'Renaissance of Crystal Beach' launches Fort Erie's grand plan to draw more residents to prime stretch of Niagara waterfront

Fort Erie, one of the fastest-growing communities in the Niagara Region, is home to two of Ontario’s most beloved historic tourist attractions: the Fort Erie Race Track and Crystal Beach.  

Both assets, recently in danger of losing their stature as prime tourism draws, have been given a new lease on life, pushing the Lake Erie town of about 30,000 into a bright future.  

Like all border communities, Fort Erie’s economy has been hurt by tightened security measures implemented following the 2001 terror attacks in the U.S. That has meant fewer visitors from the Buffalo area are crossing the Peace Bridge at Fort Erie to spend their money at the racetrack, hailed as the prettiest in North America, and at its slot machines. They are also spending less time and money touring Fort Erie’s many scenic villages, including Crystal Beach, whose century-old reputation as a tourism mecca has been slowly fading since the steamships left and, finally, its amusement park closed in 1989. The beach and the old cottages are still there, but the neighbourhood is much quieter these days.  

But things are about to change.

Hailed as the “renaissance of Crystal Beach,” the town announced in April 2009 that it had joined forces with a private partner on a multimillion-dollar project that will “lead the community to a brighter future as the premier destination in Niagara for year-round living, entertainment, recreation and natural beauty.”  

The project includes the construction of a 12-storey multi-purpose building on the undeveloped non-beach portion of the property — known as Bay Beach, which had operated privately as a resort for many decades — purchased by the town in 2001 to ensure the area remains accessible to the public. The building will feature a public facility with washrooms and a snack bar for beach-goers, a water-view restaurant and 87 condominium residences.

1,000 feet of the best beach in the Niagara Peninsula

The site will also feature new public open spaces, including a waterfront boardwalk along the beach, for concerts and recreation. Under the deal, ownership of the 1,000-foot public beach, considered the best in the Niagara Peninsula, stays in town hands.  

The development, scheduled to begin in 2012, will be a shot in the arm to the Crystal Beach neighbourhood, which consists of a mix of seasonal and year-round homes, with a main commercial core along Erie Road and Derby Road. For many decades, the development site, located on the south side of Erie Road, was used as a private commercial seasonal resort and beach, complete with dance hall and concession stands. While the town removed most of the old buildings in 2002, the Lobster House and concession building are still there, along with a new washroom/changeroom building. The foundation of the former dance hall also remains on the site.  

The project implements one of the town’s longest-standing strategic objectives, which has been to increase access and accessibility to waterfront, including acquisition. The majority of the town’s prime beach areas are now in private hands. The town has visions of increasing the public beach by about three kilometres — from Crystal Beach along the entire sandy shoreline to the western end of Abino Bay — and developing this area with higher-density residential.  

Public access to waterfront a rule of development here

The town’s policy of buying from willing sellers, rather than expropriating waterfront, has not been successful, however. Since waterfront land is costly to acquire and few property owners are willing to sell such a prime asset, the town in recent years has been using planning policies to achieve its goal. For example, a condition of development would require the dedication of beach lands for public use.  

This area of Fort Erie is drastically underdeveloped. For example, the 1.7-kilometre stretch along the south side of Erie Road between Bay Beach and the Buffalo Canoe Club includes 62 aces of developable land and 18 acres of privately owned beach. But according to the town’s planning department, this area is only developed with about 90 seasonal dwellings, which is way below the target set for urban residential lands.  

The private-public partnership project at Bay Beach is the start of what the town hopes will be an increase in permanent residents in this part of Fort Erie, strengthening the local tax base. According to the town: “Considering that there are no similar facilities in Fort Erie or the Niagara Region that combine waterfront living with first-class public open space/amenity areas, the proposed development has the real potential to be successful, and act as a catalyst for future investment in the community.”  

Take a leisurely drive on the scenic Niagara Parkway

There is also buzz about another potential development, this one at Miller’s Creek Marina, one of the few businesses on Fort Erie’s scenic Niagara Parkway. The Niagara Parks Commission, which owns the land and leases out the marina and surrounding parkland to a private company, is studying a proposal for a $150-million project that would see the marina expanded and a boutique hotel, condos and retail shops added.  

While some believe such a development would “Disneyfy” the Niagara Parkway, a project like this, just eight kilometres north of the Peace Bridge connecting Fort Erie with Buffalo, would bring back some of those American tourists who have been shying away lately. It would also complement Fort Erie’s current tourist attractions, which focus on the scenic Niagara River and history.  

Old Fort Erie, for example, the first fort built in Ontario by the British — in 1764 during Pontiac’s Rebellion — is the site of ancient flint quarries. Even the marina property has a history that goes back more than 100 years: it was a former shipyard owned by the Canadian Ship Building Company, starting in 1903.  

History galore found in museums, lighthouse

Another slice of history can be found at the Mildred M. Mahoney Doll’s House Gallery, located on the Niagara River near downtown, known as Bridgeburg Station. The doll museum, said to be haunted, was reportedly a hiding place on the Underground Railroad for fugitive slaves in the 1800s. The Niagara frontier was a main route used by slaves fleeing to Canada from the U.S.  

Sticking with the water theme, you can enjoy a trolley ride to a tour of the Point Abino Lighthouse, recognized for its unusual shape and classical design. The lighthouse, located on the rocky north shore of Lake Erie, was built in 1918 by the Department of Marine and Fisheries. Now a National Historic Site, it’s owned by the town.  

Of course, there is the historic Fort Erie Race Track, which has been given a new lease on life.

In December 2009, with the privately owned track in danger of closing, the Ontario government stepped in. Under a three-year deal ending in 2012, the racetrack is now under the control of a not-for-profit consortium, saving thousands of direct and indirect jobs. As part of the deal, a pilot project to add quarter-horse racing to the thoroughbred venue has injected a new energy into the racetrack, established in 1897.  

You’ll also be charmed by the village of Ridgeway (see separate profile on Ridgeway), home of the Fort Erie Historical Museum and the Ridgeway Battlefield Site, where the Fenians fought Canadians in June 1866. Don’t forget to take time to shop — you’ll find general stores with authentic creaky wooden floors, along with artisan galleries and boutiques. Ridgeway is also home to one of Fort Erie’s fine golf courses.  

Fort Erie, which likes to describe itself as “small town living with big city amenities,” is a delightful mix of rural and urban settings. In summer, the local population swells by as much as 10,000 as cottagers move in for the season.   There are parks and trails and water views galore here.

Bring your camera - stunning views await at Riverwalk Park

If you’re only visiting for a short time, you must make your way to Riverwalk Park, the gathering place for concerts and other community events all summer long. Located along the Niagara Boulevard between Queen and Bertie streets, Riverwalk serves up panoramic views of the Peace Bridge and the Niagara River. When you’re hungry, there are several outdoor patios backing onto Riverwalk that are perfect for a relaxing lunch.  

You’ll find the people small-town friendly here. Fort Erie is a close-knit community where, not surprisingly, volunteerism is celebrated and people really do care about their neighbours — near and far. In fact, the town’s website recently featured a message from the mayor expressing sympathy for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti and listing aid agencies that citizens could contact to help.  

On the real estate front, the lowest priced resale waterfront property recently listed for sale in Fort Erie was $279,900 — a 1900s home with 2,344 square feet of space and a view across the water to Buffalo. At the top end, a five-bedroom waterfront estate featuring 7,480 square feet of opulence and front-row views of the Niagara River was listed for $2.9 million.