Lockport Ice Arena Vice Chairman Chuck Bell discusses the construction progress on the arena — and the development progress it could mean to Lockport. The arena is expected to be ready for hockey by mid-September. (PHOTOS BY HEATHER N. GRIMMER / ENP PHOTOGRAPHER)

BY SCOTT LEFFLER
scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com

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Workers toil away on Rink 1, while in the background the F&M building can be seen. Economic development from the arena is expected to pour over into the area surrounding it.

When it was announced nearly a decade ago that Lockport's former Twin Fair/Sears/Jubilee was to become a world-class ice arena, skeptics had their doubts — and reasonably so. After all, it wasn't the first pie-in-the-sky idea to be floated around the city.

Tales of soon-to-be built hotels, supermarkets, chain restaurants — even a downtown Walmart — had been heard before. Officials had quietly championed a "guaranteed" project that promised to turn Building 3 of what was then called Commerce Square (now Harrison Place) into a Christmas-themed tourist destination. That never panned out either.

Nearly a decade later, though, downtown Lockport is a very different scene. There's life on Canal Street — called Richmond Avenue back then — in the form of Lake Effect Ice Cream, Sweet Rides, and the weekly Community Market. What was then a vacant piece of land snidely referred to as "the South Block" was re-branded as "80 Main Street," and is now home to the Ulrich City Center. And that ice arena no one ever thought was going to materialize, is inching closer to completion each day.

The ice arena, re-branded itself recently as Cornerstone Arena, may have a more fitting name than even the credit union board of directors had intended. It could truly serve as a cornerstone for future economic development in Lockport, city and town alike.

Steel beams will eventually hold a flooring where spectators can watch hockey, figure skating, or  any number of other events.

While hesitant to give details, Director of Community Development Chuck Bell said developers haven't been shy about their interest in downtown Lockport.

"I don't think that there's a question that there's a renewed interest in the immediate area," Bell said.

The new arena is expected to bring as many as 150,000 people to Lockport annually.

"All of those people are going to need places to stay, places to eat, places to shop, and things to do when their kids aren't on the ice," said Heather Peck, program manager for Lockport Main Street, Inc.

The economic development numbers, including the 150,000 spectators figure, is largely based on a similar ice arena that was built in Jamestown in 2002. Since it was opened, three new hotels have been built in the area surrounding it, Bell said.

"We actually have better demographics (than Jamestown) in terms of population center," Bell said.

Hotels and chain restaurants don't sound so pie-in-the-sky anymore. In fact, Bell says he has talked to developers who have inquired about hotels and restaurants in the vicinity of 34 Chestnut St., where the arena is located.

And more than that, he says, "A lot of property owners are recalculating what their properties are worth." Long vacant storefronts and buildings could see new life — in large part due to the arena.

The building is mostly enclosed now, meaning workers can move forward  even in inclement weather.

"I think people are really hopeful," Peck said. "The word I hear (from downtown business owners) is 'transformational.' "

Doug Zimmerman, owner of Zimmie's Tires, 1 Niagara St., said he's hopeful that private industry will begin to invest in the downtown area.

"There's no one more than me that would like to see the city do well," he said.

Zimmerman is so firm in his commitment to the city that he recently bought 51 Canal St., home of Sweet Ride Rentals, to build his new home. The second and third story of the building, with a beautiful view of the locks, should be completed in a couple months, he said.

"It's gorgeous down here," he said.

His new home will move him from the Town of Lockport to the city, but that's not an indication of the city pilfering residents or businesses from the town. In fact, Town of Lockport Supervisor Marc Smith says the city and town have developed a great working relationship.

Brian Smith, GLDC vice president of business development, and Lockport Ice enthusiast, looks over plans for the soon-to-be-completed arena.

Bell and David Kinyon, director of the town Industrial Development Agency, work closely together, Smith said, often passing tips on to one another concerning interested businesses.

Additionally, Smith said, the town had looked into whether hotels were needed on South Transit Road, and decided not to pursue any hoteliers when their research indicated that any new hotels would be a drain on city hotels.

Now, however, the town might want to look into hotels on Transit Road. Just as the city is doing downtown. And just as the city is anticipating increased economic development due to the arena, so is the town.

"It all works together," Smith said. "One of the things we're learning from property owners on Transit Road is that all of the entertainment venues are important."

Entertainment venues like the arena, which is expected to have "skatable ice" in September, although project officials admit that work will continue on the project even after the building is opened.

While arena construction suffered a couple delays, it has mostly been on course. And contingencies are built in to allow for second-shift construction if it becomes necessary for completion of the $14 million project by the mid-September deadline.

Funding for the project has come in the form of large chunks and small bits. It started with a $4 million grant from the Grigg-Lewis Foundation — Lockport's go-to source for charitable and community funding. Another $1 million came from the state's Regional Economic Development Council. The announcement on July 9 that Cornerstone Community Federal Credit Union had signed a 12-year deal for naming rights largely nearly completed the funding, although the sum of the deal was not disclosed.

Still, Lockport Ice is looking for about $2 million in funding, which will be secured through other deals and a community outreach program asking for donations online, according to John Ottaviano, who serves as both the City of Lockport's corporation counsel and chairman of the ice arena board. Bell serves as vice chairman. Other board members include Tate Pitrello, Patrick Kilcullen, Jim Sullivan, Hank Schmidt, Mike White, Todd Sukdolak, and Patricia Barry. Greater Lockport Development Vice President of Business Development Brian Smith is expected to join the board soon.

Notwithstanding the funding gap, the project progresses. Just a few short months ago, excavators were digging out what would become the foundation. Today, workers inside the partly enclosed building are working on the pipework that will keep the ice chilled on the twin rinks.

When it's completed, the arena will house a pair of NHL-sized ice rinks and seating for 630. Both rinks have been built to allow for sled hockey, something organizers are proud of. Rink 1 is expected to be ice all-year long, while Rink 2 may be used for other purposes. Either rink is capable of being covered, however, in order to house non-ice-related events. The arena will also house 7,000 square feet of retail space, including food service, a performance training center and a community room.

In January, the arena is slated to host its first tournament. The Lockport that those people arrive at may very well be a different Lockport than many local residents have ever known.

Work is being done on what will be the ice arena's skating surfaces. Many think that the arena is an indication that there's smooth skating ahead for the area's economy.

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There's more East Niagara Post photos of the arena available here.