Developer plans 7,000 condo units
Fugiel Group of Companies plans to invest $1.6 billion on various projects in Niagara Falls
A developer is looking to invest $1.6 billion during the next 10 years to build 7,000 residential-condo units in Niagara Falls.
Rocky Vacca, a lawyer representing Pawel Fugiel, of the Fugiel Group of Companies, said the developer plans to achieve nearly half of those units through four current proposals.
Vacca said two developments have already been approved by city council, while two more are expected to go before local politicians later this year.
The first project, which is already underway, is located where the former Cupolo’s sports store on Ferry Street, near Stanley Avenue, once stood.
Vacca said people going by the site will notice a hole that is roughly 40 feet deep and that the entire site has been dug out.
The original proposal, he said, included three buildings — one a seven-storey apartment, the second a six-storey hotel and the third a 30storey condo complex.
In August, council approved a revised plan by the developer where the first building will now be 16 storeys, instead of seven, the second will be 14 storeys, instead of six, and no longer be a hotel, but condos, while the third will remain 30 storeys.
Vacca said the project will be done in two phases, the first to be a twolevel underground parking structure, which will be under all three of the buildings. The 30-storey condo building is expected to follow, while Phase 2 will see the 14-storey and 16-storey buildings constructed.
“It’s well underway. Quite frankly, I believe he has the majority of the condo units already sold — agreements signed, deposits paid by buyers,” said Vacca.
He said it’s expected to take at least 18 to 24 months to get the underground parking and the first building done.
When the project is complete, 889 condo dwellings will be on the site.
“This is truly a game changer for that area. We’re taking away an eyesore. We’re creating 889 condo apartment units — many of them are one bedrooms, so we’re talking about smaller units for single people, empty nesters, which I don’t think there’s much out there for that category of consumers right now.”
He said the developer was in negotiations with a hotel chain, but “given what’s been happening in Ontario with lack of housing, I think a light bulb just went off in his head and said, ‘why am I putting another hotel in Niagara Falls?’ When, instead, in that (14-storey) building alone that he’s changed from a hotel to a condo apartment … that will have 286 housing units.”
Fugiel’s second project will see a massive two-tower residential development on Victoria Avenue.
In March, council approved the developer’s request for official plan and zoning bylaw amendments to exceed the 30-storey limit for a 35and 36-storey development consisting of a 29-storey hotel with 404 guest suites and 30-storey apartment including 469 apartment and seven on-street dwellings, a six-storey podium and 687 square metres of commercial uses at grade between Victoria and Ellen avenues, at Walnut Street.
The land is occupied by the singlestorey Falls Convenience store at the corner of Victoria Avenue and Walnut Street, the two-storey Weinkeller restaurant on the ground floor, and Nightmares Fear Factory attraction on the second floor further south on Victoria Avenue, and commercial surface parking on the remainder of the lands.
In August, council approved the developer’s revised plans that now call for the 29-storey tower to be for apartment uses, rather than a hotel, including 278 apartment dwelling units, while the 30-storey tower will have 367 apartment dwelling units and the podium will have 86 apartment dwelling units and seven at-grade dwelling units.
The revised plans will result in a total of 738 dwelling units. In addition, 833 square metres of commercial uses are now proposed at grade.
The one level of underground parking and multi-level parking structure will provide 761 parking spaces for residential uses. The commercial uses are exempt from parking requirements.
Vacca said the development company is working on construction drawings for the project and is waiting for the lease agreements with the current tenants on the property to expire within the next year or two before proceeding with development.
He said applications have also been submitted to city hall for two more condo projects — one a 45storey building on Victoria Avenue, at the top of Bender Hill, where a Japanese gift shop and restaurant operated.
“This will be going to council some time this year,” said Vacca, adding the exact unit count has not been confirmed, but will likely be between 600-700.
He said Fugiel is also proposing a 77-storey, 962-unit condo building at Robinson Street and Stanley Avenue. If approved by council, it will be the tallest building, by storeys, in the city.
“He doesn’t have frontage on Stanley, but he has frontage on Robinson, so it includes a number of the houses on Robinson and then it includes the old zippo factory building behind it,” said Vacca.
He said most, if not all, of Fugiel’s projects will include some commercial components on the first floor.
In a statement delivered through Vacca, Fugiel said: “As a direct result of the tremendous support that has been provided by the City of Niagara Falls and the Regional Municipality of Niagara, the Fugiel Group of Companies remains ever so motivated to provide housing units, including affordable housing, to the city of Niagara Falls in the near future.”