Niagara Falls, New York. Can we not do better?

[miketoronto]

I know we have talked about this before. But I was just in Niagara Falls, New York yesterday to see Niagara Falls with a friend who never saw them before. She did not have a passport, so we had to stay on the American side.

How does a city next to one of the most famous natural attractions in the world not capitalize on the millions of tourists who visit each year? How can you have abandoned hotels and gravel and mud parking lots a few feet from one of the wonders of the world?

[JManc]

NF is no different than any other smallish upstate city, bombed out economy and a population heavily reliant on low wage jobs and public assistance. The falls can only do so much economically.

[antinimby]

I've never been to Niagara Falls but isn't the view of the Falls better from the Canadian side? That maybe why the Canadian side does better economically than the American side.

[dc_denizen]

It does seem like someone could build a couple hotels and casinos and make a killing, basically what they did on the Canadian side. But while Niagara Falls, Canada is very close the nation's population center, it's kind of far from most Americans.

$$$ for vacation related investments mostly go to the sunbelt in the US, unfortunately.

[MolsonExport]

the Canadian side has abandoned hotels and mud parking lots as well. Just sayin'

[miketoronto]

Originally Posted by antinimby

I've never been to Niagara Falls but isn't the view of the Falls better from the Canadian side? That maybe why the Canadian side does better economically than the American side.

The American side still gets millions of tourists a year. The park was packed, so they do get their share.

[M II A II R II K]

I believe they're building a new casino there.

[ue]

Originally Posted by dc_denizen

It does seem like someone could build a couple hotels and casinos and make a killing, basically what they did on the Canadian side. But while Niagara Falls, Canada is very close the nation's population center, it's kind of far from most Americans.

$$$ for vacation related investments mostly go to the sunbelt in the US, unfortunately.

Still close to your country's largest city and in the most populated region of the US, but yes, less of the overall national population lives close to the Falls in the US than in Canada. Then again, not everyone is close to Vegas or Miami, either.

It seems like Niagara Falls as a destination is often packaged with Toronto, though, like "visit Toronto and check out Niagara Falls too" kind of thing. Maybe if Buffalo or Rochester became more desirable tourism destinations it would work on the American side as well. NYC is a bit far, I think.

[chris08876]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

the Canadian side has abandoned hotels and mud parking lots as well. Just sayin'

Yea it does. When I went, I stayed over on the Canadian side and also visited the American side, but compared to the American side, it was poppin in nightlife. Plus, the views where better.

[Leo the Dog]

I stopped in Niagara Falls with my gf for the first time last October. I was shocked at the level of urban decay of the surrounding area. We had to get gas and took the "scenic route" trying to find a gas station that had not been shut down.

It was one of the scariest cities I've experienced. Much worse than the bad parts of our big cities.

[Ex-Ithacan]

At one time Niagara Falls, NY had quite a bit of industry and was the Honeymoon destination of many on the East Coast. Industry is gone and the honeymooners are headed to more exotic locales. There is a casino and big hotel, but as this pic from the NY Times shows, the casino is located near a less than desirable neighborhood. Kind of like Atlantic City, but with less fanfare. Of course AC Casinos are having big problems now too.

[Razor]

This thread is a bit of a coincidence..I had a summer student working with me who's last day was Friday..He's from the Canadian side of the Falls.

We were just talking about the economy there, and he said that even the Canadian side was doing real bad..It's true..Both sides of the Falls lost it's standing in their respective countries as the "Honeymoon Capital".

Air fare is a lot cheaper these days, so honeymooners are indeed choosing more exotic locales like someone mentioned on here.

One side of the Falls has to re-invent itself.. I said it before, and I'll say it again..Just go full bore Vegas or Atlantic City..Never mind these kitchy little souvenier shops that sell the same mugs and t-shirts..Go grande and big like the MGM or Venitian in Vegas. It's got the Falls as a back drop..Either town just needs a strip of elaborate hotels and legalized gambling. Not just a casino here and there. Do it right. Vegas style shows and all.

[miketoronto]

Originally Posted by Razor

We were just talking about the economy there, and he said that even the Canadian side was doing real bad..It's true..Both sides of the Falls lost it's standing in their respective countries as the "Honeymoon Capital".

I have a feeling what Ontario people think is bad, is really not that bad.

Niagara Falls, Ontario has a growing population, growing economy, etc.
The region as a whole, including Niagara Falls, is the horticultural centre of this part of North America, along with the wineries, the power plants, tourism, etc.

Niagara Fall's, Ontario income levels are also at or above the provincial average.
The region as a whole is doing just fine. It may not be growing as fast as Toronto. But that does not mean the region is doing badly.

On top of that, at least near the falls, Niagara Falls Ontario has done an amazing job with parks, etc. I could not believe on the American side that we were walking through mud and gravel to get to the State Park, and past what looked road side vendors you would see in a third world country. It really was weird.

There is just something weird that a city cannot better utilize the over 10 million visitors they get each year, to even create a little bit more energy.

These cities may not be the top tourist places anymore. But they receive a ton of tourists each year, and that does not seem to be slowing down at all. And a lot of the visitors are international, as Niagara Falls is still a big deal to people who don't live an hour or so from it (Toronto people).

[chris08876]

Originally Posted by Leo the Dog

I stopped in Niagara Falls with my gf for the first time last October. I was shocked at the level of urban decay of the surrounding area. We had to get gas and took the "scenic route" trying to find a gas station that had not been shut down.

It was one of the scariest cities I've experienced. Much worse than the bad parts of our big cities.

Yea thats the thing the the U.S.. Some areas are great, others make your question whether this is the U.S. or some slum in an impoverished country. At times, the wealth gap can be pretty scary, especially to those who think the U.S. is all flowers and sunshine.

[dc_denizen]

The Canadian side is very interesting, far more interesting than the border region south of Montreal or Sarnia/Windsor. You cross the border, and suddenly every municipality wants to tell you their population levels. Niagara region, population 400,000. Hamilton, population [whatever], Burlington etc. It's like SSP forumers designed the signs. The QUEE takes you by a bunch of greenhouses, then the steel mills of Hamilton, then the massive Oakville Ford plant, then bang you're in the LA-evoking exurbs of Toronto and into downtown Mississauga. There is a certain, kind of knowing sense of, look at us, we've got gardens and Euro-evoking horticulture and vital industry and no "rust".

It's really a different beast than driving through Buffalo/Niagara Falls (at least the southern parts, Amherst/northern Buffalo suburbs seem pretty standard).

Of course, the steel mill in Hamilton is defunct, Hamilton and St Catherines are pretty big basket cases and there are massive hydro power plants and auto assembly and wineries on the US side. Just not as many gardens and parks/greenery I guess, I credit the commonwealth influence...maybe Cuomo should attend to the matter. Our politicians need to do a better job directing American institutional investor $$$$ to these regions.

[miketoronto]

I think what gets me is that it does not even seem they try that hard on the American side.
At least don't have muddy parking lots at the entrance to one of the most famous state parks in the nation. Run your trolley connecting the various attractions around the city more than once every 65 minutes(the Canadian side runs them every 12-15 minutes on the core route). Would be nice to see them just try a little harder.

[M II A II R II K]

They could get more cross border tourists if they opened up a Cheesecake Factory there.

[Razor]

Originally Posted by dc_denizen

The Canadian side is very interesting, far more interesting than the border region south of Montreal or Sarnia/Windsor. You cross the border, and suddenly every municipality wants to tell you their population levels. Niagara region, population 400,000. Hamilton, population [whatever], Burlington etc. It's like SSP forumers designed the signs. The QUEE takes you by a bunch of greenhouses, then the steel mills of Hamilton, then the massive Oakville Ford plant, then bang you're in the LA-evoking exurbs of Toronto and into downtown Mississauga. There is a certain, kind of knowing sense of, look at us, we've got gardens and Euro-evoking horticulture and vital industry and no "rust".

It's really a different beast than driving through Buffalo/Niagara Falls (at least the southern parts, Amherst/northern Buffalo suburbs seem pretty standard).

Of course, the steel mill in Hamilton is defunct, Hamilton and St Catherines are pretty big basket cases and there are massive hydro power plants and auto assembly and wineries on the US side. Just not as many gardens and parks/greenery I guess, I credit the commonwealth influence...maybe Cuomo should attend to the matter. Our politicians need to do a better job directing American institutional investor $$$$ to these regions.

Ya, that's the Canadian way.ha ...Pretty parks, Not a big disparity in economic classes, not a whole lots of rust on her cities..

You don't see a whole lots of Mercedes, but not a whole bunch of junkers either.(A multitude of Honda Civics though)...No Vegas style hotel lobbies, but no massive slum neighbourhoods...

Anyways, OT carry on

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by dc_denizen

Of course, the steel mill in Hamilton is defunct, Hamilton and St Catherines are pretty big basket cases and there are massive hydro power plants and auto assembly and wineries on the US side. Just not as many gardens and parks/greenery I guess, I credit the commonwealth influence...maybe Cuomo should attend to the matter. Our politicians need to do a better job directing American institutional investor $$$$ to these regions.

I would like to point out that Hamilton has two steel mills, one of which is still relatively functional. Also the city's overall economy is going pretty strong. The Niagara region however is rather stagnant over all. I've heard that the casino's have been iffy lately.

[atlantaguy]

Originally Posted by M II A II R II K

They could get more cross border tourists if they opened up a Cheesecake Factory there.

Or artisanal olive oil boutiques.