Daily Archive for November 7th, 2006

Mystery of the half-built hotel

From the Niagara Falls Review:

It’s a question many people have asked while driving on Stanley Avenue near Dunn Street: Whatever happened to the Crown Plaza hotel?

Work was started on a concrete foundation. And there’s a large crane that seems to point in different directions on certain days.

But there doesn’t appear to have been much construction activity on the site.

Back in May 2005, city council appeared frustrated, feeling it had no recourse to get the project moving.

At that time, work had been stopped for weeks. Ald. Joyce Morocco raised a concern that if the work didn’t resume, they were “going to have a concrete slab in the heart of the tourism area.”

Mayor Ted Salci said that on a project of that size, permits are issued in phases. As far as the city is concerned, Salci said a permit was issued and that phase of the work has been completed.

As of recently, the owner has still not applied for the next phase of construction.

I’ve posted previously on the progress of the hotel…

Opening festival ceremonies light up park, falls

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Dancers, costumed characters and festive lighting displays.

Those were just a few of the sights to see during the opening ceremonies of the Winter Festival of Lights Saturday evening in Queen Victoria Park.

An estimated 2,500 people jammed into the park across from the roaring cataracts to enjoy an early taste of Christmas spirit. An even larger group was expected for a second performance later in the evening.

And perhaps the biggest crowd pleaser was a massive fireworks display over the falls, which capped off the early show.

Lights fest brighter this year; WFOL sparkles with two million lights

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Ask Dino Fazio if he has a light. He’ll offer you two million.

That’s the tally for this year’s Winter Festival of Lights, which flips the switch tonight at 6 p.m. and illuminates the city until Jan. 8. Fazio, the festival’s general manager, said the event is brighter than ever for its 24th year.

Months of preparation pays off tonight, when more than two million lights and 100 displays come to life along the Niagara Parkway.

“We’re all in a great, positive mood,” said Fazio. “Between the new lights and some of the new events, we’re all excited about the direction we’re taking.”

Hilton will soar to 52 storeys

From Niagara This Week:

The Hilton on Fallsview Avenue is set to soar to 52 storeys after council approved the expansion Monday night.

“This is a good news story,” said Ed Lustig, the agent for the developers. “This is a world class hotel with world class facilities.”

The development is an expansion to the Hilton’s 30-storey building across from the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort and is actually six stories shorter and 60 rooms fewer than an original plan approved by council in 2004. Lustig said the hotel is a $100-million development which includes a concert facility for 1,000 people, a spa, a piazza and entertainment area, just short of 1,000 spaces for on site parking and a knock-out water fountain.

“This is the kind of development Niagara Falls needs,” said Lustig. “The kind of development that competes internationally.”