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.

The proposed development at the Marina and Cairns Crescent will require a new sewer and water line extended utilities and a rerouting  of the Niagara Parkway which will run through Cairns Crescent. It will be necessary to reroute the Parkway to accommodate the canals that will run from the Niagara river to the Cairns Crescent condos so that the residents that live in the condo complex can dock their boats at their front door.

The new sewer and water service is estimated to cost one million dollars, who is going to pay for that? With this development property tax and other utilities are sure to increase.

On top of all that the once quiet area will be a regular thoroughfare due to the rerouted  Niagara parkway.

The once quiet 45 acres of land will be a waterfront condo complex.

Also their has to be some thought on the environment, shoreline, and habitat that will be destroyed by the proposed development.

The two main questions need to be answered.

Who is going to pay?

Who will benefit?

Below is an image of the area that is proposed for development.

Some artist sketches of the structures considered for the Cairns Crescent development

In 2007 The Niagara Parks Commission decided that operating the Miller’s Creek Marina was unprofitable and leased the marina to a private operator.

Future Plans for the marina are uncertain at the moment but plans for both the Marina and the Cairns Crescent Seem to be on their way.

It could be the beginning to severing the Niagara Parkway and allowing commercial development along the Niagara River.

Located 8 km (5 mi) north of the Peace Bridge that connects Buffalo, N.Y. and Fort Erie, Ontario, on the scenic Niagara Parkway, the Miller’s Creek Marina is easily accessible by water and land routes.The Marina was a former shipyard owned by the Canadian Ship Building Company since 1903. The Niagara Parks Commission purchased the property in 1957 and in 1965 the Commission decided to test public demand for a Marina and installed a timber dock on the south side. By 1968, the boat docking facilities had become so popular that a seawall, gas pump and berths for 54 boats were installed. In 1975, 50 additional slips were added, bringing the total to 135 slips.  In April 2007, a private company began managing this facility.

This is the only public Marina on the Canadian side of the Niagara River.  Located on the beautiful Niagara Parkway between Fort Erie and Niagara Falls, the Marina is on the Niagara River Recreation Trail close to Legends on the Niagara Golf Complex and a short drive to the Falls.