Region supports Fort Erie marina development
Niagara Region is hoping to kick a stalled Fort Erie development into gear, more than a decade after it was first proposed.
Members of the Region’s planning and development committee voted unanimously Wednesday to work with Fort Erie, Niagara Parks Commission and a developer to expand and enhance Miller’s Creek Marina at 2400 Niagara Pkwy.
The motion was in response to a Dec. 15 resolution by Fort Erie town council that urges the parks dommission to reopen negotiations with Warren DAC Investments, a development company interested in investing close to $150 million at the site.
Fort Erie Coun. Sandy Annunziata said development delays have created a lot of frustration in the town, after three failed request for proposals to find a developer to “redesign that very old facility.”
In the most recent RFP process early last year, Annunziata said, no one submitted bids to redevelop the 26-hectare site owned by the parks commission.
“All the while there has been a very conscientious and responsible developer that has been with this since the start since 2005, Warren DAC. And he’s still stayed in the game,” he said, adding the developer has already invested millions of dollars towards the project.
Annunziata said he has “incredible respect” for the parks commission, “but I cannot understand and I cannot articulate (the lack of progress) to the frustrated people in Fort Erie.”
Although the committee was initially only going to accept the report about the development as information, Annunziata pointed out the town is “requesting some kind of action.”
“Something has to be done as far as moving forward,” he said, adding he cannot understand why the proposal from the developer has not been accepted.
“We’re not talking about a use on this property that is incompatible. It’s a marina now. They just want to make it a much better marina,” Annunziata said.
Although the motion to receive the report for information was amended to also endorse the document, Regional Chair Alan Caslin said the Region could do more to help move the process along.
“How can we re-engage and be part of the process to assist all parties who I truly believe are all trying to do the right thing?” Caslin asked.
Organizations involved in the process “are all trying to pull in the same direction, but somehow there’s no alignment to this,” he said.
“There’s no leadership here as to where this is going and how this needs to get done.”
Niagara economic development officer David Oakes said because an RFP was conducted with no interest shown, the parks commission can now “go directly to the developer that is still showing an interest.”
Caslin further amended the motion to also include the involvement of Niagara Region to work towards making the development a reality.