"CIRCUS WORLD IS GONE "
THE HULK NEEDS A LITTLE TLC! As with most of these new larger than life signs, the upkeep is constant. The Incredible Hulk sign was receiving some of this upkeep yesterday.
THE CASINO PARKING LOT was busy with construction workers yesterday installing utility boxes underground. I wouldn't even hazard a guess as to why this work is being done, or who it is being done for.
THE NIAGARA TUNNEL PROJECT was expected to be slow at the beginning, but things are being fine-tuned and work is on schedule. Big Becky's gaining ground; Twenty metres to go before tunnel bore is totally underground said Dave Heath, Niagara Plant group manager with Ontario Power Generation. The world's largest tunnel boring machine - at a length of 130 metres, is 110 metres into its route that starts behind the Sir Adam Beck generating stations. Big Becky will travel south under Stanley Avenue toward McLeod Road, then southeast eventually ending at the International Control Dam on the Niagara River. Heath said the entire machine isn't quite in the hole yet, but once all the bugs are worked out it should be moving at about 15 metres (50 feet) per day, seven days a week. "You have a new machine that was built on site, new operators who are on a learning curve, and the machine works best when it's dealing with one type of rock. So when it gets into Queenston shale, you expect it to perform better than it is right now." Approximately 80 per cent of the tunnel is located within Queenston shale, a material used in making bricks. Heath said there should be no delays with this project due to the approach of winter. As with many hydro electric projects that take place up north, much of the construction takes place underground during the winter. It will take about two years to complete the tunnel.
Complete Article Link: Niagara Falls Review
THE QUEENSTON-LEWISTON BRIDGE PLAZAS will soon begin renovations on both sides of the border. The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission is closing the off-ramp to the Niagara Parkway at the Canadian end of the bridge. "I understand it's inconvenient for some people. Ultimately, it will help us provide a more efficient and esthetically-pleasing entrance to Canada," said Tom Garlock, general manager of the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission which owns the bridge. That ramp will be closed permanently Monday, as the bridge commission starts C$130-million renovations to the plazas on both ends of the bridge. Improvements will include new buildings for the Canadian Border Services Agency and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Two years ago, the bridge commission closed another ramp - the one that allowed eastbound traffic to exit from Highway 405 onto the Niagara Parkway. That made Stanley Avenue the last exit for U.S.-bound traffic coming from St. Catharines. Stanley Avenue will also be the first exit for vehicles entering Canada from Lewiston. When the first ramp was closed two years ago, Niagara-on-the-Lake business owners were upset it would make it more difficult for tourist traffic from Toronto and Hamilton to get onto the parkway, and eventually to Niagara-on-the-Lake. It was "understandable" for the bridge commission to improve its facilities, but "it's not very convenient for Niagara-on-the-Lake."
Complete Article Link: Niagara Falls Review
OPTIMIST BILLBOARDS "UPDATE." On November 20th I posted about a work stoppage on these new billboards. Judging by these before and after photos the work stoppage has been lifted. The three most noticeable differences are obviously plywood added to the left side, the Pinewood banner added to the right side, and the other is the evergreen trees pulled out from the right side.
Previous Post Link: Work Stoppage Still Imposed
DORCHESTER AND MORRISON ALMOST COMPLETE! The first layer of this expanded road has been layed down. A large intersection has been added to the south side entrance of Vincor International. This will most likely be the new entrance to the proposed Zehrs Superstore if it gets the go ahead.
INSERT GRAVEL HERE >
While council was hoping to find a better way to keep the centre median along Highway 420 beautiful, the Ministry of Transportation pulling out all of the ornamental grass and replacing it with gravel is not the solution it was looking for.
Complete Article Link: Niagara This Week
UNDER FUNSTRUCTION is the sign that has been hanging along the outside of the Fun House. Not much looks different, but I would imagine once the colored stucco is finished, it may look quite a bit better then the outdated previous facade. I hope that they re-install the bird that they added earlier this year as first posted on > ACCESS NIAGARA.<
Previous Post link: The Fun House
COMING TO A STRIP MALL NEAR YOU! Located on the corner of Drummond Road and Lundy's Lane, an extension has been put onto the existing strip mall where the main tenant is Rogers Video. The first new business opening in the expanded part, will be a Little Caesars. This should do well with it's close proximity to Stamford Collegiate.
RENAISSANCE FALLSVIEW a 16 story hotel beside the Hilton, has work being done in the back parking lot. Their sign has been taken down and cement along the back is being broken out?
JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS! Rolling into the Niagara Square Shopping Center, Toronto based International Clothiers sells low-priced men's clothing all across Canada, under that name. It also has other outlets under various banners, including about 60 Randy River stores. International Clothiers has also purchased the Fairweather women's clothing retailer for roughly $20-million.
BONNIE TOGS OF NIAGARA is the companies 21st store opening. They also have a store in St.Catharines on Vansickle road at the Louth Power Center. They have been in business since 1953 specialising in children's apparel.
NIAGARA SQUARE SHOPPING CENTER is the new home to the Niagara Falls "Arts & Culture Wall of Fame." This is obviously the entrance to the new Winners store! Running along the right of this hallway will be the new Beauty Supply Outlet as well as the new L.A Weight Loss Center.
MAKING ROOM FOR MORE RETAIL! The old Salvation Army building is making way for a new business at 6812 Lundy's Lane. "It's a new commercial establishment," said Serge Felicetti. The building was built in the mid-1960s. It served the Salvation Army for nearly 40 years until they sold it in 2002. When they sold, there were rumours the new owners wanted to use it to build a fast-food restaurant. The cities building department has received a building permit application for a new building measuring 7,000 square feet. But city hall treats the application as "somewhat confidential" until the permit is issued. Employees at neighbouring businesses said they haven't heard who's moving in, but are curious."
Full Article Link: Niagara Falls Review
THIS GIFT SHOP ON FALLSVIEW, which caters to the millions of wonderful Asian tourists that visit Niagara Falls every year. Is receiving an updated paint job to the exterior of their building.
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN!
"UPDATED DECEMBER 1st"
It's official the Tower is down for good! This tower although somewhat archaic compared to the new Skywheel, will always hold a special place in my memories.
Buffalo Article Link: Business First of Buffalo
FORMER NIAGARA TOURIST CENTER is coming along slowly. New windows have been installed this week, and the outside has been styro & stuccoed a generic beige. Still unsure of what this building will be, but it's safe to say it will clean up an eyesore in a high traffic area.
Previous Post Link: Niagara Tourist Center
WORK BEGINS ON 4TH FLOOR of the new Motel 6. On the Niagara Falls Official Website, this building was proposed at 6 stories and 130 units. On the Accor Economy Lodging Website which owns the Motel 6 name, it states that they are "starting with a clean sheet of paper, we studied all the alternatives, and we believe the three-story version of our prototype building hits the "sweet spot" among all the alternatives." Clearly this will not be the 3 story prototype, as the block work has just began on the 4th floor!
Niagara Falls Website Link: Motel 6
Accor North America Link: Motel 6 Prototype
Previous Post Link: New Motel 6 Making Progress
FLOOR NUMBER 4 IS UP with 3 floors to go. This will actually look quite impressive coming off the 420 heading down Victoria. As soon as you get passed this building, the area opens right up with the Skywheel, Fallsview Waterpark and highrises in the distance. It's a nice dramatic effect for first time visitors taking that route at night!
Previous Post Link: Future Country Inn & Suites
A NEW KITCHEN FOR HOLIDAY INN. This is the side of the Holiday Inn closest to the Cascade Inn and will have a lower level. I would assume this will be a service kitchen for the Holiday Inn, as they already have a number of restaurants on their property.
BOLD NEW ENTRY SIGNS for the Skylon Tower. This means they have finally retired their old faded signs, which were barely visible to the public anymore.
NEW STATION 6 FIRE DEPARTMENT on Schisler road is coming along nicely. This new Fire House will replace the old Station 6, located right next door.
NEW BILLBOARDS AT OPTIMIST YOUTH PARK have had a work stoppage imposed by the city for quite awhile. The Optimist Club have installed these two billboards and will sell the ad space for future maintenance and improvements to the park. The initial problem with these billboards is that when they were approved for that location, they were approved at a certain size overall. Just one side of these two billboards is the total size approved for this location. Therefore they may have to take down one side and lose thousands of dollars, or hope that the city supports the existing size of the advertising space. This could turn out to be a costly mistake for the Optimist Club.
RIPLEY'S AQUARIUM OF CANADA has recently been mentioned >here< scroll down the page to the comments section. Here is a little history of this proposal... Orlando-based Ripley Entertainment Inc. says it will build Canada's largest indoor aquarium, on 25 acres at Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada. The company is an international franchiser of the Ripley's Believe it or Not! museums. This will be its first venture into operating a resort. It will feature large Greenland sharks in a 1 million gallon salt water tank, as well as an acrylic guest walkway through the exhibit. The aquarium will explore the evolution of the Canadian seas from prehistoric times to the present. The 115,000-square-foot project will become the third sea life attraction for the company, joining Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Full Article Link: Ripley Entertainment has eye on Canada
Aquarium Delayed Link: Ripley to delay Niagara Falls
MORE UPGRADES AT BEST WESTERN! This week a truckload of drywall was dropped of at the Best Western in the Fallsview District. It looks as though the patio doors will also be replaced.
"EXTREME MAKEOVER" PLAZA EDITION. As you can see by these images, this strip mall as mentioned by Drafty in a previous posts comments, is undergoing quite the makeover! In the top picture is the RBC Bank institution, in the bottom is the Goodwill thrift store. It looks incredible and credit to the owners of this plaza for upgrading it!
Previous Post Link: Goodwill Thrift Stores
DEPARTMENT STORE LIQUIDATION SALE up to 90% off, is what reads on the front of the former Winners storefront. Winners has moved to the expanded Niagara Square Shopping Center as mentioned on a previous post.
Previous Post Link: Winners
THE RAMADA INN ON LUNDYS LANE as first mentioned by Mucciared on SkyScraperPage, has recently switched from their Peppers Grill restaurant, to the all day breakfast serving Golden Griddle.
GETTING READY FOR THE NEXT SEASON! Workers are doing a little cosmetic touch-up on the Haunted House on Clifton Hill. This is located at the entrance of the TravelLodge, and beside the FunHouse which is also receiving upgrades.
THEMED RETAIL REPLACING RIDE! As reported in the Niagara Falls Review today, the removal of the tourist attraction is a part of Harry Oakes' redevelopment plan. Earlier this year he opened the Skywheel ferris wheel, a 50-metre high climate-controlled comfort ride offering visitors a birds-eye view of the falls, near the tower this spring and said the land the tower currently stands on will be turned into a new themed retail concept. Oakes also operates the 5,000-square-foot Tim Hortons restaurant on Clifton Hill. "We are always looking at ways to improve what we offer to the visitors of Niagara Falls and the Skywheel is an improved observational experience." Oakes said he went to city council a year-and-a-half ago regarding the $100-million redevelopment, which will be completed in various phases. "This is a step in the right direction. It's time to have a new and improved destination and we're headed in the right direction." One rumour I heard earlier this year was that Mr. Oakes was looking into a Nascar themed establishment, such as the Nascar Cafe.
HELLO TO ONE, GOODBYE TO TWO! Almost as quickly as Little Caesars opened in a small plaza on Victoria avenue, the same plaza says goodbye to Baskin Robbins and Mr. Sub. Also closing on Lundy's Lane is the Niagara Shoe Factory.
SHOELESS JOE'S RESTAURANT. Every Day is Game Day! This soon to be opened restaurant will obviously have a sports theme behind it. The name of the restaurant is the same as the baseball player Shoeless Joe Jackson of the infamous 1919 Black Sox scandal.
Story Link: Black Sox Scandal
HERE COMES TIMMYS! In the lower food court of the Fallsview Resort Mall will be a new Tim Hortons.
ROYAL DOULTON will soon be added to the upper level shopping area.
RACEWAY CENTRE is a 31,000 sf plaza at the southwest corner of Montrose and Preakness st. It will be the new home of a 17,000 sf Shoppers Drug Mart. Opening Summer 2007.
AUTOLAND SUPERSTORE formerly Autoland Chrysler has undergone some minor renovations to the exterior of the building and is "now open" for business under their new name.
COMING OF AGE! Realizing that thrift stores such as Value Village have cornerd the used clothing market on big store, big product, small price. A soon to be renovated store on Portage road will soon have a new life. Goodwill Industries was founded in Boston, MA in 1902, by a Methodist minister named Edgar J. Helms who believed in "Not Charity But A Chance," the foundation upon which Goodwill's have been built ever since. In fact, Goodwill's have been founded in nearly 200 cities throughout North America, with 40 additional associations having been established in other parts of the world.
TIME TO GET IN SHAPE? Now included in the Town & Country strip mall at the corner of Portage road and Colborne street, is a newly designed Goodlife Fitness Club. This is located next to the newly renovated Shoppers Drugmart.
JUST ADD WATER! As Ontario's population and industrial output continues to grow, so does our need for renewable energy. Ontario Power Generation, Ontario's publicly-owned power utility, is in the prcess of construction on a new 10.5 km tunnel under the City of Niagara Falls, it will be 14.4 metres in diameter at a depth of 140 metres below the city. This will carry enough water to generate an additional 1.6 billion kilowatts annually at the Sir Adam Beck (SAB) Complex - enough to power a city twice the size of Niagara Falls. The new Niagara Tunnel is expected to be operational by late 2009 at a est. cost of $985,000,000.
MONTROSE & HIGHWAY 420 one of the busiest intersections in Niagara Falls, is in the process of $1.8 million in road work to improve traffic flow and safety. More than 19,000 vehicles use the intersection every day. Highway 420 construction work includes adding a right turn lane and improving the Montrose Road intersection, improving the Wanless Street and Watson Street intersections and upgrading lighting and traffic signals.
DORCHESTER ROAD is in the middle of receiving a much needed $11,000,000 expansion. Soon it will run 4 lanes with a turning lane in this busy section of the city.
CONDO'S WITH A VIEW "COMING SOON". ORE Development Corporation a Mississauga company plans to build The Niagara, a 29-storey 250 unit condominium residence on River Road which is likely to start construction this spring and open by 2009. By building the tallest residential building in Niagara Falls, it will attract new people to the city. "When somebody can actually see those kinds of views from their residences, that's pretty incredible," said Marc Baronette, the business development director for ORE Development. Condominiums with a view of the Niagara River and the Falls, will be attractive to retirees from Toronto looking to downsize to the "condo life," as well as to international investors who might want to live in Niagara part-time, says Marc Baronette.
Website Link: THE NIAGARA
HISTORIC NIAGARA led by New York City businessman Aaron Lichtman has a group of investors who will spend $100 million to renovate commercial property they own and attract a variety of retailers to the Queen Street area. This will happen only if Niagara Falls city council is willing to spend about $36 million between now and 2008 doing infrastructure work and creating the right conditions to encourage more activity in the downtown area. An earlier report says the city would have to borrow about $27.8 million of the $36 million costs. Applying $6.75 million from the sale of city-owned land at the northwest corner of McLeod and Montrose roads would also go toward the downtown project. They could find $2 million from other funds already existing in the budget, the report states. Though the report put the full cost of the improvements at more than $36 million, Mayor Ted Salci said assistance from other governments could reduce the city’s commitment. If Niagara Falls can get the federal and provincial governments to contribute one-third of the cost each, the city’s commitment would drop to about $12 million.
Here is a list of three downtown projects and associated costs:
$14.1 million to construct a parking garage
$12.8 million for streetscaping, sewers, new lighting and road reconstruction
$8.7 million for parks
$540,000 in associated legal and planning costs
"ARTICLE UPDATE" Link: Washington Post
GREATER NIAGARA GENERAL HOSPITAL site features a dedicated Geriatric Assessment Unit, the Regional Stroke Management Program and a Women's Health Centre which includes an Ontario Breast Screening Centre. The Niagara Falls hospital is home to new MRI and CT units, and construction continues on a new Emergency Department and renovated Ambulatory Care/Day Surgery Centre. This $21 million project is scheduled for completion in 2007/08.
"MAPLESHADE RESIDENCES" 32 LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS, now for sale or lease on Montrose road, this building includes elevator access, exercise room, whirlpool and sauna, hospitality room and waiting lounge with fireplace.
Location Link: GOOGLE EARTH
THE FINE GERMAN RESTAURANT is now under new ownership. I wouldn't expect any changes to take place with this establishment. It's proud heritage and bold rooftop sign is what makes it so unique, and assures that it stands out amongst the flashy highrises of the Fallsview district.
ROADS TO BE CLOSED FOR DEVELOPMENT! Access to sections of Grassy Brook Road and Crowland Road will be closed off to neighbours of the Grand Niagara Resort once the $300-million tourism complex reaches a significant amount of development.Council voted 7-2 in a recorded vote to close sections of the roads after a public meeting Monday. Aldermen Carolynn Ioannoni and Janice Wing were opposed. The roads include a section of Crowland Road between Biggar Road and Grassy Brook Road as well as a section of Grassy Brook on either side of Crowland. A spokesperson for Grand Niagara Resorts said the road closures are important for the development to work.
Article Link: Niagara This Week
Previous Post: Grand Niagara Golf Resorts
"ANOTHER SKYLON RENDERING" 
POWER STATION GEARING UP FOR NEW LIFE, the stately building that has sat dormant for 33 years is being dismantled 100 years after it was built. In May, around 50 workers began removing the machinery inside. They are expected to clear out the plant, but leave the building intact by January of next year. Ontario Power Generation will then turn over the building to the Niagara Parks Commission when the work is completed. The commission will then assess the building before its future is decided. In 1983 the same year that Parks Canada designated the building a national historic site, it underwent a trial as a science and engineering museum. Nine years ago there was talk of turning it into a museum or a tourist attraction. This is also the building that the famous scow rescue took place, read story below.
Story Link: NIAGARA SCOW
THE NIAGARA SQUARE MALL upgrades continue. This looks to be an entrance to the new L.A Weight Loss Center or the Beauty Supply Outlet which will sit side by side. Other new businesses of note will be International Clothier and Bonnie Togs, childrens clothing store.
New franchises that have joined the mall this past year include...Future Shop, Linens N' Things, Petcetera, Winners, Rogers, Iron Chef, Cellular One, Telus, Walking on a Cloud, Boardwalk Shoes, Scienceline and Cafe Coffe Day. As Mentioned on a previous post, Canadian Tire will also soon join the Mall.
NEW MORRISON ROAD PLAZA is directly across from the Zellers and IGA complex. This will most likely become another office plaza.
THE SCENIC RIDE has taken a backseat to the new Skywheel seen in the background. It looks as though the ride has officially rode to the top of the spire for the last time. Here is a brief history of the tower.... In January 1967 Mr. Malcolm Howe, the proprietor of the Movieland Wax Museum proposed the build of an observation tower on Clifton Hill. The tower was built on property owned by Welland Securities Property Limited. The property was located along the south side of Clifton Hill half way between Victoria Avenue and Falls Avenue. The tower measuring one hundred and eighty-four (184) feet tall was named the "Space Spiral". It was built by the Universal Design Company of Wildwood, New Jersey. The 30 person gondola rotated along the one hundred and fifty foot tall shaft as it ascended or descended.
EIGHTH WONDER HOTEL & CONDO RESIDENCES development has been pushed back two years. The site for the Hotel and Condominium Residences is confidentially being negotiated now and therefore the development does not have any government approvals. The approval process is expected to be completed by August, 2008, and the project is expected to be completed by September, 2010. At this time, prospective purchasers can pre-register now as a First-In Prospective Purchaser or Investor of the underlying realestate asset for this development.
Website Link: EIGHTH WONDER RESIDENCES