taking a big risk with big budget shows.

Silver Mist Productions brought a $1.6-million version of Disney's Aladdin Jr. to the Greg Frewin Theatre, while Cirque Niagara set up its $10-million spectacle Avaia in a tent at Rapidsview Park.

Both shows got off to a slow start, but gained momentum as summer chugged along.

"We increased attendance every week," said Aladdin Jr. producer Linus Hand. "Our best week was last week."

As the inaugural show of Silver Mist Productions, Aladdin Jr. promised Toronto-calibre theatre for Niagara Falls.

Reviews across the board were good, Hand said, and the show did "better than expected" at the box office, despite still losing money.


Much of the costs were for staging, lighting and infrastructure, laying the groundwork for future shows.

Attracting tourists was the priority, Hand said, but a surprising number of local residents flocked to the musical.

"It's all word of mouth," he said. "With this coming in, there was skepticism. And justifiably so.

"What's the show going to be like? Is it worthwhile seeing? Would it be Toronto-style quality?

"Once we got people in to see that, it was huge.

"There have been an awful lot of summer shows that opened up and haven't made it to the end of their runs.

"You don't have to look any further than (Toronto's) Lord of the Rings. We said we were going to run 16 weeks, and we made it to the finish line."

The show wraps up a five-month run on Labour Day.

The company has Disney's Beauty and the Beast booked for next year. Cirque Niagara's Avaia continues to Oct. 8, but is already in the books as a winner, said co-owner Gabe Macaluso.

The show's mix of Russian acrobats and horses sold about 170,000 tickets this summer and "surpassed a lot of the expectations."

The company signed a three-year deal with the Niagara Parks Commission to perform at Rapidsview Park.

A new show will be offered next summer, with Avaia possibly going on tour.

Cirque Niagara recently opened a Toronto office for the purpose of promoting shows throughout Canada.

"We're being courted by several companies," said Macaluso. "But we have decided Niagara Falls will be our home base."

The show's original plan was to lure tourists already in town, he adds, but as summer continued it was apparent people were driving in specifically for the show.

"We found we were a destination, not unlike Marineland.

"We should have picked up on that earlier. People were calling us buying tickets, then asking us where they should stay. That was a surprise to us."

Cirque Niagara president Peter Mercanti said there was a huge learning curve for the company's first year. For one thing, he insists, reports of 12 to 15 million tourists visiting Niagara Falls every year are exaggerated.

"It's more like six million," he said. "We learned a lot about the tourist scene. The numbers are crazy."

Despite fewer tourists than expected, a "fantastic" turnout by local residents made up for it.

"They've been extremely supportive of the show," Mercanti said. "We can't rely on the United States as our bread and butter, as the golf courses found out this year."

Despite the doom and gloom predictions for tourism this summer, Mercanti is proud Cirque Niagara held its own.

"We've accomplished the goals we set out to accomplish," he said. "We've proven we can bring world class entertainment to Niagara Falls."

MY WIFE AND I ARE BRINGING OUR DAUGHTER TO "AVAIA" FOR HER BIRTHDAY NEXT WEEK, HOPE IT'S WORTH THE HYPE!


ARTICLE FOUND AT: NIAGARA FALLS REVIEW (http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=177291&catname=Local%20News&classif=)

[mucciared]

It's great news to hear both shows are happy with their results, and more importantly they will return next year.

I really wonder how many people actually visit Niagara Falls every year. I'm sure there is also some discrepency. Do locals attending attractions and such get factored in as visitors, or do they some 80km "official" count?

[FALLSVIEW]

I hope that Cirque Niagara sticks it out here for the long haul, I think that Niagara Falls needs more of these kinds of shows, and get away from the expensive, useless attractions brought here over the last few years. I am really wondering too what the actual numbers are for Niagara?

I would imagine with the end of the labour day weekend, that any projects worth starting will be starting soon.
It looks like they are continuing on expanding into 4 lanes, Dorchester rd. between the 420 and Morrison st.There will be a community Services Committee meeting on Monday, September 11th that will discuss and listen to a presentation regarding a potential OHL team for Niagara Falls. JDS Delcor consisting of Ernie Coetzee, Steve Ludzik and Don Cherry will be presenting this proposal. I will be attending this along with many die-hard hockey fans and will let you know what was said.

[realcity]

Proposed Skylon Holiday Inn Tower near the bottom of Murray Street and the blvd. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/tshaw/cities/skylon-rendering.jpg

[realcity]

Do you think Imax's new sign has anything to do with the new 3D4D Falls Movie on Murray Street?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/tshaw/cities/3D4DMovie.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/tshaw/cities/Skylon-banners.jpg

[FALLSVIEW]

Realcity where in the world did you find this image of this proposed Skylon Holiday Inn highrise? Is this the proposed 24 story south tower or is this something alltogether different. And do you have anymore information on this?

[realcity]

Realcity where in the world did you find this image of this proposed Skylon Holiday Inn highrise? Is this the proposed 24 story south tower or is this something alltogether different. And do you have anymore information on this?

a friend of a friend of a cousin.

I not sure what the final will look like. But it's fair to say something will be built on Murray St. It can/will be very tall since it will only block the view of the Skylon elevator. Something around 30 floors. And probably a Holiday Inn or something from that family of banners InterContinental. The original Holiday Inn By The Falls wasn't a real Holiday Inn, it was allowed to exist because it was older than the chain itself. This has been finally settled with Skylon and InterContinental Hotels. A hotel in this location will have the best view of any Fallsview hotel -- it will look directly into the 'veil' and horseshoe. The moraine trail is going to be developed too, and this will make a good connector for a Skylon hotel. As well the pedestrian promenade will connect Clifton with Fallsview giving another option to the blvd and Victoria. Don't worry about the high cdn dollar, the Falls will still be rolling.

My wish for the Falls is to have a University. Like UNLV, not Brock but a new one all together.

[FALLSVIEW]

When are they supposed to start all this, it sounds awesome. Anything else going on around town?

[mucciared]

Great find Realcity. I think it looks more like a condo than a hotel, but I definately like it.

To further Fallsview's question, if this is happening will this be part of a larger Skylon project and will it be part of phases and what phase will it be?

[FALLSVIEW]

Went to watch "Cirque Niagara" finally with my wife and kids, it was awesome! I was amazed at the athletisism of these people. This is the kind of stuff that is well worth the price of admission. Good for Niagara for finally offering good quality entertainment, instead of some of the other crap you pay for.

[FALLSVIEW]

FUTURE DEVELOPMENT:

EAGLE VALLEY CONDOMINIUMS 10 FLOORS:
http://img417.imageshack.us/img417/3301/future1da3.jpg

Due to red tape involving buildings not going over 6 stories in the outer core of Niagara Falls, the owner of EVGC had to take her case to the provincial level. It was approved at 10 floors. This project is still 2 years from completion and a new set of conceptual drawings have been finalized. The owners plan is for EVGC to become a gated community within 10 years. This Golf Course is located up on the Escarpment and holds an incredible view of the Toronto skyline.
GOLF COURSE LOCATION: GOOGLE EARTH EVGC (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=niagara+falls&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=15&ll=43.137508,-79.095683&spn=0.009614,0.033646&t=h&iwloc=A)

VISIT: EAGLE VALLEY GOLF CLUB (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGkmP94v5EZCABYOJXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2MTBycXVpBGNvbG8DdwRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMwRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANGNzk5Xzc4/SIG=11ulseevp/EXP=1157641341/**http%3a//www.golfeaglevalley.com/future.html) FOR COMPLETE DETAILS!

[FALLSVIEW]

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE NEWS:

Pillar and Post expansion doesn't sit well with some neighbours

It would be a big hotel.
Four storeys, underground parking and three large meeting rooms, located across the road from its parent building, the Pillar and Post Inn.

FULL ARTICLE @:NIAGARA REVIEW (http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=180519&catname=Local%20News&classif=)

[Tony]

Due to red tape involving buildings not going over 6 stories in the outer core of Niagara Falls, the owner of EVGC had to take her case to the provincial level. It was approved at 10 floors. This project is still 2 years from completion and a new set of conceptual drawings have been finalized. The owners plan is for EVGC to become a gated community within 10 years. This Golf Course is located up on the Escarpment and holds an incredible view of the Toronto skyline.

Stupid bitch, we don't need f'n gated communities in Canada. Actually, where does it say it's going to be a gated community?

Anyway, the whole ad is retarded: "Should you crave spring sooner this year try Niagara. Our flowers take a head start over the rest of Ontario why else would we be called the Garden City?"

Niagara Falls isn't called the Garden City, St. Catharines is.

[FALLSVIEW]

Actually, where does it say it's going to be a gated community?

Niagara Falls isn't called the Garden City, St. Catharines is.

It doesn't say it is going to be a gated community, "she" said it is going to be. I hate gated communities, it looks frickin retarded in Crystal Beach.

I never even noticed the Garden City reference.

[FALLSVIEW]

"OPENING SPRING 2007"

http://img426.imageshack.us/img426/1751/prototitlekq1.gif

THIS IS THE BIG HOLE ON STANLEY AVE.

VISIT: MOTEL 6 WEBSITE (http://www.accor-na.com/franchising_info/prototype.asp)

In late August the sale of the the old information building on Stanley Avenue closed. It sold for $450,000. Expect action on this property in the near future.

In the Spring a company in St. Catharines took dirt samples from the property that now has a ground level parking lot, this is directly across from the Oakes Hotel & Applebees parking lot. I believe they are associated with the Embassy Suites. LOCATION @: GOOGLE EARTH (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=niagara+falls&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=43.080694,-79.083087&spn=0.001203,0.004206&t=h&om=0)

[Tony]

it looks frickin retarded in Crystal Beach.

I couldn't agree more. It's like catering to the paranoid people who think the world is coming to the end. But then again, I bet the Crystal Beach development is full of Buffalonians so in their minds it's normal. ;)

I really hope that St. Catharines condo is a success, that might just very well bring around a badly needed condo development in the downtown Lower-Level parking lot.

[FALLSVIEW]

MARINELAND NEWS:


Terrors of the Sea; Marineland begins construction of shark aquarium


A massive mechanical shovel scoops dirt from beside a riverbank and loads several dump trucks.

"This is going to be 60 acres, the world's largest aquarium," said Marineland owner and founder John Holer.

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/2250/scanva9.jpg
Marineland's Terrors of the Sea shark aquarium will include acrylic tunnels similar to this rendering.

FULL ARTICLE @:NIAGARA REVIEW (http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=181945&catname=Local%20News&classif=)

[WIGS]

I couldn't agree more. It's like catering to the paranoid people who think the world is coming to the end. But then again, I bet the Crystal Beach development is full of Buffalonians so in their minds it's normal. ;)


lol
actually, there are NO gated communities (that I know of) in WNY. One can drive through the most "exclusive" subdivisions without being hassled by "rent a cop" security guards. and those WNY'ers pump a lot of money into the Niagara Region economy in the summertime.

[WIGS]

glad to see Marineland is expanding. John Holer is obviously making money hand-over-fist.

as for tourism in the falls, it was the slowest summer I've worked yet, and that article proves it.

[FALLSVIEW]

NEW PROPOSED ARENA FOR NIAGARA FALLS!


http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/7959/newarena045lh4.jpg

THIS IS A RENDERING OF A PROPOSED 5700 SEAT ARENA FOR NIAGARA FALLS. JDS DELCOR OWNERSHIP GROUP IS PRESENTING THIS ARENA, AND PURSUING A FUTURE OHL HOCKEY CLUB FOR THIS VENUE.


CLICK:Don Cherry in Attendance-THE REVIEW (http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=187647&catname=Local%20News&classif=)

[realcity]

^ that's great for the Falls.

[FALLSVIEW]

ARTICLES IN THE NIAGARA REVIEW:

NIAGARA TOURISM OFFICE ON THE MOVE! (http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=185017&catname=Local%20News&classif=)

NIAGARA FALLS DOWNTOWN, 12 MILLION DOLLAR LIMIT? (http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=189280&catname=Local%20News&classif=)

BACK ON TRACK FOR NARROW STRETCH OF QEW (http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=189292&catname=Local%20News&classif=)

MAJOR THOROLD DEVELOPMENT PLANNED (http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=189274&catname=Local%20News&classif=)

[/URL][URL="http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/"]THE REVIEW (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/%5Burl=http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/webapp/sitepages/%5D%5BTHE%20REVIEW%5B/url%5D)

[mucciared]

Fallsview, please please keep posting. I know the activity is minimal but in recent weeks it has spawned some interest.

Anyways, I don't really like where the Niagara Tourism Office is going. Pyramid Place is the fallsview area's biggest eyesore and really needs to see the Skylon development. I would've prefered a new building at the corner of Stanley and the highway (where that old white information center is) acting as the gateway to the tourist district. A multi-used building shared with the tourism board, a large information centre and a small, last minute snack for the road, food outlet would be more appropriate.

I really hope the arena gets the go ahead and the governments support the downtown plan. There will be a great deal of construction and renovation activity in the area with store outlets going up on that industrial property and maybe even a few condos.

[Tony]

I worked on that Thorold development. It's got it's own town centre and is basically split into 4 neighbourhoods centred around central parks.

[FALLSVIEW]

It sounds pretty good for the town of Thorold Tony. People seem to be gravitating more to that area.

Mucciared anything I hear about I am going to post on here, and I really appreciate your interest. As fas as the Pyramid Place goes, I can't remember if the sign that read PYRAMID PLACE was already taken down or not, but it is in a dumpster in front of the building now. And this skylon development board on the front of the building is officially gone!
http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/6797/2008171160086450214csblvvphau6.jpg
I agree that they really need to do something with this building, and now they probably won't with the tourism office there.

They have started to refinish the outside of the old Mercury bar beside the Greg Frewin Theatre. I am glad too see they are doing something with that building.

I attended the council meeting on Monday for the Arena proposal and managed to take a couple of pictures of the proposed arena designed by PCL, the same company that built the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort.
I have been following this pretty closely for awhile, but really don't want to comment until council has made a final decision.

I took this picture a few days ago, they have now installed the sign on the LINENS-N-THINGS building.
http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/9691/newarena044rh4.jpg
They are also adding a Beauty Supply Outlet just inside the doors to the right of the new entrance of the Mall. The new International Clothier store will be right beside the new Winners store, it looks massive.

[drafty]

Fallsview,

You've posted a few times about the Skylon property. I couldn't agree with you more. My wife worked there for several years (until she went crazy:koko:), and got to see the operation from the inside. It is very similar to Marineland in that one person makes all the decisions based, it seems, on what side of the bed etc. Would it surprise you to learn that the general managers of the 3 Skylon properties (Tower, Holiday Inn, Cascade Inn) are all named Yerich, and that what daddy says is the law. It is well known that they have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years for consultants and architects to work on their planned hotels and attractions, only to throw it all in the garbage when they change their minds. They are sitting on one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in the city (right beside the casino), with tremendous potential for development, and all they have done in the past few years is open a restaurant and 4D theatre, and upgrade their arcade, while the other operators in the city (Canadian Niagara, HOCO, Ripley's) do major developments all around them. Every time we see news of the Skylons latest proposed hotel or whatever, my wife and I have a good chuckle, because we know it will never happen.

[realcity]

^ interesting observation. I couldn't agree more that the Skylon block is one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in the Falls. And also the last to captalize on the last 10 years that NF has been on the uptick. I don't think it will take long before we see something dramatic from Skylon, maybe they are taking their time for a reason, once everyone has done something then wait to see what nobody has done. What if they were planning a 'water theme park', well that would be scrapped. Great Wolf, Dicenzo's and Marineland is enough of that. Or maybe a ferris wheel was planned and Oakes beat them to it. I think they should take their time and see what they could do that is different.

[FALLSVIEW]

Thanks for some insight into this company Drafty, and welcome aboard. That is so sad, yet not surprising. You can allways tell the state of a company by there surrounding properties, and to own that kind of property and put very little money into it. Well that tells me that they have no intentions of investing into those same things that have made them very rich men. Selfish in my opinion! The arcade would actually do well if they understood the simple concept that, maybe if people had a place to stay on this property that isn't a dive, then maybe they would spend money on our property. "People who stay in these highrise hotels with there children, spend money on games and shows for there children" The companies you mentioned earlier have allready figured that out!! So I quess we can assume that this new tower at the bottom of Murray street, will not be built either.
You maybe right realcity, but we'll have to wait to see there true intentions.

[realcity]

The Holiday Inn is a nice hotel. Coco's is a cool place too. Wolfgang Puck was a good investment, not sure about Cafe Tu Tu Tango. The 4D movie is a great venue for Murray as it the Starbuck development.

What is a piece of crap is the Tim Horton's on Clifton. Couldn't they of done something special with it? Even the Burger King has Frankenstein on the roof, but nnoooooooooooo, not Tim Hortons. They can't deviate at all from the regular brown shit box the plunk down regardless of its location.

[realcity]

yeah welcome drafty and nice to have you on this forum. keep the scoop for us. SSP is the best for this kind of info.

[FALLSVIEW]

Perhaps I am being a little harsh here, because they have made "some" nice additions. My biggest problem is that I look at what the Comfort Inn did with there building. And I think of what they could do with the Cascade Inn.

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9683/tmp8705nj9.jpg

This is what I thought the Skywheel Plaza would look more like! I was a little dissapointed with the end result, but I always try to think positive and it gave people a nice place to relax, and get away from the crowded sidewalks of Clifton Hill.

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/1305/2205882630086450214yiorrbphnw9.jpg

[drafty]

Yeah, I always get a kick out of comparing the 'Artists Concept' to the actual finished project. Most times there is very little resemblance. Or they show nothing but trees and grass all around, when in fact it's actually wedged in between 2 ugly buildings.
The image that was posted on SSC of the Holiday Inn at the bottom of Murray Hill is basically impossible. The Niagara Parks own everything up to the top of the escarpment, so a hotel could never be located as shown, which probably meens that I can have my 'Skylon chuckle' again.

[FALLSVIEW]

I actually went there last week and took a picture of the same location as the rendering, and scoped out the area. Needless to say it looked impossible to fit a building into this location. I dont mean to dwell on this, but either tear down the Cascade Inn and build something there, or expand the building. I think because of its close proximity to the Casino, the new pedestrian bridge, and the view of the falls, this is probably the best location up there.

[FALLSVIEW]

EXTERIOR SHOT OF PROPOSED SPORTS COMPLEX

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3541/newarena046bk5.jpg

INTERIOR SHOT OF PROPOSED SPORTS COMPLEX

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/7488/newarena047he9.jpg

I just wanted to add the interior shot of the complex!

[mucciared]

The artist's renderings always look better than the finished product imo.

I have to disagree with your Tim Hortons comment. The Timmies on Clifton Hill is one of the nicer ones I've seen inside and out. The Frankenstein on Burger King may be more iconic, but also adds to the "cheesiness" on Niagara Falls. I think HOCO is trying to step away from that a bit and provide landscapes and buildings that are more aesthetically pleasing.

The Holiday Inn is a nice hotel. Coco's is a cool place too. Wolfgang Puck was a good investment, not sure about Cafe Tu Tu Tango. The 4D movie is a great venue for Murray as it the Starbuck development.

What is a piece of crap is the Tim Horton's on Clifton. Couldn't they of done something special with it? Even the Burger King has Frankenstein on the roof, but nnoooooooooooo, not Tim Hortons. They can't deviate at all from the regular brown shit box the plunk down regardless of its location.

[realcity]

Yes but it just a regular Tims. I think they should've schlocked it up a bit. It's beside a falling building with King Kong on it for gawd sakes.

[realcity]

The Skylon Hotel could be built into the escarpment facing and connected with Skylon's base underground. That land is Skylon's btw.

[FALLSVIEW]

THIS IS THE PROPOSAL IN A NUTSHELL

IF ANYONE HAS ANY INTEREST IN E/MAILING COUNCIL REGARDING THIS PROPOSAL, THIS E/MAIL ADDRESS council@niagarafalls.ca WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE MAYOR AND ALL 8 COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK-YOU


Grapes' group unveils OHL plans
City needs to pitch in $3M to $5M more for arena project

Robert Lapensee
Sep 15, 2006

NIAGARA FALLS -- Major junior hockey could be resurrected in brand new, city-owned digs if city hall can scrape together $3-millionto $5-million more for its proposed arena complex.

For the first time, a group including former NHLer Steve Ludzik, CBC Hockey Night in Canada personality Don Cherry, Mississauga lawyer Ernie Coetzee and St. Catharines businessman Terry O'Malley publicly unveiled their proposal to bring the Niagara Falls Thunder Ontario Hockey League franchise back to the city.

"This here project, I can't see how it can miss," Cherry told a packed council chambers during a presentation at Monday's community services committee meeting.

Plans call for the city to partner with the group, known as JDS Delcor, on the development of a three-pad arena, with one main rink seating 5,700 people, which the Thunder will play out of.

It will be complete with 20 luxury suites, a club lounge and restaurant. The complex will also have two community rinks with 300 seats each, a team store and pro shop, large lobby areas with concessions and rest rooms and the promise of being accessible to everyone.

Developers will leave a footprint for two more ice pads for future development if five acres of Hydro One lands adjacent to the site can be acquired.

Coetzee said there are numerous benefits to building the major sports and entertainment complex, including bringing OHL hockey back to the city, attracting concerts, trade and consumer shows, family ice shows and other exciting entertainment events.

He said this facility could attract the Memorial Cup, the national championships for major junior hockey, and has the potential to lure other professional sports team, such as a National Lacrosse League team.

"I don't want you to think it's only an OHL proposal," said Coetzee. "It's at the heart of it but it's much more.

"This will be the premier complex in the Niagara Region. Our intention is to be the home of over 100 events each and every year."

The city will have to pay between $21- and $23-million for the development with Delcor being a 50/50 partner. Coetzee would not comment on what the full cost of the complex would be. City hall is in the process of designing an $18-million twin pad arena for the Cytec site, with one 3,000-seat arena and one 250-seat ice pad to replace the crumbling Niagara Falls Memorial Arena.

Alderman Selina Volpatti, chair of the community services committee, said the timing of the group's proposal couldn't have been any better.

"We need new ice pads. They are in the planning stages," said Volpatti. "Changes can be made."

City hall received Delcor's latest proposal last Friday (Sept. 8). Council sent it to staff, which will report back by Sept. 25. Mayor Ted Salci said the biggest concern is the cost factor.

"I think it is a very exciting proposal," said Salci. "My concern is this becomes an affordable situation."

The mayor was booed when he suggested staff report back to council at the next meeting, Sept. 25, but although proponents are anxious to get going on the project, Coetzee and Cherry agreed two weeks is reasonable.

"It's a big decision," said Cherry, although he cautioned council not to wait too long. "It's a lot of money. I don't think two weeks is too long."

"They need some time to digest the latest proposal," said Coetzee. "If something is not done in the next two weeks, we would have to reconsider what we are doing.

"I don't think we have much more to negotiate. We are where we want to be."

But still under negotiations are the term of the lease Delcor will hold and who will operate the city-owned arena. The city staffs its arenas with unionized workers and has promised no job cuts when it closes down Memorial Arena.

Coetzee said the group will honour the city's commitment to use unionized workers. It will also let the city keep control over its relationships with user groups, like the minor hockey association and figure skating groups. The city subsidizes ice time fees for a number of user groups throughout the city.

There are other concerns, said the mayor, adding he wants to keep the negotiations going. "I know there are many more things that we have to discuss," he said.

Council aired its concerns about what would happen to the city's junior B and C teams. Coetzee said there is opportunity for the junior Bs to partner with the OHL club, share players and maybe even have doubleheader games with both teams playing on the same day.

"I can understand about the junior Bs," said Cherry. "In Brampton and Mississauga, we worked with the junior Bs. They will be better off."

Alderman Jim Diodati said he likes what he sees in the proposal so far. He said council needs to ask itself four questions: do we want it?; do we need it?; is it a good deal?; and can we afford it?

"They are asking us to contribute $21-million," said Diodati. "It's a little bit more. We have the possibility to have twice the facility for half the amount of money."

More than 75 people crammed on the benches in the gallery with more people crowding council chambers and spilling into the outside lobby. Frank Massi gave out more than 150 T-shirts to supporter before the meeting with slogans urging council to vote for the proposal and needed at least another 50. He said Delcor has pitched a good deal and would like to see the proposal move forward.

"For $3-million, you are going to have an extra ice pad," said Massi. "It's a cheap price to pay for that. This is the type of thing Niagara Falls has been looking for. We have to take a good look at this. It will bring us up to the class where Niagara Falls should be.

"I would love this thing to happen and I'm doing the best I can to help it."

Unite Here Canada, a union which represents hotel workers, was also at the meeting to issue another statement outlining its concerns over what it says could be toxins buried at the old Cytec site.

ARTICLE @ NIAGARA THIS WEEK

[FALLSVIEW]

FUTURE INDEPENDANT HOTEL ON ELLEN AVENUE!

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/9263/newarena056tn4.jpg

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/5136/newarena055ra4.jpg

I would take a 100 renovated buildings like ^this^ over
one 30 story highrise. This is what beautifies a cities core,
and what visitors seem to notice and comment on the most.

[FALLSVIEW]

Woops, Double Post! Just In Case You Missed It The First Time...lol

[mucciared]

Do you know if this hotel will be owned by the Greg Frewin Theater Co.? I remember a small hotel being part of a later phase of the Greg Frewin theatre.