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Thread: The Rainbow Center

  1. #1
    Member Linda_D's Avatar
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    The Rainbow Center

    Developer David Cordish wants to donate the Rainbow Center to NCCC for its Culinary Institute and Tourism program. (Rainbow Center). At first glance, that sounds great. However, there are some implications that need to be considered:
    • the property would come off the tax rolls
    • NCCC would become responsible for the maintenance, which runs Cordish about $400,000 annually
    • NCCC only needs about 1/3 of the space in the building. What happens to the rest of it?
    • How will this impact NCCC students who will need to take regular college courses as well as courses located at the Culinary Institute?
    • Is this the first step in creating a secondary NCCC campus? If so, is that feasible or desirable? Might it not be better to investigate whether this could redeveloped into a new campus and the Sanborn campus sold?
    This property is said to be worth millions, but it has stood virtually empty for 10-15 years, and Kordish has not been successful in doing anything much with it in recent years. It seems to me that that kind of building really isn't "worth millions" at all. Look at the Statler in Buffalo -- maybe in NYC or Philly it's worth millions but here in Buffalo, it's worth about $750,000 -- and even that sale may fall through. That says to me that the Rainbow Center is not nearly as valuable as Kordish and others claim. Is this just a scam to stick NCCC with a white elephant while getting the developer fat tax breaks for his "donation".

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    In the article it says the school would use a third of the building and the rest "would then be turned over to the city and its state development agency for redevelopment."

    If that's the case then what he's really doing is handing the property over to the city of Niagara Falls, with the Culinary School getting guaranteed dibs on whatever it wants first.

    It sounds like good news for the school, but given NF's track record on development, it leaves the rest of the property up in the air for quite some time.

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    Great. Another advance of the public sector over the private. Just what we need.

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    Does Cordish get the same tax breaks he would get if he owned the property outright?
    As for its worth, I think a major portion of the worth isn't the building itself, but add the additional acre and the proximity to the Falls. who knows.
    Maintenance-if part is going to the City, would the maintenance costs all fall on NCCC?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Linda_D View Post
    Developer David Cordish wants to donate the Rainbow Center to NCCC for its Culinary Institute and Tourism program. (Rainbow Center). At first glance, that sounds great. However, there are some implications that need to be considered:
    • the property would come off the tax rolls
    • NCCC would become responsible for the maintenance, which runs Cordish about $400,000 annually
    • NCCC only needs about 1/3 of the space in the building. What happens to the rest of it?
    • How will this impact NCCC students who will need to take regular college courses as well as courses located at the Culinary Institute?
    • Is this the first step in creating a secondary NCCC campus? If so, is that feasible or desirable? Might it not be better to investigate whether this could redeveloped into a new campus and the Sanborn campus sold?

    This property is said to be worth millions, but it has stood virtually empty for 10-15 years, and Kordish has not been successful in doing anything much with it in recent years. It seems to me that that kind of building really isn't "worth millions" at all. Look at the Statler in Buffalo -- maybe in NYC or Philly it's worth millions but here in Buffalo, it's worth about $750,000 -- and even that sale may fall through. That says to me that the Rainbow Center is not nearly as valuable as Kordish and others claim. Is this just a scam to stick NCCC with a white elephant while getting the developer fat tax breaks for his "donation".

    I doubt this property even has a positive value. DT Niagara Falls is a disgrace and it is only compounded by the view of the successful NF on the other side of the river.


    The only way I could see NF coming back is if they allowed 3-4 casino/hotel complexes to be built on the various parcels of land. Doing this would actually help the Culinary Institute and Tourism program as there would be businesses that actually serviced tourists and served food that needed people with a culinary degree.

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    Member Linda_D's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by leftWNYbecauseofBS View Post
    I doubt this property even has a positive value. DT Niagara Falls is a disgrace and it is only compounded by the view of the successful NF on the other side of the river.
    I agree about the value of the property, and that's what raises the red flags to me. This guy couldn't get a deal worked out with NCCC to lease part of it, but then he gives it to the school. I think he's dumping it and aiming to get a multiple millions off his tax bill because of his "charitable" donation.

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    That's fine by me. The guy wasn't doing anything with it... for how many years? It very well may sit in someone else's hands for many more years, but at least someone else will get a shot at it. I just don't have much faith in the city govt doing the right thing here... they tend to make even worse decisions than Buffalo does. Although I think they did a really good job with the Old Falls Street redo.

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    It's easier to springboard off of something than nothing. But really, everyone should concentrate on some guy getting tax breaks, don't you think?

    I think the article already touched on stuff like bakeries, cafes, etc. How about a shop that offers bento box type lunches for tourists that want to hike around Goat Island? Maybe share that shop with something to cover the winter tourist season. Take some of the Seneca money to build a small skating rink and use that shop for skate rental in the winter.
    How about bicycle rental?

    Maybe a gift shop or 2?

    A pub/bar wouldn't be out of place. Maybe a Spot Coffee?

    Are the culinary students required to take other classes?
    Can some of the space be turned into student housing and day care?
    How about trying for a beauty school and possibly offer day spa type services for tourists? Even during recessive economic times, many people on vacation still like a little pampering, especially international ones.

    Some of these ideas might seem silly, but being old school TQM, I'm one that believes even some of the silliest ideas can trigger other more viable ideas.

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    Those are all great ideas. They need to reconfigure it to create street life instead of a purely indoor mall.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 300miles View Post
    Those are all great ideas. They need to reconfigure it to create street life instead of a purely indoor mall.
    Whatever they do...they have to outdo the Canadian side. That is the biggest problem I see. Why would anyone want to spend the day on the US side when they could on the Canadian site? The only reason I see now is if they do not have a passport and maybe want to do shopping.

    The Canadian side already has 10x more stuff for both adults and families, it is cleaner AND comes with a much better view of the falls.

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    I'm not sure they have to outdo them, just offer something different and appealing. It's not like there's an iron curtain and you have to pick one side or the other. Unless maybe someone is there for just a day.

    Pub/bar made me think maybe a microbrewery?

    Crafting is big business these days, maybe some kind of "make your own souvenir" crafting workshop?

    Good point Miles about some street stuff as well. They have an acre that goes along with the mall.

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    A lot of the offerings on the Canadian side (aside from the view of the falls themselves) tend to be around Casinos or Kids stuff. There is an opportunity for the NY NF to go more for the grown-up crowd without the wax museums and arcades that make most people over 25 cringe. Not that they don't have grown-up attractions there too, but it definitely has a bit of a circus atmosphere. I really hope NY is not trying to emulate that entirely.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cookie View Post
    I'm not sure they have to outdo them, just offer something different and appealing. It's not like there's an iron curtain and you have to pick one side or the other. Unless maybe someone is there for just a day.

    Pub/bar made me think maybe a microbrewery?

    Crafting is big business these days, maybe some kind of "make your own souvenir" crafting workshop?

    Good point Miles about some street stuff as well. They have an acre that goes along with the mall.

    Cookie - love the idea of making your own but that takes days-weeks. Those are called nanobreweries. They have a couple in San Diego. If you ever get a chance to go to one..do it. They make crazy awesome beer.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 300miles View Post
    A lot of the offerings on the Canadian side (aside from the view of the falls themselves) tend to be around Casinos or Kids stuff. There is an opportunity for the NY NF to go more for the grown-up crowd without the wax museums and arcades that make most people over 25 cringe. Not that they don't have grown-up attractions there too, but it definitely has a bit of a circus atmosphere. I really hope NY is not trying to emulate that entirely.

    But if not casinos/kids stuff...what else is there?

    Say the target audience is 21-35 w/out kids. What can you put in the Falls that would make it a destination?


    • Shopping is down the road and I do not see that moving.
    • Bars & Restaurants need people and casinos/kids stuff brings people.
    • The park is nice...I spent about 2 hours there people watching but I would not do that when it is cold or raining.


    I understand how you would cringe at some of those attractions. They have similar in San Diego. Yet, every weekday and weekend, those things have swarms of people around them.

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    Quote Originally Posted by leftWNYbecauseofBS View Post
    Cookie - love the idea of making your own but that takes days-weeks. Those are called nanobreweries. They have a couple in San Diego. If you ever get a chance to go to one..do it. They make crazy awesome beer.
    Actually, nanobrewery was what I was thinking, but nano just wouldn't come to me at the moment. I hate beer but hubby would love it. He went through the obligatory home brewing phase.
    Maybe the whole start to finish pottery takes too long, but start with already made blank plates, cups, shakers, etc. and let them paint or decal them. That doesn't take days. I'm sure Buffalo China could use some business. 2 birds, 1 stone.
    A workshop with scrapbooking supplies and a few printers to print out pics they've taken with their digital camera? No more post-vacation procrastinating!

    Wasn't there some kind of gem thing on this side of the falls?

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