ST. CATHARINES-NIAGARA FALLS | Niagara Region Development Thread - Page 8

mucciared · #**141** Posted **Oct 8, 2006, 6:17 AM**

http://nfdoc.niagarafalls.ca/weblink...chhandle=32498
NFALLS-DOC > Council > Agendas > Council Agendas > 2005 Agendas > 2005/12/05
^^ That's for the GWL skating path

http://www.niagarafalls.ca/about_nia...ct%2030-06.pdf
^ There have been some small changes to the Hilton Expansion but a rendering is included for all those interested.

WhipperSnapper · #**142** Posted **Oct 8, 2006, 4:14 PM**

Re: Hilton

big improvement

FALLSVIEW · #**143** Posted **Oct 11, 2006, 9:54 PM**

Wow even bigger then originally planned for the Hilton, let's see what happens!

mucciared · #**144** Posted **Oct 15, 2006, 3:33 PM**

http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/s...tml?from_rss=1

Hilton developer set to start N.F., Ont. project
Business First of Buffalo - October 6, 2006by James FinkBusiness First

After more than two years of planning and intense public-sector review, the developers of a 59-story addition to the Hilton-Niagara Falls are ready to break ground on the $300 million (Canadian) project.

When it opens by mid-2009, the hotel will leapfrog to the largest in Niagara Falls and Canada and have one of the largest concentration of rooms and suites in the country.

This article is for Paid Print Subscribers ONLY.

Well it's good to hear Hilton is making the first step. Does anyone know if they've closed Denny's yet? This time last year is when Golden Griddle closed to eventually place the Skywheel.

Development news in Niagara seems to have come to a standstill. Does anyone know of any other developments? Anything on the new people mover system?

drafty · #**145** Posted **Oct 16, 2006, 12:38 PM**

I've just read on Niagara Falls council agenda that Rudan Holdings, which was building the Crown Plaza hotel that stopped construction after CP pulled out, is applying for a temporary parking lot again for construction workers, so maybe something is going to happen there. I can't believe that the crane has been sitting there for 2 years. (or, as another poster called it, the largest weather vane in the world)

realcity · #**146** Posted **Oct 16, 2006, 4:37 PM**

Hilton will be taller than Skylon. A new tallest for NF.

mucciared · #**147** Posted **Oct 17, 2006, 5:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drafty

I've just read on Niagara Falls council agenda that Rudan Holdings, which was building the Crown Plaza hotel that stopped construction after CP pulled out, is applying for a temporary parking lot again for construction workers, so maybe something is going to happen there. I can't believe that the crane has been sitting there for 2 years. (or, as another poster called it, the largest weather vane in the world)

Nice find. Hopefully we'll hear some new project come forward then. I take it Rudan Holdings then is back on its feet and construction can start/end... the site is a bit of an eyesore.

drafty · #**148** Posted **Oct 17, 2006, 3:11 PM**

Hopefully! I just re-read the application and it is very vague as to their intentions. They are asking for a 3 year extension of the existing bylaw. One of the conditions of the previous bylaw, was that they were required to return the property to its original condition (grass, etc.), which they didn't do, so maybe this is just to give them another 3 years before they have to spend the money. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt and see what happens.

drafty · #**149** Posted **Oct 17, 2006, 5:46 PM**

I heard a rumour a while ago (was it on here?) about the south end Canadian Tire moving up the road to Niagara Square. The site map of Niagara Square on the Riocan (owner) web site, now shows not only all the new stores (Future Shop, etc.) but a CTC in between the cinemas and McLeod Rd. I would assume the new one would be bigger and that is why they are moving, but it is going to leave a big empty building at the old location.

FALLSVIEW · #**150** Posted **Oct 18, 2006, 3:58 AM**

ORIGINALLY POSTED: 08-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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?

Thank's for the updates guys! ^This ^ is what I was told from the administrative office, about a month and half ago. So I quess it is going to happen.

I haven't heard of anything new going on in Niagara lately.

FALLSVIEW · #**151** Posted **Oct 18, 2006, 3:59 AM**

ORIGINALLY POSTED: 08-31-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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?

Thank's for the updates guys! ^This ^ is what I was told from the administrative office, about a month and half ago. So I quess it is going to happen.

I haven't heard of anything new going on in Niagara lately Mucciared.

FALLSVIEW · #**152** Posted **Oct 18, 2006, 4:08 AM**

Downtown project still alive

COREY LAROCQUE / Review Staff Writer
Local News - Tuesday, October 17, 2006 @ 02:00

The Historic Niagara plan to revive downtown is still alive after city council voted to keep $36 million to improve public areas in the Queen Street area.

"I'm very encouraged by five courageous council members who voted in the best interest of Niagara Falls," said Aaron Lichtman, after Monday's meeting where council voted down a motion that would have limited its financial commitment to $12 million.

CLICK>THE REVIEW

FALLSVIEW · #**153** Posted **Oct 18, 2006, 4:13 AM**

Thorold lands power generation project

MATTHEW VAN DONGEN / Osprey News Network
Local News - Tuesday, October 17, 2006 @ 02:00

Everything about Thorold's new power project is big.

The natural gas-fired power plant will cover 11 acres of land owned by paper recycler Abitibi Consolidated.

It will pump 236-megawatts of energy into Ontario's grid. That's about half the electricity output from one of Pickering's nuclear generators, enough to light up 300,000 homes.

It will cost more than $470-million to build - good for 300-plus jobs over two years of construction.

The numbers are big. The ramifications for Thorold are bigger, said Thorold Mayor Robin Brock.

"I don't think I've ever been so excited in my life. This is unprecedented in the City of Thorold," said the beaming mayor Monday, after the province approved the massive co-generation project at Abitibi.

"This secures 400 high-paying, unionized jobs at Abitibi. In today's environment, that's a difficult thing to do."

CLICK>THE REVIEW

FALLSVIEW · #**154** Posted **Oct 18, 2006, 11:01 PM**

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

This past weekend Future Shop, Linens & Things and Petcetera opened for business. Not much else to report around Niagara Falls right now.

I received an e/mail from the city yesterday regarding the pedestrian bridge between Fallsview Casino and the Skylon Tower:

Please be advised that Legal staff are in the process of working out an agreement which may be signed in a couple months. You are correct in that the bridge is functional and the details of maintaining the structure has fallen to the legal system.

FALLSVIEW · #**155** Posted **Oct 19, 2006, 5:26 AM**

The NIAGARA and Rainbow Tower

Artist rendering of the future Niagara Condominiums on River road. Also included is the Rainbow Tower!

Tony · #**156** Posted **Oct 19, 2006, 12:19 PM**

wow does the Rainbow ever look out of place.

drafty · #**157** Posted **Oct 19, 2006, 1:02 PM**

Maybe because the picture that they used doesn't show the Fallsview Casino hotel, Embassy Suites, Hilton, Oakes or the Skywheel that would give a little perspective. I think any of the tall hotels, shown without actual surroundings, look out of place.

drafty · #**158** Posted **Oct 19, 2006, 1:13 PM**

I was out at Niagara Square yesterday to check out the new Future Shop. I was dumbfounded to discover that the 3 new stores (Future Shop, Linens n Things and Petcetera) have no access to the mall, only Winners does. I can't understand why the stores wouldn't want access or why RioCan wouldn't demand it. If I was going to one of these stores specifically, I probably wouldn't bother going into the mall, and conversely, if I was in the mall (especially in the winter), I wouldn't venture back outside to get to these new stores. Any thoughts as to why they have done this?

FALLSVIEW · #**159** Posted **Oct 19, 2006, 2:34 PM**

My thoughts Drafty are that it was probably a cost issue, they would have had to share the cost of continuing the storefront hallway all the way down to the end, and since Winners only goes to the end of Petcetera, then they would have to fill even more storefronts. The 3 new stores also might not want to be part of the actual mall, kind of their own entity with their own customers? My wife and went to the new Petcetera and no thanks, not one person asked if we needed help, or smiled, or even looked at us, kind of odd for a 5 day old store. My biggest pet peeve also took place, the manager was disciplining staff in the middle of the store, that is a big no no in my professionlism books. L n T was a nice store, but it doesn't have enough variety, and FS is one of my favorite stores, Best Buy being my first because they don't work on commision, therefore they don't hassle you. I'm not sure if they are going to re-pave the parking lot, I now doubt it!

The old Autoland Chrysler on Montrose is going to be transformed into some kind of super outlet store, or something like that.

FALLSVIEW · #**160** Posted **Oct 20, 2006, 3:57 AM**

Region votes yes to tower in Port Dalhousie

16-4 vote in favour of 17-storey condo against Region staff recommendation

Paul Forsyth
Oct 18, 2006

THOROLD -- Controversial plans for a condominium tower, theatre and mixed retail/office complex in historic Port Dalhousie are now just one step away from becoming reality, after Regional politicians overwhelmingly approved the plan.

After nearly seven hours of people arguing for and against the project, Regional councillors approved it last week by a vote of 16-4. The only barrier to the project going ahead now is an appeal made to the Ontario Municipal Board, the province's land-use referee, by opponents of an earlier decision by the City of St. Catharines to approve the project.

The OMB hearing, likely months away, is expected to take weeks to complete.

CLICK>NIAGARA THIS WEEK

Like it or not this little community needs this. If you take a close look at the structures that exist there now. They are slowly decaying, and this may be a blessing for this place.