Hamister Selected to Develop Key Falls Site

Looks good..I was hoping there would be an article on this. Do people really still build skywalks? Or is it connected to a parking garage?

Its good to see a local company..purchasing land locally and making the investment here..locally..all too often its a purchaser from some far away land.

I had always hoped that Tenant Signage would come to WNY...

Great project! Will really add to Old Falls St. and build more street activity.

Let's see if it ever gets build. Niagara Falls doesn't exactly have a good track record. Plus the union parasites are already talking about prevailing wage and contractor's having to be locally hired. Typical corruption, red tape, politics and incompetence are already in full motion.

I guess they will get use out of those Elmwood Hotel plans after all

That's a pretty sharp building. Good to see something like this happening in the Falls!

It's great to see Niagara Falls, NY finally clean it self up. If more people came to the Falls and stayed longer, they most likely will come to Buffalo as well.

It blows my mind how blighted the City of Niagara Falls is considering the major tourist attraction it sits on. There's so much potential in Niagara Falls development. This is a step in the right direction.

I think the site plan, massing, height, and corner entrance are all good with this project.

That said, on the architecture, I couldn't agree more with Travelrrr. Plop it down in the middle of a parking lot lake, and this building would be at home Anywhere, USA -- especially places that look like the vicinity of UB North Campus or the airport. ANY airport.

There is nothing whatsoever of the Falls in the building's architecture. I tend to be picky on stuff like that -- just ask anyone from the Greenway signage committee ;-) Geology is what Niagara Falls is all about, and many of the downtown buildings have local stone. Even some of the modernist structures in the Falls incorporate stone. That ought to be especially so anywhere near the park -- one of the world's natural wonders, and one of the top tourist destinations in North America. And this site isn't just near the park, it's STEPS AWAY.

I wonder what it would have really set them back to do a design that incorporated local stone in even the smallest way -- even as facing on some surfaces, like the corner entry tower, base course, etc. And did no one even think of doing a "waterfall" window at the top section of the corner tower--? Well, whoever designed the new visitors' center did -- and it works nicely in that design. They could also have gone in a different direction for local design inspiration, incorporating some terra cotta and/or art-deco elements that reference the United Office Building, the best part of the NF, NY skyline. Perhaps with Native American motifs. Elements like that might add to project cost, but not necessarily a huge amount in comparison to the overall budget.

But instead of borrowing from ANY local theme whatsoever, as Travelrrr rightly pointed out, the architecture seems borrowed from "Everywheresville, USA". And on probably the most important streetscape axis in WNY (aside from Court Street, Buffalo).

Sorry -- as much as I admire CWM, this architecture is just not good enough.

it is emphatically -not- an anywheresville building. most suburban zoning codes would forbid this kind of building.

for one thing, it scores high on urban functionality. it is built up to the sidewalk instead of being fronted by parking. it has a genuine, at grade corner entrance (super high points for that!). it has a cornice. it has ground floor retail. it has sidewalk cafes overlooking actual sidewalks rather than parking lots.

the only thing i'd wish for that is not present is balconies overlooking the street. and no #$%*&! dry-vit. but we can't have everything.

It looks good and will bring some much needed density/shops to the main tourist area in the falls. Ultimately, the outcome of this project will determine whether or not it's worth it to start developing downtown NF again. After decades of mob-like intimidation and feet dragging, if this does well, expect the other vacant parcels to go quickly. Now if we can get the Schumer to force absentee landlord Howard Millstein to sell off his land at half price.

I worked in the falls for 10 years and my wife grew up in the North End. It is true that the historic downtown core was a victim of urban renewal and has been demolished but the city still has pockets of quality buildings and homes. Main Street in the North End is still fairly intact with many old brick and stone buildings, some dating to the 1850's. There are also many fine old homes in the North End, the DeVeaux area, and parts of downtown. Many of these pocket areas are only a few blocks like Park Place and 4th Street in the downtown area but they are as nice as anything we have here in Buffalo. The beauty of the City of Niagara Falls is not always apparent from a drive by, need to look beyond the usual tourist areas to see the real city.

Niagara falls has a few unusual relations. I think that the fact that it is more so a city places some unique challenges. They need to solve the battle of land mass. And I like the theory behind the Louvre pyramid. to be continued...