Protect Our Parks

JOHN ROBBINS
Local News - Wednesday, July 04, 2007 Updated @ 6:31:48 AM

There’s a new skipper at the helm of the Niagara Parks Commission marina in Fort Erie.

The private sector company that took over management of the facility two months ago is charting a course for a multi-million-dollar makeover.

Proposed improvements could see the number of berths more than tripled, as well as the construction of a luxury hotel, a 500-seat restaurant, tourism-themed shopping outlets and a 150-unit condominium development.

The proposal to redevelop the marina is still in the conceptual stage, but Sentex Developments Inc. has reached an agreement with the parks commission for interim management of the marina, which has been renamed Miller’s Creek Marina.

Parks general manager John Kernahan said the commission “came very close” to closing the marina, before a private sector partner was found with the help of the Town of Fort Erie and the Fort Erie Economic Development and Tourism Corp.

Meanwhile, the company is beginning work on an environmental assessment of the redevelopment proposal - a process expected to take up to two years, according to company spokesman Bob O’Dell.

He said the “footprint” of the development and the exact designs can’t be determined without the environmental assessment.

If all goes as planned, construction will begin within three years, O’Dell said.

The marina is located on the Niagara Parkway, near Cairns Crescent in the rural north-east corner of Fort Erie.

With 136 slips, it was built around 1965.

A number of years ago, the NPC put out feelers for private-sector proposals for redevelopment, but there were no takers at that time, Kernahan said.

In January 2006, the parks commission asked the Fort Erie EDTC to take the lead in finding a partner. A committee of civic and business representatives was struck to develop terms of reference for a call for proposals and to help review the competing concepts.

There were a number of major restrictions on what the Parks would allow, including a stipulation that the land would not be sold to private interests.

Instead, a long-term lease on the property was envisioned.

In April 2006, the Parks selected the Sentex Development Inc. proposal from among “two very superior proposals,” Kernahan said.

“We realized it was time for some really significant investment.”

Proponents met with residents in the Cairns Crescent area last year to talk about the proposal and to solicit input.

Kernahan said the private-sector development will be a source of revenue for the parks commission, but details of how much revenue the commission expects to get through a long-term lease of the property haven’t been finalized.

The company took over management of the marina May 1, and has begun making some improvements to the property.

“They’ve got it looking very good,” said Kernahan.