Second thought, the new stuff ain't brilliant, but I've seen worse, and it's an improvement on what's not there now.
But I second the idea of a masterplan, trying to get some architectural quality and cohesiveness and quality public realm.
I would also add Niagara continues to need better transit to it; and within the region. Progress is being made, but much more is needed.
Also Niagara Falls 'downtown' should be where the destination retail is in the region and where a large Cineplex goes.
Indigo, 'The Bay' if it continues to serve this area, etc. should be within walking distance of Clifton Hill/The Falls and be the main regional centre.
It would drive tourism by creating a mainstream shopping district and drawing in locals would help offset the decline in traffic in the off-season.
A cinema is a good low-cost form of entertainment to compliment other options, and offering a 12-screen, plus VIP + Imax would drive traffic in the area and support other amenities.
The result would be to downsize or eliminate the Pen Centre and at least one other regional power centre. All to the good!
I think Niagara Falls suffers from the same issue that Las Vegas faced- that the 'tourist' areas developed separately from its old downtown core. As such, the tourist zones largely lack good urbanistic bones to build off of, and the town is forced to choose between the two areas for investment. The old downtown will likely never pull in the money the Falls district will, and so it decays, while the intensely seasonal nature of the Falls district means that it may be a harder district to make vibrant.
It's no mistake that areas like Clifton Hill are the most vibrantly atmospheric (even if tacky); off of Victoria and moving south towards Mcleod Road, you really do see the legacy of the motor inns and an urban form derived from this post-war parceling- resulting in a physical form that has actual negative atmosphere to it. South of Dunn Street, the urban bones are actual semi-rural in nature (and the new developments for the area, despite their density, are anti-urban and car-dependent).
I think there should be some major moves:
1.) With the new Niagara GO Line and a future 'downtown' north of the train station, an LRT/BRT spine needs to be set up going from the train station, through the old downtown on Queen Street, down Victoria Ave, and finally down Stanley Ave to a terminus at the convention centre. An alternate route could potentially follow the old railtrail right-of-way down Palmer Avenue, and possibly even down to Robinson, though that would be a harder sell due to the residential nature of the area. In either case, you then have the opportunity to create central hubs for the areas to design around and possibly anchor public spaces.
2.) With that, the primary and secondary streets of the Falls district should be decided upon, and the streetscape made less arterial on some streets. Perhaps Fallsview Boulevard could be the main pedestrian spine, while Stanley Ave is the main transport spine- both should be specialized accordingly.
3.) Parking needs to be resolved- the masterplan should try to consolidate parking into parking structures and garages, just to reduce the soul-sucking expanses of asphalt that litter the area.
4.) Built-form standards need to be developed for the areas from Walnut south to Ferry, and from Ferry down to Mcleod. The first should be gently densified due to the adjacent residential neighbourhoods, the latter could see more intense development. Both should focus on creating streetwalls and defining space (no more blocks in the middle of parking).
5.) The car-dependent nature of the Niagara River Parkway should be reduced. If you imagine the parklands by the falls without the parkway- it becomes a magnificent European park with many wonderful features. Unfortunately, that's not possible, so the next best solution is to tame the road- slow it, create more pedestrian crossings, and make the intesections pedestrian-friendly (with bumpouts and islands). A strong seasonal bus transit spine should be established on this corridor.
6.) What strengths can Niagara Falls build upon and synergize so that it isn't completely reliant on tourism and gambling? Las Vegas was able to utilize its gambling sector to first become an entertainment centre, and then a convention hub- could Niagara Falls do the same?
/https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/content/dam/niagaradailies/news/niagara-region/2020/03/04/niagara-falls-approves-new-hotels-expected-to-create-more-than-1-500-jobs/B881065135Z.1_20200304133239_000_GRGT9ROB.3-0_Gallery.jpg)
