Interesting article on the proposed Grand Resort in Niagara Falls.
http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/news/article/624700
$300-million Grand Niagara Resort clears major hurdle
Paul Forsyth, Staff
Ground-breaking of first phase of Falls project could be later this year
Construction could begin on the first phase of the massive Grand Niagara Resort in Niagara Falls before year's end, with the project passing a major hurdle this week.
On Tuesday, regional politicians approved changes to the city's official plan necessary for the project in the city's south end to move ahead.
The thumbs-up by a regional committee on Tuesday, which will very likely be endorsed by the full regional council next week, is a major step forward for a plan that's been some five years in the making.
Niagara Falls Mayor Ted Salci urged the Region's public works committee to approve the changes, which will see 677 acres of land west of Morris Road, east of Montrose Road, north of Biggar Road and south of the Welland River in the south-west end redesignated.
The scope of the project, which has been pegged at $300 million, will be a big boost for what's expected to be substantial growth in the south end, he said.
"We feel this project is a very important project for the south end of our city," Salci said.
The Grand Niagara Resort was on hold since 2007, when Cytec Canada - which owns industrial land nearby - expressed concerns over the plan.
Regional planner Sue Mabee said in a report Tuesday that Cytec, the Mississauga companies behind the Grand Niagara plan, and city staff hammered out some minor modifications to the plan on such things as building height maximums that everyone could agree on.
Grand Niagara is at present an 18-hole golf course that opened in 2005. The company plans to create a 36-hole course, a 350-unit hotel, a 225-unit lifestyle community of single detached and multiple attached units, a 20,000 square-foot spa and recreation centre, a conference facility, an estate winery and a 300-unit ‘vacation ownership community' on a man-made lake.
John Sorokolit, president and chief shareholder of Grand Niagara, told This Week on Tuesday that once regional council formally endorses the official plan changes, "the path is cleared to move."
He expects ground to be broken before the end of the year on the first phase, which will be the 225-unit lifestyle community. Detailed engineering plans for that phase have already been completed, Sorokolit said.
"We're pretty much ready to go," he said.
Sorokolit said the developers have already invested about $35 million in planning the Grand Niagara Resort. In addition, the city has invested about $8 million in building water and sewer infrastructure south of the Welland River, he said.
"It's a substantial amount."
Sorokolit echoed Salci's comments that the south end of the city is poised for substantial growth, with major developments such as the Thundering Waters and Warren Woods communities planned also planned.
"It's the new frontier for Niagara Falls," said Sorokolit.
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