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  #81  
Old Posted Sep 13, 2006, 3:40 PM
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  #82  
Old Posted Sep 14, 2006, 12:17 AM
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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.
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  #83  
Old Posted Sep 14, 2006, 12:31 AM
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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.
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  #84  
Old Posted Sep 14, 2006, 3:19 AM
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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!

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.

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.

Last edited by FALLSVIEW; Sep 15, 2006 at 9:43 PM.
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  #85  
Old Posted Sep 14, 2006, 12:26 PM
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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), 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.
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  #86  
Old Posted Sep 14, 2006, 3:30 PM
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^ 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.
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  #87  
Old Posted Sep 14, 2006, 3:33 PM
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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.
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  #88  
Old Posted Sep 14, 2006, 4:19 PM
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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.
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  #89  
Old Posted Sep 14, 2006, 4:19 PM
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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.
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  #90  
Old Posted Sep 14, 2006, 4:53 PM
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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.



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.

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  #91  
Old Posted Sep 14, 2006, 9:05 PM
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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.
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  #92  
Old Posted Sep 15, 2006, 1:28 AM
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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.
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  #93  
Old Posted Sep 15, 2006, 1:56 AM
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EXTERIOR SHOT OF PROPOSED SPORTS COMPLEX



INTERIOR SHOT OF PROPOSED SPORTS COMPLEX



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

Last edited by FALLSVIEW; Sep 15, 2006 at 3:11 PM.
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  #94  
Old Posted Sep 15, 2006, 5:04 AM
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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.

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Originally Posted by 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.
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  #95  
Old Posted Sep 15, 2006, 1:36 PM
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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.
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  #96  
Old Posted Sep 15, 2006, 1:37 PM
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The Skylon Hotel could be built into the escarpment facing and connected with Skylon's base underground. That land is Skylon's btw.
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  #97  
Old Posted Sep 15, 2006, 3:28 PM
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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
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  #98  
Old Posted Sep 15, 2006, 10:36 PM
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FUTURE INDEPENDANT HOTEL ON ELLEN AVENUE!





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.
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  #99  
Old Posted Sep 15, 2006, 10:44 PM
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Woops, Double Post! Just In Case You Missed It The First Time...lol

Last edited by FALLSVIEW; Sep 16, 2006 at 4:09 AM.
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  #100  
Old Posted Sep 16, 2006, 1:45 AM
mucciared mucciared is offline
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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.
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