$15 million plan for Niagara Falls ‘beach club’ draws controversy

From WKBW Channel 7 in Buffalo: A proposed $15 million “beach and surf club” in downtown Niagara Falls has been tangled up in controversy over whether the developer “copied and pasted” artist renderings from a defunct project in Japan. Developer Michael DiCienzo is seeking $4 million in public subsidies for his year-round surf club concept,…

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Leaders weigh in on Falls convention center study

From WGRZ Channel 2 in Buffalo: Niagara County and Niagara Falls leaders have received the results of a study about the feasibility of building a new multi-use convention center in the city. Its takeaways: Downtown development needs to grow to sustain a bigger convention center, and the best option would be to expand and modify…

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State taking look at properties in downtown Niagara Falls

From the Niagara Gazette: Underused or vacant properties are not exactly new in downtown Niagara Falls. In fact, some of the parcels now being eyed by the state as part of an acquisition plan referenced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in January have been out of public circulation for quite some time now. Under Cuomo’s Strategic…

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Niagara Falls seeks proposals for outdoor winter activities

From WGRZ Channel 2 in Buffalo: While Western New Yorkers are still enjoying the warmth of summer, the City of Niagara Falls is looking for some fun new outdoor activities to offer to residents and visitors this winter — especially those that involve ice skating. On Monday, the Niagara Falls Community Development Department released a…

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The $205 million Falls hotel that no one wants to talk about

From the Buffalo News: Niagara Falls Redevelopment has submitted a plan for a $205 million hotel in downtown Niagara Falls. Normally, city officials said, such a large project would be announced with plenty of hype. But in this case, the plans were simply dropped off at the city planning office on a Friday afternoon. “Usually,…

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Niagara Falls trolley service starts today (this past Friday)

From WIVB Channel 4 in Buffalo: The Niagara Falls Trolley will begin service to guests staying in participating Niagara Falls hotels and motels starting today. Metro’s Niagara Falls Trolley buses serve Niagara Falls Boulevard, Pine Avenue, Niagara Falls International Airport and downtown Niagara Falls, USA. Trolley stop signs along the route indicate where riders can…

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Redesigning around GO

From the Niagara Falls Review: In addition to the economic, real-estate and quality-of-life benefits year-round GO train service is expected to bring to Niagara Falls when it arrives in 2023, it also provides an opportunity to redevelop the area surrounding the downtown station. Denise Landry, a planner with Niagara Region, presented council with an update…

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Funny business down in the gorge

From the Niagara Falls Review: With help from some friends, Niagara comedian David Green has found the funny side to being lost in the woods. Or at least the Niagara Gorge. Last fall, Green and a camera crew headed into the steep, often dangerous area near the Niagara River to film the “thrillarious” comedy Gorge.

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Niagara Falls tourism leaders want to bring back Festival of Lights

From the Buffalo News: The Festival of Lights used to draw thousands to downtown in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and to its convention center and Winter Garden. Both the convention center and Winter Garden are long gone, and so is the Festival of Lights. But in Niagara Falls, Ontario, the Winter Festival of Lights continues to…

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