From Niagara This Week

Friday, September 18, 2020

$100-million Compass Heights to become signature gateway project in Fort Erie

If Jeffrey Andrews and his partners have their way, people crossing into Canada from the Peace Bridge — once the border closures sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic are lifted — will in the near future be greeted with a new signature development in one of their first views of Fort Erie.

Andrews, head of Compass Land Developments Ltd. (formerly ATW Development Niagara), said plans for the new Compass Heights Development project at the corner of Central Avenue and Garrison Road are full speed ahead despite the ongoing pandemic.

The project, with an estimated construction price of more than $100 million, has plans including condominiums, a rooftop restaurant, bowling alleys for building tenants, a Timber Hall reception/lobby with a large custom aquarium and exotic fish, main floor commercial space, a Brewhouse restaurant and possibly a nano brewery on the ground floor. The two-tier project would have eight storeys on one part and 12 storeys on a tower section complete with an observation deck.

“It needs to be spectacular, it needs to have a vista impact,” said Andrews. “It’s the face of Canada and Fort Erie and Niagara.”

Despite the size of the project, Andrews said he doesn’t expect any not-in-my-backyard sentiments from residents. “We don’t anticipate we’ll have much pushback on the project,” he said. “It’s not in a residential area (and) it certainly suits the location.”

Andrews said he and architect Jason Pizzicarola have worked hard to ensure the development makes the area a “pedestrian friendly” area of town. “We want it to be kind of a destination location,” he said.

At the site on Friday afternoon, officials gathered for a ceremonial hoisting of new signs showing artist concepts of the project. Among them were Joe Demma and Larry Gwynne of Toronto-based Vintage Park Homes, with whom Andrews’ firm has partnered.

“The site is magnificent,” said Demma, pointing to the panoramic views of Lake Erie, the Niagara River and the Peace Bridge.

The project plans were unveiled in July of last year, but Andrews said the scope of the project has increased substantially since then after the developers entered into an agreement with the Peace Bridge Authority to purchase a parking lot adjacent to and north of the development’s site at 7 Central Ave.

“The scope has changed dramatically,” he said. “It’s at least tripled the size of our land mass.”

The site has sat vacant for upwards of 15 years and was previously home to the old Keystone Kelly’s restaurant.

Andrews and his team have been working with the Town of Fort Erie, the region and Niagara Parks on the project. Staff from those entities have made it clear through a pre-consultation process — which precedes the project going to town council for approval — that they want a spectacular project at the important site, Andrews said. Many people considered the empty site an eyesore.

“The bar was set high,” said Andrews, who noted the project has proceeded through the uncertainty of COVID-19 with the help of PLW Planning and South Coast Consulting, project manager JCP Management Group, and engineers.

New artist renderings of the planned building show a sleek development. “The rooftop restaurant will overlook the lake, the river, the Peace Bridge,” said Andrews.

The project will require an official plan amendment and zoning amendment because at present the site is classed as a core mixed use, which only allows a four-storey development. Applications for those amendments were submitted to town hall on Aug. 25, and a virtual public meeting is planned for Thursday, Sept. 24 via the online platform Zoom.

“Me and my team will be on deck to answer any questions,” said Andrews.

Typically, town staff would then take comments from that meeting and build them into a report to council with recommendations.

Andrews said his team hopes to get approval from the town by year’s end, and construction could begin in 2021 if that’s achieved. It will take about two years to complete, he said.

“We’re confident this project is going to continue to move forward as quickly as it has,” he said.

Andrews said he hopes the unveiling of the new signs at a welcome centre already in place at the site will spark excitement among residents.

“This is a development that the Fort Erie community should be informed about and feel a sense of pride and ownership in as far as being the face of Fort Erie,” he said.