Niagara Falls Reporter

Reporter story sparks debate
At a candidates' debate, a story, broken by the Niagara Falls Reporter's Tony Farina sparked extra debate.... Keep in mind when reading this story, published in the Niagara Gazette, that the reason that the (below mentioned) Hamister deal is stalled is because the amount of corporate welfare required to pull the project off apparently is far greater than what was originally reported... It is not mentioned in the article below that Hamister is seeking huge amounts of corporate welfare in addition to getting the parcel 4 lot for free...In short Hamister wants the taxpayers to build him a hotel. And Maziarz wants to consider allowing Nik Wallenda a chance Senate candidates spar over Wallenda site remarks Staff Reports State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, believes the former site of a now-defunct helium balloon ride in downtown Niagara Falls would make the ideal spot for a proposed attraction involving Nik Wallenda. There is at least one potential hang up with his plan: The site, located at 310 Rainbow Blvd., is already being eyed by a Buffalo development company as a possible location for a new hotel and mixed-use building. Maziarz, who played an active role in helping Wallenda obtain the clearances needed for his June 15 walk across Niagara Falls, said this week he believes the property, often referred to as parcel 4, would be the ideal spot for what has been described as Wallenda's "temporary" entertainment center on the American side. Maziarz said that remarks he made in the Niagara Falls Reporter regarding the use of parcel 4, the tentative location for the development of a mixed-use building by the Hammister Group, as off-the-cuff and in response to a question from a reporter who suggested that Wallenda use that space. "We looked at sites by the snow park, over by John Daly Boulevard," he said. Maziarz said that he and Wallenda drove around to a number of other locations, but that one of Wallenda's preferences is that he is as close to the state park as possible. Wallenda may be able to use parcel 4 for his temporary tent next summer if the Hammister Group hasn't started construction. "If the Hammister Group wants to use that site it is not going to be used for Wallenda," Maziarz said. "I can tell you that." Maziarz does not represent the city in the state Senate. He is running for re-election this year in a new-look 62nd Senate District that will include Niagara Falls. On Wednesday, his opponents in the race characterized the Maziarz proposal as yet another attempt by the incumbent to replace a viable project with one more suited to his own political agenda. "This is just another attempt by George to attack the city and scuttle a project that he wasn't involved in and can't take credit for," said Niagara Falls School Board member Johnny Destino, a candidate in next week's Republican primary. "It's a harmful and appalling reflex (George has) and it explains, in large part, why Niagara County is in such poor economic shape. Any projects that don't meet with (George's) approval, or that he cannot take credit for, will be opposed and resisted regardless of the harm to local taxpayers." The state-run USA Niagara Development Corp. entered into talks with the Hamister Group earlier this year. The company unveiled plans to build a $22.5 million upscale hotel on the site. The firm also has been selected by the city council as the “preferred developer” for the one-acre parcel that formerly served as home to the Great American Balloon Co.’s tethered helium balloon ride. The Hamister proposal, selected from a group of seven submitted USA Niagara, calls for the construction of a five- to seven-story building that would offer 104 upscale hotel rooms, 24 market rate residential units and between 5,000 and 8,000-square feet of retail space on the ground floor along Old Falls Street. The project is expected to produce 130 permanent jobs and 219 jobs during construction. Hamister officials have said they would like to have the hotel built and open for business by 2014. The project is contingent upon the two sides coming to terms on a formal development agreement. A formal deal has not yet been struck, although state officials say negotiations continue.

Reporter story sparks debate

At a candidates' debate, a story, broken by the Niagara Falls Reporter's Tony Farina sparked extra debate....
Keep in mind when reading this story, published in the Niagara Gazette, that the reason that the (below mentioned) Hamister deal is stalled is because the amount of corporate welfare required to pull the project off apparently is far greater than what was originally reported...
It is not mentioned in the article below that Hamister is seeking huge amounts of corporate welfare in addition to getting the parcel 4 lot for free...In short Hamister wants the taxpayers to build him a hotel. And Maziarz wants to consider allowing Nik Wallenda a chance

Senate candidates spar over Wallenda site remarks

Staff Reports

State Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, believes the former site of a now-defunct helium balloon ride in downtown Niagara Falls would make the ideal spot for a proposed attraction involving Nik Wallenda.

There is at least one potential hang up with his plan: The site, located at 310 Rainbow Blvd., is already being eyed by a Buffalo development company as a possible location for a new hotel and mixed-use building.
Maziarz, who played an active role in helping Wallenda obtain the clearances needed for his June 15 walk across Niagara Falls, said this week he believes the property, often referred to as parcel 4, would be the ideal spot for what has been described as Wallenda's "temporary" entertainment center on the American side.

Maziarz said that remarks he made in the Niagara Falls Reporter regarding the use of parcel 4, the tentative location for the development of a mixed-use building by the Hammister Group, as off-the-cuff and in response to a question from a reporter who suggested that Wallenda use that space.

"We looked at sites by the snow park, over by John Daly Boulevard," he said.

Maziarz said that he and Wallenda drove around to a number of other locations, but that one of Wallenda's preferences is that he is as close to the state park as possible.

Wallenda may be able to use parcel 4 for his temporary tent next summer if the Hammister Group hasn't started construction.

"If the Hammister Group wants to use that site it is not going to be used for Wallenda," Maziarz said. "I can tell you that."

Maziarz does not represent the city in the state Senate. He is running for re-election this year in a new-look 62nd Senate District that will include Niagara Falls.

On Wednesday, his opponents in the race characterized the Maziarz proposal as yet another attempt by the incumbent to replace a viable project with one more suited to his own political agenda.

"This is just another attempt by George to attack the city and scuttle a project that he wasn't involved in and can't take credit for," said Niagara Falls School Board member Johnny Destino, a candidate in next week's Republican primary. "It's a harmful and appalling reflex (George has) and it explains, in large part, why Niagara County is in such poor economic shape. Any projects that don't meet with (George's) approval, or that he cannot take credit for, will be opposed and resisted regardless of the harm to local taxpayers."

The state-run USA Niagara Development Corp. entered into talks with the Hamister Group earlier this year. The company unveiled plans to build a $22.5 million upscale hotel on the site. The firm also has been selected by the city council as the “preferred developer” for the one-acre parcel that formerly served as home to the Great American Balloon Co.’s tethered helium balloon ride.

The Hamister proposal, selected from a group of seven submitted USA Niagara, calls for the construction of a five- to seven-story building that would offer 104 upscale hotel rooms, 24 market rate residential units and between 5,000 and 8,000-square feet of retail space on the ground floor along Old Falls Street. The project is expected to produce 130 permanent jobs and 219 jobs during construction. Hamister officials have said they would like to have the hotel built and open for business by 2014. The project is contingent upon the two sides coming to terms on a formal development agreement. A formal deal has not yet been struck, although state officials say negotiations continue.

Niagara Falls Reporter www.niagarafallsreporter.com Sep 07 , 2012