Significance of the Comfort Inn Retail Strip

     “Iusi said she spoke to the owners of the retail property attached to the old Comfort Inn-The Pointe hotel and they indicated they are not planning any new developments for the site this year. The property was purchased by Maid of the Mist Hospitality, LLC in 2009.” - Excerpt from June 2, 2011Niagara Gazette Article

     Maid of the Mist Hospitality, LLC stands to potentially lose out on millions of dollars once the Maid of the Mist contract bid is completed. Therefore why would the Glynn family develop this space themselves or renovate the spaces to make the lease ready if they are flirting with future decreased revenue? Seemingly instead they have opted to remain conservative and limit their developments by keeping leasing rates high and not developing a future master plan for the space. This retail space is valuable and it needs to redeveloped!

     So while the city is making progress in many other areas downtown and around the city, this space which lies at one of the busiest areas, the state park entrance, remains undeveloped and a blatant eyesore for not only tourists but neighboring businesses who are actually trying to give this city a boost. Ashker’s Ice Cream, who has businesses in Lewiston and Youngstown, is one the daring entrepreneurs who have acknowledged the great opportunity to captivate tourists continuously flowing to and from the State Park entrance.  The Downtown Niagara Falls Business Association has even begun rooting itself by the park entrance by offering bike rentals that tourists can take along the seaway trail and through the state park itself. Old Falls St which is a part of Global Spectrum, the company that manages the Conference Center in Downtown Niagara Falls, has scheduled several daily activities along with countless events catered to all ages and interests all summer long. Unfortunately, these endeavors are overshadowed by the vacant storefronts and the hulking unused Turtle Building and Rainbow Center. Tourists are left befuddled by the inconsistent developments and outright vacancies. After spending many hours observing this area I have seen this firsthand and have become well accustomed to the numerous tourists who have excitedly galloped over to the entrances of these spaces only to discover the door is locked and the place is in complete disrepair. They realize they've been deceived by fancy window decor and move on to the next attraction which so happens to be a Haunted House Wax Museum whcich I might add is nonconforming to the beautiful streetscape redevelopment the city poured millions of dollars into.  Although there are a number of other factors liable for the dismal state of downtown Niagara Falls, I believe this immediate space of Old Falls Street and Prospect St and the abutting retail buildings owned by the Comfort Inn ( Maid of the Mist Hospitality, Inc.) and Niagara History Inc. is key to developing a strong tourist atmosphere. Imagine if these buildings were utilized completely by offering retail spaces engaging to the passing tourists. Now couple that with the summer long programming of Old Falls St and the soon to be developed NCCC Culinary Institute, TGIF Restaurant, and Falls Street Station Building … we’d have a viable tourist corridor. Throw in a redeveloped Hotel Niagara, and market-demand led overhaul of the One Niagara building and now were talking!

Vista From State Park Entrance Down Old Falls St