After wrapping up conversion of the Tishman Building into a mixed-use complex on Lafayette Square, the Hamister Group is turning its attention to a planned Niagara Falls project. Hamister was selected as designated developer for a long-vacant parcel at Old Falls Street and Rainbow Boulevard in 2012 after beating out six other proposals. Originally planned as a Hilton Garden Inn, the hotel will now be a Hyatt Place.
With the hotel flag change, the building has been redesigned as well. Carmina Wood Morris designed both versions of the Falls Street project.
The $25 million Hilton Garden Inn called for 104 upscale hotel rooms, 24 residential units and up 8,000 square feet of retail space in a five-story building. The planned Hyatt Place is six-stories with 125 rooms, and 8,100 sq.ft. of retail space. A total of 12,000 sq.ft. of banquet space is planned including a banquet room on the top floor that connects to a 2,500 sq.ft. rooftop patio. There is no residential component and the cost has grown to $35 million.
Work on the project is expected to being by June with construction taking about a year. New York State is providing $3.85 million in funding for the project.