Farmers market comes down; culture hub coming soon
Construction to start by year’s end, Hub should open by Canada Day 2022
The scene is nearly set for construction to begin on the new Niagara Falls culture hub and farmers market.
To be named The Exchange, the venue will be built on the site of the former farmers market building on Sylvia Place, just behind Niagara Falls History Museum. Most of the old market building was torn down last week.
Clark Bernat, the city’s culture and museums manager, said work will likely begin on the hub by year’s end, with a projected opening by Canada Day 2022.
“I would think within the next month we’ll start digging into it,” he said. “Right now, they’re doing a lot of prep, making sure all the utilities are shut off, making sure the pipes (are) safe.”
The long-anticipated hub will be the city’s new home for arts and culture events, exhibitions and projects, along with the new farmers market. It stems from a cultural plan the city commissioned in 2013 which determined Niagara Falls lagged behind cities of similar size in cultural amenities.
“I’m thrilled that now the city’s put its money where its mouth is.” JIM DIODATI NIAGARA FALLS MAYOR
At a council meeting in August, Oshawa-based contractors Garritano Brothers Ltd. were chosen to build the $15.2million project.
Once completed, the hub will feature two interconnected plazas that will offer artist studios, workshops, indoor/outdoor exhibition space, a café and a market hall. It will also be the new home of the Niagara Falls Arts and Culture Wall of Fame.
Bernat said regular updates and photos on the construction will be posted on the website letstalk.niagarafalls.ca.
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati said the venue is long overdue for the city’s arts and culture community.
“The city’s been well served for sports and recreation and I’m thrilled that now the city’s put its money where its mouth is to support the arts and culture community,” Diodati added.
“They’re going to have a space and a place to call their own, to gather to exchange ideas.”
Diodati expects the hub to help make Niagara Falls a “more complete community,” and will serve everyone with a variety of functions.
While 2022 is the safe estimate, Diodati said he’s “still hopeful” the project can be finished by the end of next year.
“We’ll see how COVID affects things, but our expectation and our objective is to have it at meaningful completion by the end of 2021. Worst case (scenario), it’ll be early 2022.”