Hamister Group has secured the funding to move forward with its long-awaited 128-room Hyatt Place Hotel in Niagara Falls. Hamister Chairman and CEO Mark Hamister announced the national healthcare and hospitality management organization will be prepping the 310 Rainbow Boulevard site for construction over the next two weeks, with an official groundbreaking expected later this month.
"I am thrilled we will break ground and start construction. I believe this project will be a welcome addition to the Niagara Falls community," Hamister said. "For the last 39 years, we have prided ourselves on delivering exceptional customer service to the Western New York region. We look forward to bringing the same level of service to Niagara Falls."
The $35 million project calls for a six-story, 128-room Hyatt Place Hotel that will include 14,500 square feet of meeting and banquet space on the top floor and 7,000 square feet of retail space facing Old Falls Street. R&P Oak Hill Development is the general contractor for the project and construction - on what Governor Cuomo has called the largest non-casino building in 40 years in the Falls - is expected to take 15 months.
Being able to secure funding has been a sticking point since the project was announced more than four years ago. The state's USA Niagara agency is contributing nearly $4 million to the hotel.
"I would like to thank Chris Schoepflin of USA Niagara for being an excellent partner throughout this entire process as well as Mayor Dyster for his leadership," Hamister said. "In addition, thanks to the direct assistance of Governor Cuomo and Sam Hoyt on this project. Without their support this project would not be a reality today. We look forward to being part of the successful revitalization of Niagara Falls and Western New York as a whole."
Hamister said the development will create six full-time and 29 part-time jobs. The group's last development – 10 Lafayette, formerly known as the Tishman Building – was completed in 2014.
