Chew's News

Highway 55 in Virgil (Niagara-on-the-Lake) has undergone significant revitalization over the last few years. 1561 Niagara Stone Road (Hwy 55) is the latest confirmed retail development and will be anchored by Tim Horton’s and the LCBO.

The downtown revitalization of St. Catharines’ commercial sector has progressed in an eastward direction, for the most part, from the intersection of St. Paul Street revitalization efforts and Ontario Street. Alongside major projects like the Meridian Centre and FirstOntario Performance Arts Centre, new businesses have grown and existing businesses have expanded.

It’s has, so far, been a summer of positive development announcements for Port Dalhousie. First, the Port Dalhousie Harbour Club Ltd. announced plans for a loft condo project with new commercial development ground floor units and a few weeks ago, Union Waterfront announced that it had submitted an updated planning application to the city.

Rising property taxes are taking a toll on small business owners. The non-residential tax system has been criticized in the past for being unpredictable and unfair, however, it remains a key revenue source for most municipalities.

Fourth Avenue in St. Catharines is the city's fastest growing commercial node. Construction of the new Niagara Health System (NHS) site was a deciding factor for many investors to begin construction on the vacant lands that surround it. As of the beginning of this year, there are three large in-construction/established commercial projects that mark these lands including First Place, Fourth Avenue West Shopping Centre and the Pathstone Mental Health Building.

These new additions have further cemented Fourth Avenue as a major commercial/retail destination within the city joining the likes of retail giants at Glendale Ave., Lake St., Geneva St. and Ontario St.

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In June of this year, it was announced that a new Go Train station will be be developed in Grimsby with services expected by 2021. GO expansion is timely news as Niagara’s population is expected to increase by 170,000 by 2041; a population rise that could bring 80,000 new jobs, although Niagara residents will still continue to commute out of region for work.

Niagara’s condo market is booming. No fewer than a dozen condo buildings are presently on the market, and there are also a number of “rumoured projects” sitting in the planning stages. Over and above these rumoured projects, are plots of land and redevelopment opportunities within the Niagara region prime for multi-residential development.

Niagara is surrounded by waterfront and it’s various inlets, rivers and creeks help to round out a compilation of desirable and valuable waterfront properties throughout the region.

Over the past year, with Niagara growth expectations rising, there has been a shift at the regional level along with a narrowing priority point that centres on economic development, growth and regional prosperity. Because of this direction, waterfront land has recently become a major economic priority for the region. With plenty of opportunity for residential and commercial development along Niagara's waters this is a necessary action plan to continue to encourage and spur private development.

The progressive nature of Welland’s City Hall pushes forward with a new Draft Comprehensive Zoning By-law. This new document was created so that the city would have one comprehensive zoning by-law, one ‘progressive regulatory document’ that implements policies across the three levels of government.

A draft by-law has been created by the City in order to address the policies developed in line with Welland’s official plan. The official plan contains policies and regulations for land use and development of specific lands. Whereas the zoning by-law enforces policies identified within the Official plan.

Canadian auto parts retailer Princess Auto is constructing a new location on Fourth avenue in St. Catharines. The store will be apart of the new Fourth Avenue West Shopping Centre development. The brand which is currently expanding across Canada, provides a unique retailer to Niagara further strengthening Fourth Avenue’s retail options.