Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino has good reason to feel enthusiastic about the prospect of a top hockey prospects in North America someday scoring for a team based in Niagara Falls.
But there’s one big obstacle standing in the way of that dream: New York City billionaire Howard Milstein, owner of Niagara Falls Redevelopment. Milstein has had a grip for years on 12 acres of land near the Seneca Niagara Casino and he’s not letting go, even if it means the city misses one chance after another.
It’s his private property, after all, even if he does just sit on it, as the city’s economic development suffers. As this page has clearly stated, it’s time for the do-nothing developer to relinquish his hold over all 142 acres NFR owns in the heart of Niagara Falls. There had been hope recently that Restaino could take control and make good use of at least 12 acres of that property.
Restaino has hopes that the eminent domain case now before State Supreme Court Justice Frank A. Sedita III will result in a judgment in favor of the city’s proposed events center.
In the meantime, Restaino seemed in a good mood as reflected in a story by News staff reporter Dan Herbeck about the “very good chance” that one of the “continent’s top junior hockey leagues will establish a team in the Falls within the next few years.”
Representatives of two junior hockey leagues have approached the mayor of Niagara Falls about possible interest in a franchise in the city.
Restaino said that in recent weeks, representatives of two leagues – the Ontario Hockey League and the U.S. Hockey League – have contacted his office. The news was promising, at least a “very interested” message about starting a team in the city.
It is time for the city of Niagara Falls to have the opportunity to take control of its own destiny and build a sports and entertainment venue that creates year-round tourism opportunities for visitors, residents, and our hard-working seasonal employees.
Only one thing: The city’s plans for an events center near the casino must become a reality. That’s the site where the city wants to build a hockey and entertainment arena with 6,000 seats.
Potential projects like that sound good, but don’t get off the ground when there is an obstruction.
According to a story published in The News on March 3, Niagara Falls Redevelopment claims to want to build a digital business center on the site. A representative from the company mentioned the “private property” concept, adding that “government cannot come in and take private property without just compensation.”
After a series of court victories, Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino said he expects the city to gain title to 12 acres of vacant and partially tree-covered land at the corner of John B. Daly Boulevard and Falls Street.
Where is the justice in “just” compensation when it comes to preventing languishing, dormant land sitting smack downtown from being developed into something that could enhance the city’s quality of life, while boosting the economy?
No doubt, this is still a long shot. Just talk, for now. But the OHL said it is in search of places to expand and has had “early exploratory discussions” with Niagara Falls. A league spokesman said, in an email to The News, that if the “appropriate facility” was built, Niagara Falls would be an “intriguing center” for OHL hockey.
Even more intriguing for Niagara Falls. Look at the roster of famous OHL juniors who started in the NHL – Wayne Gretzky, Connor McDavid, Steve Yzerman and Joe Thornton. Or consider these former players in the USHL – Patrick Kane, Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk and Buffalo Sabres’ star Tage Thompson.
None of this is a slam dunk – to mix sports metaphors – but given Niagara Falls is making some progress, finally edging out of the state’s most fiscally distressed cities list, with an upgraded bond rating – and, yes, the city still has serious problems of poverty and homelessness – even the slightest chance that it could be home to junior hockey’s elite offers a glimmer of hope. First, something should be done about valuable land that is being held by private interests obstructing the public good.
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