Niagara Falls May Get Convention Centre
Blogging Post Link: NFD&P
Convention centre dream 'closer than ever'
RAY SPITERI
Local News - Monday, December 11, 2006
Updated @ 5:32:12 PM
The decades-old dream of a convention centre in Niagara Falls is “closer
than ever” to becoming a reality, says Mayor Ted Salci. “We are cautiously optimistic that we will have good news to report shortly” said Salci, adding he is hopeful to hear news "in the next 60 days or so." “We have made our intentions clear to the federal and provincial governments that a convention centre is a desire of ours.” A local committee has been quietly working to get one built. Several meetings have been held with government officials, including one between Salci, committee chairman Dragan Matovic and Prime Minister Stephen Harper this past summer. A site for the Niagara Convention and Civic Centre was identified on Stanley Avenue across from the former Loretto Academy, through a site-selection request for proposals in 2005. Matovic provided documents relating to the project exclusively to The Review, but declined to elaborate on the proposal due to the sensitivity of negotiations. The documents don't identify the other committee members. The proposed development would consist of an 18,000-square-metre facility that could house conventions of up to 10,000 people. The complex would also feature state-of-the-art conference facilities, several banquet rooms, 4,000 parking spaces and a 100,000-square-foot exhibition hall that could be used for trade shows. The cost of the project is estimated at $100 million. The source of the funding would be split with about one-third coming from the federal government, one-third from the province and one-third from private sector stakeholders.
Article Link: Niagara Falls Review