Chew's News

Each year the World Bank releases a Doing Business ranking. The process considers 88 factors across 10 different categories analyzing potential success for new businesses in a country.

Canada placed above average in a majority of the categories, securing it’s 2nd place rank out of the 200 countries that make up the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Below are the categories in which Canada excels and that determine why the World Bank sees Canada as a great place to do business:

How do you make your commercial property stand out when your prospective tenants and buyers have so many options? To stand out in a competitive market your building needs a competitive marketing strategy.

Marketing your building starts by having the right commercial real estate sales representative on your side. Marketing your asset successfully, is much more than photos on a website, it’s using a multifaceted plan to deliver the highest return.  

Last week, we covered what you need to know about your commercial lease, in this article we will break down the types of leases you may be required to pay and the terminology behind commercial leasing. There are two common types of leases your business may be subject to, what you pay will be determined in the negotiation of your lease.

Fort Erie’s Garrison Road corridor represents the town's largest and most thriving retail node. With it's close proximity to the U.S. border it has, in recent years, become a haven for cross border shoppers looking to take advantage of the lower Canadian dollar. 

The retail growth of Garrison Road in the past decade has been significant leaving little opportunity for expansion. Take advantage of the growth in traffic with Garrison Road's largest plot of immeadiate developable land, for sale at 375 Garrison Road. 

Finding the right retail, office or industrial space for your business to operate in is a long process, one that culminates with lease negotiation and signing. 

Every lease is different and should be tailored to meet your needs but will also meet those of the landlord. Your lease is a legally binding contract between your business and your landlord, it’s important to understand the terms, and items included in that contract. While not every commercial lease is the same there are certain points and terms that are covered in most leases.

The following overview will help you to know what to look for in a lease and give you an understanding of what that may mean for your business.

Fort Erie, Ontario’s southern neighbour to New York State, has built its economy on industry and gaming. It’s unique location directly across the Niagara River from Buffalo, New York allows for great access to all North American markets. Which is precisely why industry, specifically logistics focused companies call the small town home.

In recent years, tourist centric visions have signaled new economic hope for the town, including the proposed development of the Canadian Motor Speedway and plans for the lands surrounding the Fort Erie Racetrack. With these new developments planned for Fort Erie, as well as, Niagara’s new designation as a Foreign Trade Zone, the wait is on to see a push towards economic prosperity in Fort Erie.

Yesterday one of St. Catharines most infamous vacant development sites found a purpose in Union Waterfront.

In confidence, Fortress Real Developments revealed their proposed site plan and renderings for the lands along Lakeport Rd., Lock St. and Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie.

Union Waterfront, the first waterfront development of its kind in St. Catharines, will span 1.5 acres, consist of two mixed use buildings, including one that reaches 12 storeys and will offer a mixture of residential and retail units.

The site plans for this $70 million development have been long awaited since Fortress RD aquired the site in January of 2015. 

The City of Welland’s aggressive approach to economic development has produced revered wins over the past number of years. A once troubled manufacturing town is no longer, Welland is now known as one of the best places to business in North America, and has been able to attract internationally established companies including General Electric, Heridge SARL and Northern Gold Foods.

With location advantage combined with it’s fully serviced industrial lands, aggressive incentives, educated workforce, research/development connections and an open city hall, Welland has positioned itself as a growing centre within Niagara.

The internationally renowned Niagara Falls is one of Niagara’s booming communities. With an economy driven by tourism and manufacturing and a location that borders the United States, the Falls offers desirable investment opportunities to national and international companies.

Niagara Falls was recently recognized as one of North America’s most cost-effective cities to live in and it’s residential foothold continues to expand with billion dollar investments in communities like Empire’s Imagine and the proposed Thundering Waters Secondary Plan. While tourism is the clear economic driver for the city, the Niagara Falls economy continues to diversify on the back of its provincial designation as a place to grow.

Private-sector investment is driving a number of new retail developments across Niagara. These new developments are helping to build out new communities and revitalize old ones.

Here’s a look at three new retail developments in Niagara that are set to add a growing number of amenities to Virgil, St. Catharines and Beamsville.