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Image from Modern Niagara
There is significant development in Niagara occurring that will have a positive influence on the area. Construction is underway on the new Niagara Regional Police Services (NRPS) Headquarters and 2 District Facility at 5340 Portage Road in Niagara Falls, with official ground breaking ceremony having taken place on November 18, 2013. The building will ultimately consolidate operations from five different police facilities, bringing the Niagara Regional Police together under one central headquarters. This move will have a large impact on the surrounding area, encouraging development and redevelopment in the future, in both the residential and commercial sectors.
Connecting Niagara
With the headquarters originally spread across a number of facilities, the Niagara Regional Police said they were losing efficiency, something that could be obtained with a main headquarters situated in Niagara Falls. The new headquarters will allow the police to be located in a central site in the region, with quick access to major roads and highways. The Niagara Regional council agreed to purchase land in Niagara Falls in 2010 for a new police headquarters for the regional police.
A new look for the area
The Niagara Regional Police services headquarters (NRPS) is a 210,000 sq. ft., four-storey building with an estimated budget of $46 million. The building is scheduled for operation by November 2015 and will consolidate operations from five different police stations. The headquarters, designed by Rebanks Pepper Littlewood Architects Inc. (Toronto) & McClaren, Wilson & Lawrie Inc. Wheaton, Illinois, is a modern and efficient facility with an eco-friendly design with a solar photo voltaic system and electric vehicle charging stations. The new headquarters in Niagara Falls is built on a 8.25 acre lot with three storeys above ground and one below. The building will have parking for 415 cars. The building will house 680 police and civilian staff.
New opportunities for growth
A number of old properties were cleared on Valley Way and Portage Road, near Highway 420 in Niagara Falls in order to facilitate this development. The new headquarters will be located in a mixed use area in the central part of the City of Niagara Falls. The surrounding area is comprised predominantly of commercial uses, including light industrial along Valley Way, expanding to residential uses. The area offers convenient accessibility to all city amenities and has easy access to the Highway 420 interchange that leads to the QEW.
The development of the new NRPS headquarters will ultimately have a significant impact on the area. We can expect the construction to influence future development and redevelopment in the area, as it offers a key strategic location in the City of Niagara Falls. Both the commercial and residential real estate markets will benefit from this new headquarters. If you would like to find out more about the investment and development potentials in the Niagara real estate market, connect with a Niagara real estate appraiser.
