ST. CATHARINES-NIAGARA FALLS | Niagara Region Development Thread

[thomax]

The owner of the Skylon Tower said that they area planning to build two hotel towers on the property...

Niagara This Week: A milestone anniversary for the Skylon Tower

Iconic Niagara Falls landmark celebrates 50th anniversary with free rides to the top for area residents

By Richard Hutton | November 12, 2015

While buildings surrounding the Skylon Tower have risen higher, it still remains an iconic fixture of the Niagara Falls skyline.

And now, it has turned 50 years old, and the Yerich family is in celebration mode.

Since the last week of October, local residents have been able to take advantage of free rides up to the Skylon’s observation deck.

“It continues to be an iconic landmark, notwithstanding the taller buildings surrounding it,” said George Yerich Jr., who took over operations of the tower from his father, George Sr. “It’s a timeless design. It’s the prominence of its location.”

While the tower itself rises 520 feet, it actually sits 775 feet above the gorge and offers visitors a panoramic view of both the Horseshoe and American falls from its two restaurants (one revolving) and observation deck.

George Sr., recalled that day he took his first ride up the tower prior to its official opening on Oct. 6, 1965 and saw that view when the elevator doors opened.

“I considered that to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said.

And those elevators have proven to be as much of a symbol of the Skylon as the tower itself. Affectionately referred to as “Yellow Bugs” by visitors and employees alike, the elevators whisk passengers from the ground floor to the top of the tower in 52 seconds.

But there is more to the Skylon than the tower and the expansive view it affords visitors. It boast as revolving restaurant that’s open year round as well as a buffet establishment that’s open during the tourist season from May to October.

There is an arcade in the lower level at the base of the tower, while the main floor houses amenities such as shops and quick-serve restaurants. One floor above is space that can be booked for events. For example, the space was utilized by organizers of the Red Bull Crashed Ice event that took place in Niagara Falls in 2012 and has also been used as a hub for the Niagara Falls International Marathon.

The tower is also the site of the annual Stairclimb for Cancer fundraiser for the Niagara chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society.

It has also been the site of daredevil exploits including Dean Sullivan’s successful attempt to repel down the side of the tower in 2008 and funambulist Jay Cochrane’s summer of Skywalks between the tower and the Hilton Hotel in 2012.

But from a business standpoint, things are looking up for the Skylon. After a more than its fair share of sluggish seasons, a rebound in tourism to Niagara Falls has brought with it an influx of visitors wanting to check out the tower, according to George Jr.

“We have more and more international visitors,” he said. “We have a growing number of visitors from mainland China. That’s a new market that’s opening up.”

That’s something George Sr. agreed with.

“On any given day you may hear, many, many different languages.”

And the family is not discounting further development on the eight and one-half acre site surrounding the tower, including additional hotels.

“We will build two hotel towers on the property depending on market demand,” George Jr. said. “If the business conditions warrant it.”

But any future development, he added, would be sensitive to the Skylon’s presence and importance to the Niagara Falls skyline.

“Any hotels that might be built will not overwhelm the tower,” he said.

The free ride offer ends Nov. 20. On Nov. 25, the tower will be presented with a plaque from Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati recognizing the tower’s milestone anniversary.

To take advantage of the free ride, visitors will be required to show proof of residency in the Niagara Region.

[thomax]

A $284-million development is being planned at the Fort Erie Race Track, near the new $400-million Canadian Motor Speedway...

Bullet News Niagara: Track owners plan $284-million development

By Kris Dube | November 4, 2015

Hotels, a waterpark, along with residential, industrial and retail development are all part of the plans for a $284-million project at the Fort Erie Race Track.

At a Niagara Region planning and development committee meeting on Wednesday, regional council supported adding the site to its Niagara Gateway Economic Zone and Centre Community Improvement Plan – which provides tax incentives for developments in the region.

The track's new ownership was introduced in August 2014, lead by Carl Paladino, a well-known businessman from Buffalo, N.Y.

The plans for development are expected to occur in at least four phases with total construction value estimated over $280 million, says a report approved by regional councillors on Wednesday afternoon.

The decision made by the regional committee this week will provide no more than $545,000 over a ten-year period.

The first step in the project will involve the construction of a hotel located on the lands zoned for hospitality uses.

The hotel is planned to be approximately 100,000 sq. ft., have 135 rooms and employ approximately 16 full-time staff members.

Estimated construction cost has been pegged at $11 million.

This will be followed by a second, similar hotel (also valued at $11 million), as well as 50,000 sq. ft. of retail services with a construction value of $11.25 million.

The proposed development on the hospitality lands is expected to reach $33.25 million.

Also proposed to be developed are the following:

-A 100,000 sq. ft. hotel/indoor waterpark with a construction cost of $55 million;

-A 100,000 sq. ft. retail area (north of Bertie Street) expected to be built for $22.5 million;

-A 1,080,000 sq.ft. industrial/flex space with an estimated cost of $94.5 million;

-A $7.5 million multi-storey parking facility;

-A $36-million apartment complex with 288 residential units;

-A 55,000 sq. ft. retail area worth $10.3 million;

-A $4.6-million Recreational Vehicle Park;

-A $20.5-million, 235,000-sq.ft project associated with the development on Industrial Drive

Last year, the owners said they will not oversee the day-to-day operations of the Fort Erie Race Track, a facility that has depended on approximately $30 million from the provincial government over the last six seasons.

Racing is expected to continue at the track.

The portions of vacant land that surround the track and its infield total approximately 200 acres and the entire property is 338 acres.

This development at the racetrack is also expected to create synergies with the Canadian Motor Speedway, a proposed $400-million development on 820 acres of land in Fort Erie, adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Way.

Earlier this year, regional council also agreed to provide the same incentives to the speedway's investors.

Paladino is partnered with Bill Mosey and Joel Castle, also businessmen from Buffalo, along with David Kompson, a developer with properties in Western New York and several in Fort Erie – mostly commercial plazas on Garrison Road.

Their plans don't involve a bailout for the cash-strapped facility, but are designed to support the attractiveness of the venue and create new opportunities for commerce at the site.

[thomax]

Last month a it was announced that Chinese investors were planning a $1 Billion “city within a city” development at the site of Thundering Waters golf course...

Bullet New Niagara: Investors planning 'city within a city'

By Kris Dube | October 28, 2015

Mayor Jim Diodati says a $1-billion project being undertaken in Niagara Falls by Chinese investors will be like a “city within a city.”

At Tuesday's council meeting, Diodati reminded councillors, staff and members of the audience about an upcoming trip he is making to China next week.

Premier Kathleen Wynne will also be in the country on other business but will join Diodati and two city staff members in Beijing for what he is touting as a major announcement.

At least two of Wynne's provincial cabinet ministers are also expected to be in attendance, according to the mayor.

It is expected that a $100-million commitment will be made by the Chinese government for a project to be built on lands already purchased in Niagara Falls – near Thundering Waters Golf Course.

Diodati said he and other officials are making the trip to support the investment team that has purchased the site.

“They are Niagara Falls taxpayers that we're representing in China – to bring back $100 million in seed money that will be a part of a $1-billion development,” Diodati said in an interview with Bullet News on Wednesday evening.

In September, an open house was held by the city and the project, part of an ongoing secondary plan for the area, was the focal point of the meeting.

Diodati said the project will be a “multipurpose” development with residential, tourism, entertainment and transit components attached to it.

The mayor also said he has been told this is one of the biggest investments outside of China for this type of development.

Five years ago, Diodati visited China to attract business. He said the conversations started with Chinese investors and government officials back then are starting to pay off.

“It has taken several years of ongoing trust and developing relations,” said Diodati.

Several ambassadors to China and other top officials have made visits to Niagara Falls, a place Diodati says is important to the Asian community.

“It's a place that's at the top of their agenda,” said Diodati.

And today it was announced that the Chinese government are contributing $100 million to the development...

Bullet News Niagara: Niagara Falls Mayor calls trip to China a 'huge success'


Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati, Mr. Yuan from CITIC Group, Xincheng Real Estate as well as CAO
Ken Todd and Director of Business Development Serge Felicetti.

By Kris Dube | November 13, 2015

Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati says his recent trip to China was a “huge success.”

In an email to Bullet News, the mayor confirmed that the real estate arm of the Chinese government has announced it will be a shareholder in a $1-billion development at the site of Thundering Waters golf course.

Diodati spoke publicly about the development two weeks ago as he prepared for the trip, which he was joined on by the city's chief administrative officer Ken Todd and Serge Felicetti, the municipality's director of business development.

“The trip was a huge success, with multiple meetings with many potential investors and businesses that are looking to establish a presence in Ontario, using Niagara as their base,” said Diodati.

The investors are in the midst of a secondary planning process, anticipated to be completed by the end of 2016.

Diodati said this will “help fine-tune the final elements of the components of the land use plan.”

The mayor also pointed out that Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne has at the announcement.

The development, which Diodati previously described to Bullet News as a “city within a city,” will include commercial, business and residential components.

“It was pretty obvious to us that the Chinese people really love Niagara Falls and acknowledged that we are a global brand,” said Diodati.

“We were well received,” he added.

Five years ago, Diodati visited China to attract business. He said the conversations started with Chinese investors and government officials back then are starting to pay off.

“It has taken several years of ongoing trust and developing relations,” he said in late October.

The commitment made by the Chinese government is part of a 'global investment strategy' to spend $2-billion abroad, according to Diodati.

Part of this plan, Chinese officials will spend $100 million on the Niagara Falls project.

[realcity]

The Yerich's have been singing that song for decades. First they have to buy the land, from a 100-year lease deal made in the 70s.

[realcity]

Time Warner Cable News:

The space on 310 Rainbow Boulevard in Niagara Falls is the projected home of a future six-story, mixed use development, but as it stands today, it's still just empty undeveloped space.

"It's a large project it's a very complex project and it's taking considerably longer than anyone had anticipated to complete the financial arrangements," Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster said.

Hamister Group, LLC announced the general contractor in late June, and was hoping to break ground on the $35 million Hamister Hotel project over the summer.

However, months later there's still no firm date for groundbreaking, and the approved project schedule continues to be pushed back

That's why Michael DiCienzo of Niagara Falls New York Hotel Management wrote to the city, asking officials to consider letting his company develop the site instead.

[realcity]

Niagara Falls Review:

Expect to see some multi-million dollar changes taking place near the top of Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls.

Older buildings like the Comfort Inn are slated for demolition, businesses like Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum and Kelsey's Restaurant are being renovated or expanded, and new interactive entertainment features are being added to the mix.

"Once the Comfort Inn is removed we will have a four-acre site available and that's going to be expansion for our Clifton Hill entertainment facilities," said Harry Oakes, president of Hoco Limited, that owns and operates a number of attractions, restaurants and shops on the south side of the street.

The Comfort Inn closed early last month, all the essential services were cut off on Monday, and large excavators were expected to be on site Wednesday or Thursday to begin taking down the building.

"We are going to be busy this winter so we are just cranking up right now," said Oakes. "It's kind of the next phase in our multi-plan, master plan that we have for the whole site. The construction that is going to take place over the next several months is about 20,000-square feet of renovations and about 30,000-square feet of new buildings, along with extensive streetscape site work."

[realcity]

From Niagara Falls Review:

When October and November are “banner months” for a prime tourist attraction — and not the typical July and August — you know you’ve had a good year.

“We’ve enjoyed a very solid year. The fall season has been especially good, with October and November being banner months for us,” said Niagara Casinos spokesman Greg Medulun.

“In fact, October was one of our top 10 revenue months of all time. This includes Julys and Augusts over the past 19 years as well.”

It was a year to savour for the city’s tourism industry.

Niagara Falls Tourism said this past summer was the best season in years, with many businesses and hotels reporting significant increases in business from last summer.

[thomax]

I found these renderings today and hadn't seen them posted here, or anywhere else yet, so I figured I would post them. Their both by Zerafa Architecture Studio.

This one is just labelled "Fallsview". The page it was posted on is from 2015.

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This one is labelled "Fallsview Blvd South Tower Proposal". It says that the project is from 2013.

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More:

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It looks like they might be the same project, just with two different designs. I'm pretty sure the location is here.


Anyone know anything about these?

[realcity]

awesome. Haven't heard anything

[realcity]

Niagara Falls Review:

Let the good times roll.

The lower Canadian dollar is encouraging more Americans to visit and more Canadians to stay at home.

At Fallsview Casino in Niagara Falls, business has been "solid since the spring of last year" and they have continued to experience measurable growth in the summer and fall of 2015.

"January is following the same trend," said director of communications Greg Medulun.

The favourable exchange rate and lower fuel costs, he added, is "definitely encouraging more Americans to visit.

"It also deters Canadians from crossing the border – an important factor for us when considering the significantly larger size of the Canadian market relative to the U.S. market."

Medulun said they have a "great" product and "excellent" service standards, which puts them in a good position to make the most of the favourable economic factors they are experiencing.

Still, it's been a bumpy 15-year ride for U.S. and international tourism to Niagara.

It's also a sector vital to the region's health.

[masterwhite]

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2...-hospital-site

A $145-million retirement community development is being planned for the former Hotel Dieu hospital site in St. Catharines by a company with a proven track record in Niagara.

Seasons Retirement Communities, which operates a residence in Welland, announced the massive project on the 10-acre site Thursday.

The company said construction will start this year.

“This is a great news story for economic investment into the community,” said St. Catharines Mayor Walter Sendzik.

“When you look at Seasons and what they’ve done in other communities in Ontario, and you see the kind of investments that they make, it really does set the stage for an exciting redevelopment for a significant property in St. Catharines.”

The project includes 560 retirement units spread out over the site, which sits at 155 Ontario St. near Montebello Park and backs onto Twelve Mile Creek.

It includes plans for a 140-unit seniors care residence, two 200-unit apartment buildings and 20 townhomes, according to a city report on community improvement plans, or CIPs, going to council Monday. That report says the estimated project costs are $145 million.

The old hospital building would be torn down.

The Oakville-based company said in a press release Thursday the development will provide a range of care options for seniors, from independent living to assisted living.

No one from the company was available to speak Thursday.

“We are excited about the opportunity to create new homes for the senior population in St. Catharines,” CEO Rick Smyth said in a statement.

“We are making a significant investment in downtown St. Catharines that will create numerous partnerships and bring essential services to meet the needs of an aging population.”

The company expects to hire 100 full-time and part-time skilled workers for the retirement complex.

Seasons has a retirement residence on First Avenue in Welland, with residents coming from as far away as Port Colborne and St. Catharines.

Its other properties are in Amherstburg, Belle River, Bowmanville, Brantford, LaSalle, Milton, Owen Sound, Strathroy and Trenton.

The Ontario Street hospital site was closed in March 2013 with the opening of the new St. Catharines hospital on Fourth Avenue.

The Niagara Health System sold the property to Mountainview and Walker Industries prior to the move in 2006 for $3 million. A clause in the sale allowed the NHS to stay on the land until its move.

The original idea was to build residences across the street from a townhouse development Mountainview and Walker built at the corner of Ontario Street and Welland Avenue.

Mike Watt, executive vice-president of Walker Industries, said Thursday they shifted their sights to seniors-focused housing and decided about a year and a half ago to look for a partner because of the size of the project.

He said a number of parties looked at re-adapting the hospital building, but the interior layout doesn’t lend itself to what most developers want to do and it wasn’t financially viable.

He said they settled on working with Seasons because it’s a company that’s been around a long time and has done projects all over the province. Mountainview-Walker is in the midst of selling the property to them.

“It’s a fabulous location,” Watt said. “A lot of amenities are within walking distance, and from a health-care perspective obviously the new hospital is very close by. There’s the whole downtown and the redevelopment going on there. We all saw the opportunity that having that kind of housing downtown would have.”

Sendzik said there will be a significant bump in tax revenue from the development — revenue that wasn’t coming in when it was a hospital.

It will also create construction jobs needed in the community.

He said city staff have worked hard for the past year with Seasons to make the project happen.

“This is one of those announcements, they don’t come along very often, and this is really an exciting time for St. Catharines,” Sendzik said. “This shows we’re investment-ready.”

St. Patrick’s Coun. Mark Elliott, whose ward includes the former Hotel Dieu site, said the development will be a great addition to the downtown, which is a community for everybody, not just youth.

He said it provides a needed residential component while filling a gap for seniors housing in the area.

“There’s a need for this type of thing, not only within the downtown but within our community,” he said. “Many of the retirement homes are quite full with quite long waiting lists. This is really needed in St. Catharines, especially with an aging community.”

Elliott and fellow ward councillor Mat Siscoe said residents in the area had previously said no to a police station and courthouse on the property, and wanted residential.

“This is what residents have been waiting for and looking for,” Siscoe said. “I think residents in the area are going to be very happy and very satisfied with the way this eventually came out.”

Siscoe said the city has been working toward getting the site developed for a number of years and it’s exciting to have a very serious proposal.

“I’m excited going forward that it’s going to help complete some of the work on Ontario Street and create that gateway to downtown we’ve been looking for for the last few years since Hotel Dieu closed.”

[thomax]

Some news, renderings, and site plans for Niagara Falls' $1B "city within a city"...

Niagara Falls Review: $1B development proposal going before council

By Ray Spiteri | April 24, 2016

City council will be asked Tuesday to support the future growth of the Thundering Waters area where a $1-billion development is envisioned.

Staff will present councillors with a report about a secondary plan covering approximately 196 hectares of land near the golf club.

Under the proposal by GR Investments Ltd., 115 hectares will be developed for residential, commercial, institutional and employment uses.

The remaining 81 hectares, or 42 per cent of the total area, are provincially significant wetlands, which are to be protected through environmental protection area policies within the city’s Official Plan.

Staff said approval of Tuesday’s report would not mean council is green lighting the project, but would acknowledge the developer’s efforts in doing a number of studies that will help formulate the secondary plan.

A public meeting is also scheduled for Tuesday to allow residents to provide input. That input, as well as comments proponents and staff have received during past and will receive during future open houses, will help shape the secondary plan.

It’s the third public meeting scheduled for Tuesday. Planning matters are scheduled to be dealt with at 7 p.m.

The project was announced last fall in China during a visit there by Mayor Jim Diodati and Premier Kathleen Wynne. The real-estate arm of the Chinese government is a shareholder in the development.

The project calls for residential homes, restaurants and entertainment options. But there are 5.2 hectares of wetlands located in the middle of an important piece of the development, which could be replaced on a three-to-one ratio elsewhere, according to a pilot project proposed by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.

During council’s last meeting April 12, council dismissed a resolution to support the biodiversity offsetting of the 5.2 hectares of wetlands for future development, with politicians complaining they did not have sufficient information to make a decision that evening.

Dozens of protesters filled council chambers and held signs outside of city hall, calling on the protection of wetlands and opposing biodiversity offsetting.

Council unanimously voted to defer the motion until further information is available.

In Tuesday’s report, staff said the development is being planned under current local, regional and provincial legislation.

Biodiversity offsetting of provincially significant wetlands is currently not permitted by the province. However, staff said at some point in the future, should the province provide opportunities for it, the proponents could submit an application to amend the planning documents to take advantage of any legislative change.

Staff said the development may be refined through the ongoing consultation process.

Final studies and a draft secondary plan will proceed to a final open house and a meeting before council.

Diodati said Tuesday’s public meeting and report will be “one more step along the way” for the development.

“We’re not finished on the secondary plan, but it kind of gives a bit of a progress report,” he said.

“Because of its scope and significant and public attention, the staff want to keep everything step by step, as transparent as possible, and keep council’s finger on the pulse throughout the development of the secondary plan.”

Diodati said council will not be asked for any concrete approvals Tuesday night, just “more an acknowledgement of where we’re at, and also a chronology of how we got there, and what steps still need to happen.”

Diodati said Tuesday’s report only deals with what the developer is allowed to do under current rules and regulations, therefore the idea of biodiversity offsetting is not part of that because the province has not signed off on the plan.

“I think they realized that there’s still a lot more work to do in that regard with the province, and they want to stick with what they know and the rules that are already established on what they can currently do outside of the wetland areas,” he said.

Diodati said “a lot more study needs to take place” on the biodiversity offsetting issue.

“They always said that they were looking at two plans: One plan where they could do what is allowed under the current rules and regulations, and then what was possible under the biodiversity offsetting plan, which is essentially ensuring that none of those (5.2 hectares) were negatively impacted with development around them,” he said.

“They said ... if there’s not a will or a way to do that, then they’ll go with their original plan, with what is currently allowed under the rules.”

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[ScreamingViking]

Train station? Is that purely conceptual? Or do they intend to eventually connect to future GO service via a new train corridor?

That rail line terminates near the southern end of the Fallsview Blvd. hotel strip... while the old right of way continues north of the hotels to the abandoned Michigan Central Railway bridge near the VIA station, largely as paths and grassy strips, the Fallsview Casino complex is built right over top.

[drafty]

Surely the train station is to try and impress someone (investor?). It took decades to get that line out of the tourist district, it will never be back. In the other direction, it is strictly a freight line that runs through Welland and connects to Buffalo, not even remotely near the Via/Go tracks along the Lake Ontario shore.
I think this is just your typical sales package, with the final project (if it happens) being totally different.

[MoreTrains]

City within a city. It is exactly that. A junky suburb development with a power centre. Yay for imagination.

[masterwhite]

Originally Posted by thomax

Some news, renderings, and site plans for Niagara Falls' $1B "city within a city"...




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I hope this happens

[thomax]

Here's a new site plan and rendering for the redevelopment of Prudhommes Landing, in the town of Lincoln, just west of St. Catharines. The development is called Prudhommes Landing Town Center...


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With over 1/2 mile of Lake Ontario shoreline on 84-acres, this mixed-use development is located in Ontario wine country between Hamilton and Niagara Falls. This master planned development includes 300,000 sf of retail, 200,000 sf of office, 850 residential units, with hospitality, special attractions, public amenity features and park areas. - dorskyyue.com

Location:

Prudhommes Landing - Lincoln, Ontario | Google Maps



The property sold earlier this month, and part of the hotel burned down a few days ago...

CHCH News: Prudhommes Landing sold [w/ video]

June 10, 2016

After years of being on the market, a high-profile lakeshore property known as Prudhommes landing in the town of Lincoln has been sold. While some people are excited about a new development, others who own property next to the land are not as optimistic with the thought of years of construction in their backyards. But the town of Lincoln is delighted by the sale as they expect it will boost the economy and bring more people to the region.

Prudhommes Landing is right next to the QEW extending from the Tim Hortons near Victoria Avenue to the edge of the Lakehouse restaurant. The 80 acre property with a kilometer of shoreline has been sitting on the market for decades. Buildings abandoned and falling apart, covered in graffiti.

It may look deserted now but in the 1980’s the site featured waterslides, a go-cart track and mini putt. The amusement park eventually closed and the vandalism began. People think with the sale the area will improve.

Ken Fowler enterprises sold the land to FBH Ontario Incorporated last night. It’s a branch of an Italian construction company. Fowler told CHCH that the new owner will carry out a vision that’s been in the works for years which will include new homes and condos.

Lincoln’s chief administrative officer showed us the plans that were drawn up in 2014. “Recreational amenities along the waterfront, were looking at some commercial along the QEW and residential options.”

In terms of the sale price Ken Fowler said it was private but added that he was pleased with the number. Unconfirmed reports suggest the land sold for nearly $30 million. Not everyone is excited for the development including Ken Pachkowski who’s home backs on to Prudhommes Landing. He’s expecting to see his trees tore down in the back and a row of condos put in. “We’re not going to be happy about the construction and the noise, I guess the density involved. We still don’t know how many people they are going to put in that area,” says Ken.

Mayor Sandra Easton says they will work with the people of Lincoln to ensure the design meets everyone’s needs.

CHCH News: Prudhomme’s Landing Inn fire [w/video]

June 29, 2016

It is a derelict landmark and now the site of the former Prudhomme’s Landing Inn is at the centre of a suspicious fire. Just this month the 80 acre property in Vineland was sold after sitting vacant for years.

Locals are not surprised about the fire though, calling the hotel a sitting target.

The fire is believed to have started on the second floor and now an entire chunk of the building is gone.

For locals, including Vicky Thompson, seeing the burnt out wreckage was emotional.

“I just, I don’t know, brings back childhood memories I guess, It is sad. Heartbreaking. You know it used to be a nice place, a happening place, but now all it is is nothing.”

Fire officials say the blaze spread to the roof making the vacant building unsafe.

The property was once a bustling place to be. It was at one time home to the Wet n’ Wild water park but it all closed down in 2002.

Graffiti, broken windows and overgrown vegetation is all that remains, making it a popular spot for vandals.

“The building has been abandoned for more than a decade now, so I am not really surprised. I mean it was bound to happen. It has been a condemned building for quite awhile and that’s what happens to old buildings- they start to fall apart and people move in and make use of it.”

And it’s not the first time firefighters were called to the property. In 2009 Victoria Hall went up in flames. That fire was also suspicious in nature.

The land was sold to an Italian constriction company on June 9th. They plan on developing the site into homes and condos. The construction company says there will be round-the-clock security at the hotel.

Demolition work is expected to begin in the coming weeks and the site should be completley leveled by July.

[thomax]

St. Catharines has a new tallest building being proposed...

St. Catharines Standard: City's tallest building proposal takes first steps

The plan for a 19-storey residence and hotel in downtown St. Catharines is moving on up.

City councillors Monday night approved a zoning amendment that allows for the proposed height at 57 Carlisle St., next to the city’s parking garage.

Mayor Walter Sendzik said it is the first step in a long process for the development.

“We build communities by bold leadership and risk takers,” he said, addressing developer Nick Atalick in council chambers.

“You’re a risk taker and an entrepreneur. On behalf of council, we’re going to be excited to watch this unfold.”

Sendzik said from an economic development, planning and transportation and environmental services standpoint, the city departments are there to support a project such as this one.

The plan includes a mixed-used building with 144 condo apartments, retail commercial space, a 64-unit hotel and three levels of underground parking.

Its frontage will be on Carlisle Street and Garden Park, at the rear of what used to be the Leonard Hotel and is now Carlisle Suites.

Atalick told councillors his plan calls for 750- to 970-square-foot apartments that would run $260,000 to $334,000. The objective is to have one parking spot per unit.

Construction is slated to start in the spring and will take an estimated 18 months, he said.

City director of planning and building services Jim Riddell told councillors the building will be the highest and densest building in St. Catharines and is located where the highest and densest building should be. It’s in the urban growth centre of the city, next to the parking garage and across from public transit.

Riddell said the plan has received no objections from relevant departments and agencies and Niagara Region has thrown its support behind the proposal because it will help the city achieve a density target of 150 people and jobs per hectare in the urban growth centre.

A city public open house about the zoning application on July 14 drew a dozen members of the public. Riddell said there was support for the proposal and some questions about the building’s design and parking.

Riddell said comments included a preference for a terraced building to reduce the visual impact and break up the building’s mass. He said staff will work with the applicant to ensure the building is compatible and attractive.

Another concern raised was whether the development will have sufficient parking. Riddell said that’s been addressed with the 144 spaces proposed, a bus terminal across the street and the parking garage next door.

Councillors changed the zoning from Downtown Traditional Main Street to Downtown Commercial Core to allow for the height.

Renderings:





Location:

Google Street View | 57 Carlisle Street, St. Catharines, Ontario

[north 42]

Looks like St. Catharines will finally start building a skyline if this project goes through.

[Tony]

It's been a long long long wait for anything tall in the City. I think the most recent highrises were probably Meadowvale Green in the 1980's!!