Niagara Falls staff in favour of 10 stacked townhouses for vacation units
Published May 8, 2023 at 3:39 pm
It’s still in the planning stages but a developer, Build Up Victoria Inc., is looking to build 10 stacked townhouses on Victoria Ave. in Niagara Falls that “may” be used as vacation rental units.
The vacant lot at the corner of Victoria Ave. and Leader Lane is just 0.3 acres and with parking, it likely could not accommodate much more than the 10 units. Councillors will look at the proposal at the May 9 council meeting.
Granted, regardless of whether they are used as vacation rental units or permanent residents, staff noted, “If the proposed development is utilized for residential purposes, it will intensify land within the Built-Up Area and Transit Station Area Secondary Plan and create additional housing choices for residents.”
That said, the lot would be zoned “site-specific Tourist Commercial zone to permit ten (10) stacked townhouse (apartment) dwelling units that may be used as vacation rental units.”
At the moment, it’s simply an application which means the lot would need its zoning slightly altered but staff acknowledged, the potential “vacation rental units are a permitted use and the height, density, and placement of the units is appropriate for the abutting neighbourhood and will support the tourism economy.”
Directly north of the subject property is Great Wolf Lodge Water Park Resort while immediately south are vacant lands and detached dwellings.
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Further south are industrial uses including SAG-Q Aggregates Inc. and Niagara Engineered Products Inc.
Properties to the west are zoned for light industrial uses with Lococo’s grocery store located to the west and Niagara Helicopters Limited to the northwest. Directly east of the property there is an unimproved laneway and low-rise residential dwellings.
However, should the 10 unit development end up as tourist units, being in the Whirlpool Satellite District puts visitors a stone’s throw from the Niagara River Gorge and such attractions as Niagara Helicopters Limited, Whirlpool Aero Car and White Water Walk.
Artist’s depiction of the 10-unit development.