downtown transformed

DOWNTOWN TRANSFORMED
HISTORY
In 1848 construction began for the international suspension bridge over the Niagara Gorge. A shanty-town development was erected to house workers
at the base of the bridge which over the years became the Village of Elgin. The Village of Elgin extended from the Whirlpool area in the north to
approximately Highway 420 in the south.
Elgin eventually amalgamated with the Town of Clifton to the south due to the Great Western, Erie and Ontario Railways and their economic impact in
the 1850s.
The majority of the early downtown businesses were located on the lower part of Bridge Street, Erie Avenue and River Road, with a few businesses on
Zimmerman Avenue and Park Street. Retail activity slowly started to shift to Queen Street at the end of the nineteenth century and early 20th century.
In the 1930s, the Post Office relocated to Queen Street and businesses shifted from this area to Queen Street.
Residences of Queen Street gave way to stores and offices that form the Downtown core we see today. Until the 1970s the downtown was the retail
hub of the City. The downtown core remains the City's financial hub and medical, legal and accounting professions are well represented.
Federal and Municipal Government services are located in buildings along on Queen Street.
ROSBERG FAMILY PARK AND OLYMPIC TORCH TRAIL
Rosberg Park
Initially called the Downtown Park, Rosberg Family Park was renamed in the fall of 2013 at
the request of the Rosberg Family. The park site is directly across from the former Rosberg
Department Store which was operated by the Rosberg family from 1916 to 1988. The building
burned down in 2010.
The site itself is a form parking lot which was in terrible shape. Redevelopment of the park
was a result of efforts of the City in consultation with the Downtown Business Improvement
Area Association to revitalize and bring people back into the Downtown. The development took
place through the Summer of 2012 with the official opening in September, coinciding with an
unveiling of a plaque commemorating the installation of a Bicentennial of the War of 1812
Peace Garden, sponsored by Hatch Energy.
The Park includes an accessible playground for children with artificial turf surfacing, a water
feature, limestone seating and connects to the Olympic Trail system. The total cost for the park
development was $450,000.
Olympic Torch Run Legacy Trail
The Olympic Torch Trail was built on the City owned, former CP Railway corridor in
commemoration of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Torch Run which travelled through this part of the
City along River Road on December 20, 2009.
The Inukshuk stone feature, a symbol of the Vancouver Olympics, was also designed and
constructed in commemoration of the games. It is the first art feature introduced into the area. The
water molecule sculpture was later added. At one time this sculpture stood in Centennial Square in
front of City Hall.
The trail includes a connection to the south, linking to the tourist core at Victoria Avenue at
Clifton Hill and. This trail, in the future, is to connect with the current path at the Skylon Tower in the
Fallsview area. A connection to the north along the former CP Railway corridor to Bridge Street and
connecting with the Millennium Trail on Stanley Avenue is also envisioned.
The cost of the Olympic Trail as built was around $225,000.00
QUEEN STREET @ ERIE STREET
Transportation
Two Blocks north, where Erie Avenue ends on Bridge Street, is the Via Rail Station (1879).
Together with the City and Regional Bus Terminals, and the GO Transit Bus and Train terminals,
this area is the transportation hub for the City.
A full schedule GO Train Service is being pursued. It is hoped this service could link to a highspeed rail connection currently under study from Niagara Falls, New York to New York City.
Communications
The City owns part interest in a Broadband Network that currently services part of the
Downtown. The expansion of this service for the whole of the Downtown area is being pursued.
Existing Building Stock
Erie Avenue contains some of the most historic architecture in the Downtown Area. Too
many of these buildings are, unfortunately, in great need of repair. CIP Incentives have been
requested to improve structural integrity.
The Customs House/Post Office building (see photo below) is an impressive attention stealing
structure built from Queenston limestone ca 1885. Located on Zimmerman Avenue it is quite
visible from Queen Street. It was designed as a Customs House and Post Office by Architect
Thomas Fuller who designed the 1st Parliament Building in Ottawa. It was later used as a Police
Station. You can see the front entrance of the structure in a scene from the movie ‘Niagara’
starring Marilyn Monroe. This building is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Land Use
The Downtown has retained its historical base
of municipal, legal, financial and professional
uses.
It is a goal of the CIP to attract residential and
commercial uses that complement existing uses.
DOWNTOWN COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Revitalization Grant
• A grant to offset the increase property taxes that can result from the rehabilitation and revitalization of downtown residential and commercial
properties.
How it works:
• The owner pays for the entire cost of the rehabilitation/revitalization project.
• If the project results in increased property taxes, the City will reimburse the owner in the form of an annual grant of:
• 80% of the increased taxes in years 1-5 ; 60% in years 6-7 ; 40% in year 8 and 20% in Years 9 and 10.
• Costs of the rehabilitation/revitalization must exceed grant payments.
Residential Loan
• A 0% interest loan intended to stimulate the creation of residential units Downtown through conversion, upgrading to meet Code; and construction of
new units on vacant properties.
How it works:
• The City provides a loan of $20/ft2 of habitable space created up to a maximum of $20,000/unit. The loan is interest free for a 12 year team and must
be repaid in equal consecutive monthly installments each year starting two (2) years after completion of the project with a balloon payment at the end
of 12 years.
Commercial Building and Facade Improvement Grant.
• This grant is set up to promote building rehabilitation and façade improvement of commercial and mixed use buildings.
How it works:
• It is a matching grant equivalent to 50% of the cost of certain types of façade improvement and building rehabilitation/improvements to a maximum of
$10,000 for façade work and $10,000 for building component works.
• An additional $5,000 is available for façade work on highly visible, larger facades along Queen or Erie Avenue and on properties designated under the
Heritage Act. An additional $5,000 is available for building component works on designated properties only.
• The total grant cannot exceed $25,000.
The Region will reimburse the Municipality with up to $5000 for commercial improvements and $5000 for the Façade Improvements per property
For more information visit: https://www.niagarafalls.ca/business/community-improvement-plans/default.aspx
CENTENNIAL SQUARE
Centennial Square
This large landscaped square in front of Niagara Falls City Hall was created in 1967.
The falls feature was added later.
The square has become a focal point for a number of City wide public events:
Springlicious, Santa Clause Parade; music competitions and concerts, Canada Day
festivities, Niagara Falls Beer Festival, Buskerfest, Charity BBQs and was even used as a
year round skating rink.
The Hatch Building
This structure was originally built in 1995-96 for the
Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Later that year a change in
political leadership saw Ministries dispersed and the building
sold.
A pedestrian friendly street level design with a podium
setback at 3 storeys (2 interior storeys) minimize the impact
of the 6 storey structure. The interior is designed to allow
flexible office configuration.
It is currently occupied by engineering firms, customs
offices, a dialysis unit and a childrens daycare.
SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTRE AND BUSINESS
INNOVATION ZONE
Niagara Falls Small Business Enterprise Centre and Business Innovation Zone - 4321 Queen Street
This building at 4321 Queen Street has received CIP funding for façade and interior improvements
and also a residential loan to upgrade the residential units above. It now contains the City’s Small
Business Enterprise Centre which aids people in starting their own small businesses and 18 residential
units above.
The office is operated in partnership with the Ministry of Economic Development and Innovation
and the City of the Niagara Falls. It relocated from City Hall to this property in 2013.
A new addition to the small business office is the creation of the Business Innovation Zone (BIZ), a
new mixed -use business incubator that helps nurture entrepreneurial companies.
It is also a community partner of the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF), a national
charity providing entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 – 39: pre - launch coaching, business
resources, start -up financing, and mentoring.
4321 Queen Street
This structure is perhaps the best example of
façade rehabilitation to the original buildings
along Queen Street.
A façade and commercial building
improvement grant was obtained in 2011 along
with a $212,000 Residential Loan for the
upgrading and creation of 18 residential units.
THE OLD MEWS – 4410-4414 QUEEN STREET
The Old Mews – 4410-4414 Queen Street
The structure was built in 1907 for the Gay Brothers Bakery which remained there until 1958. In
2011 multiple financial incentives were submitted to assist in the creation of 30 new residential
apartments and to upgrade the two exiting commercial units:
• Façade Improvement Grant ($15,000) for repainting of the brick façade and trim and for new
windows. The estimated cost of the improvements was $38,000.
• Commercial Improvement Grant ($10,000) for roof repairs, new steel supports, plumbing,
electrical and HVAC work estimated at $75,000.
• Residential Loan Application for the creation of seven 2 bedroom units and twenty-three 1
bedroom apartments. Based on the square footage of apartments created a loan of $375,800
was entered into. The Niagara Region covered half of this loan under their Smarter Niagara
Programs.
• A Revitalization Grant Agreement for some relief from a potential increase in taxation was
entered into.
• Development Charges: the applicant received a break of 75% of the City’s Development
Charges and 50% of the Region’s Development Charges.
Daredevil Alley
Daredevil Alley is a BIA driven
improvement to the alley adjacent to 4410
Queen Street to attract tourists. Created in
spring of 2013, the Alley provides a bit of
Niagara’s daredevil history as well as a
pedestrian access for the property’s residential
units. The display features 10’ high panels
portraying 17 daredevils, LED lighting and an
arched entrance sign.
The project cost
$15,000.
STREETSCAPING
Downtown Infrastructure Revitalization Project
The City has completed a two phase infrastructure revitalization project initiated in 2010. The
project was set up to replace aging infrastructure and to enhance the aesthetics of the Downtown to
complement the investments of property owners. Federal and Provincial funding was received under
the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.
Phase one of the project involved underground works: sanitary sewer, watermain and storm sewer
replacements at a cost of $2,244,000.
Phase two involved the replacement of sidewalks, the refurbishing of decorative street lights, curb
adjustments and the upgrading/addition of new streetscaping features. Also installed was a
downtown wireless sound system and decorative archways. The cost of Phase two was $3,000,000.
The ‘Q’ Brand
The ‘Q’ Branding of the Downtown was
applied to create a sense of place and identity.
The ‘Q’ has been incorporated into street
furniture, gateway features and signage.
Sidewalk Cafes
The City no longer requires site plan
control or extensions for sidewalk cafes.
Applicants are instead asked to bring a
site drawing showing the location of the
seating area and obtain a permit.
POST OFFICE BLOCK
St. Clair Street to Crysler Avenue-St
This central area of the Downtown has been a stable office and banking centre. Several of the businesses have been here for many years and
several new ones have moved here. About 9 CIP have been applied for along this street of Queen Street. In addition to the traditional business uses,
new retail is taking the form of niche market uses and specialty restaurants.
Uses:
Banks: Royal Bank and CIBC
The Post Office
Community Health Centre
Happy Feet Dance Studio
Hi-Lite Restaurant
The Camera Place
Moddie’s Bakery
Peddlar’s Bike Shop
Cupolo’s Sports
The Post Office has operated at this location since 1930.
Moodie’s Bakery has been in the Downtown for 80 years.
Cupolo’s Sports has been operating for 102 years in
Niagara Falls. It moved Downtown from Lundy’s
Lane in 2012..
Peddlar’s Bike Shop is a family owned business in
Niagara for 31 years.
The Camera Place has been a camera studio since 1960.
CHRYSLER AVENUE AND WEST QUEEN STREET
Community Improvement Incentive projects have transformed additional properties along Queen Street towards Victoria Avenue including the ones
shown below. Pulp Comic Book Store moved to a larger commercial space in this block from its previous more easterly location on Queen Street. At
3,000ft2 and 2 floors this is the biggest comic store in the Region.
The Seneca Theatre received over $90,000 in interior renovations in 2009 for electrical, HVAC and barrier free washrooms. A commercial building
improvement grant of $10,000 was granted by the City.
The Pulp Comic Book Store has been Downtown since 2009 and
Moved to this new bigger location in 2012. It is the largest comic book
store in the Region.
Paris Crepes has been operating under
new management since 2012.
Seneca Theatre interior.
FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS
SUMMARY
The revitalization of the Downtown is an ongoing process with a history of success and, as can be expected, some disappointment. Building facades have
been improved, more residential units have been introduced and are being occupied and new businesses continue to move in. Yet some structures have
suffered decay to the extent that they may not be repaired. With the successful implementation of the Downtown CIP Incentives the effect of decay on
numerous buildings has been reversed.
Downtown CIP Applications Processed:
Revitalization Grant – 4 applications
Residential Loans – 4 applications
Commercial Building and Façade Improvements - 90 applications since 2008.
New Businesses welcomed in the Downtown Area in 2013:
High Impact, Public Relations – 4660 Queen Street
Jadon Outdoors, 4729 Queen Street
Backlit Resource Group, Park Street