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Welland's North End Industrial and Commercial Park is apart of a predominantly commercial district, it shares a mixture of light industrial and commercial uses with a mixed residential area and open space. The neighbourhoods boundaries can be loosely delineated by the municipal border with Thorold to the north, Highway 406 to the east, Woodlawn Road to the south, and First Avenue to the west. Niagara Street traverses the neighbourhood in a north to south direction, while the Welland Recreational Waterway & Welland River bisect the southeast corner of the neighbourhood.
Surrounding area
The surround area includes a mix of commercial and residential uses. Most of the commercial properties line Niagara street, this includes the Seaway Mall in the southern area. Residential properties are focused in the southwest, the northeast and surrounding the Seaway Mall. Located in the southeast area is the Primeway Drive large format commercial development by Smart Centres. The centre includes a Rona, Canadian Tire and WalMart store. There is open land above this development that is available for light industrial, commercial or business park uses. The neighbourhood also includes conservation lands and open space to the north that is available for development as well.
Transportation access and locational advantage
The park runs along Welland’s Niagara street which connects the park to both Highway 406 and the city’s downtown core. Welland is located approximately 90 minutes from Toronto and 30 minutes from Buffalo, New York. Welland’s strength in attracting industrial partners stems from it’s location advantage. Seven of the United States top industrial states are within a day’s drive from the city. It’s location along the canal links the city to major international ports and the strategic placement of warehouses along the canal allows for shipping and receiving goods. Industry in Welland also benefits from good CNR railway lines.
Growth in the area
The area is considered to be in modest growth and it is expected that developments will continue in the immediate area surrounding the Smart Centre. With it’s anchor tenants established smaller retail uses will continue to be constructed. As mentioned previously, there are sections of Niagara Street and Woodlawn Road that are vacant development lands zoned for commercial or light industrial development. Welland has taken steps over a number of years to encourage the development of local industry, steps like the major enhancements to Highway 406 are increasing accessibility to the area and therefore traffic counts, especially to this concentrated section of Welland.
To learn more about other industrial and business parks, read my earlier blogs on the Montrose Commercial and Industrial Business Park, Stanley Avenue Industrial Park, and East St. Catharines Industrial Parks.
