Welland missed the boat
Falls’ Titanic project was first proposed for the Rose City
More than two years after David van Velzen floated an idea of docking his Titanic Experience attraction in the Welland Recreational Canal, the multimillion project instead sailed on to Niagara Falls.
And in the process, the developer said Welland “missed the boat” on a potential $70-million investment in the city’s downtown, that would have been a catalyst for its rejuvenation.
Van Velzen proposed the attraction in January 2016, in response to a request for expressions of interest from the city, looking for development ideas that would breathe new life into the city.
It was one of two proposals the city received at the time, that also included a proposal from Welland developer Keith Cumming to build a campground along the banks of the waterway.
Although the two proposals were to be publicly presented during a Welland city council meeting, it never happened. And the proposals remain confidential to this day.
A leaked copy of van Velzen’s proposal, however, was recently obtained by The Standard.
It includes plans for a nearly full-scale replica of the Titanic — 880 feet long, and 90 feet wide — to be constructed on stone and concrete footings within the waterway, located near the canal’s west bank, a few hundred feet north of the Main Street bridge.
Rather than repurpose a ship, the replica was to be built using conventional construction techniques in the shape of the ill-fated luxury cruise ship. The six floors of the building, referred to as decks in the proposal, included a 122-room hotel with featured attractions including a 62,000 square foot titanic exhibit, as
well as a second 57,000 squarefoot exhibit described within the document as “Welland’s Wacky World of Science.”
Additional amenities included several restaurants, meeting rooms, gift shops, retail spaces and a spa.
The project also spilled over onto shore with a parking area planned for the former Welland High area, and a promenade called Titanic Way, on what is now Mill Street would allow visitors to walk to the attraction itself.
The plan also included the purchase and restoration of nearby properties, including the historic building where Bogner’s Photography where guests could buy tickets, and see additional historic displays.
Van Velzen said he also asked for no financial support from the city, other than incentives such as waiving development charges, and a letter of support that he could then use to help secure private investments to pay for the structure.
“There’s no point in going forward if the city isn’t going to say yes,” van Velzen said.
“And it wouldn’t have cost the city anything to endorse it,” added project designer Lex Parker.
Meanwhile, van Velzen said during the up to five years it would have taken to complete the project, a temporary exhibit was being planned for the base of the Skylon tower in Niagara Falls to generate interest in the project in Welland.
Regarding the campground proposal, Cumming confirmed Thursday that he did propose building one in response to the city’s request for expressions of interest, but did not respond to a request for further information.
Welland resident Terry Hughes, who was a member of the city’s original canal board in the 1980s, said campgrounds were previously suggested several times in the years since the waterway was handed over to the city by the federal government.
Additional amenities, however, would be required to make the campground idea viable.
“By itself, to have a campground wasn’t going to work,” he said.
But the Titanic project would have made the campground viable, too, Hughes added.
“That would have been wonderful,” he said. “I think that would have been a great idea. I certainly could have stood behind that.”
Welland downtown business improvement area board chair Dolores Bujold Wright said she played a role in bringing the development proposals forward too, having met with van Velzen to discuss ideas for the city.
It was through those discussions that the idea was developed for the Welland’s Wacky World of Science exhibit, that eventually made its way into the final proposal. It was to include interactive exhibits about Welland’s industrial heritage, and the impact local industrial advancements have had on the world today.
“Those were fun things we were discussing,” Bujold-Wright said.
But the idea van Velzen came up with “blew me out of the water.”
“When I saw the drawing boards, I though wow this is cool,” she said. “If it could have been done, the potential could have been great.”
Although city staff had some concerns about the project, such as silt being stirred up during construction near the Region’s drinking water intake, Parker said he addressed all the concerns about the project.
Parker said they also considered different locations for the replica within the waterway, but the location they settled on was ideal.
“It just wouldn’t be the same as this,” he said, adding it would complement the city’s then newly refurbished and lighted Main Street Bridge.
Van Velzen made a follow-up presentation to city council in the summer of 2016 hoping for the city’s support for the project, describing it as a project that would “initiate a renaissance within the city.”
In that presentation, he said the project was “way outside the box,” and city staff “may have been taken aback by our submission.”
“It is bold. It is unique for the city and the Region,” he wrote in his presentation that also included a letter of support from Niagara College president Dan Patterson.
“Having spent leisure time last summer enjoying the activities taking place along the canal; Concerts on the Canal, Pan Am Games, Merritt Island etc. I realized, and as discussed, the canal lands are very much appreciated but underutilized.”
He called the area “raw, virgin territory that should be developed for cultural, entertainment, residential, retail and dining opportunities,” while also retaining greenspace for residents and visitors to enjoy.
The Titanic project, however, would be a “catalyst to attract other entrepreneurs to complement what we envision,” he added.
But with no support from city hall, in January 2017, van Velzen instead weighed anchor and set sail for Niagara Falls, where plans to build a similar but smaller version of the Titanic Experience are progressing, after receiving a $3-million funding commitment from the Niagara Angel Network.
Asked if there was a chance of returning to Plan A, van Velzen said that ship has sailed.
“The City of Niagara Falls has been outstanding with their support to have this docked in Niagara Falls,” he said.
“I can’t have two. I have to say, in all fairness, … I don’t think we’re going anywhere. They (Welland) missed the boat.”
Although the Titanic won’t be sailing into downtown Welland any time soon, Bujold Wright said she’s still eagerly looking forward to visiting the exhibit when it opens its doors in Niagara Falls, likely next year.
Although Bujold Wright agreed that the Titanic project seemed over-the-top when it was first proposed for Welland, she said van Velzen could have made it a reality.
“He’s a dreamer who makes things come true,” she said.