Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 50 minutes ago
They called it Paradise. A city within a city. 484 acres west of Marineland. $1 billion. A private train to the Falls. An amusement park. Chinese-style clinics. Homes, shops, tourism — all announced in Beijing in 2015 with Premier Kathleen Wynne and Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati.
You’re standing in it. It’s a swamp.
This is the story of GR Investment Group’s Niagara mega-project: the CITIC photo, the $100 million press release, the 6–2 council vote, NPCA wetland charges, the land listing, the $64.9 million sale to Centennial Homes, and the 626-unit subdivision that actually got approved in 2025.
No city within a city. No train. No billion dollars on the ground. A product that didn’t close.
I’m Jon Flynn. This is Niagara. Sources in the description.
———
KEY DATES
2015 — “Paradise” announced in Beijing. Ontario says $100M toward the project. 484 acres.
2018 — Niagara Falls council passes official plan amendment 6–2.
2018–19 — NPCA violation notice and charges for work in provincially significant wetland.
2019 — Land listed. Developer says they need more investors and government support.
2022 — Chunk sold to Centennial Homes for $64.9 million (court file).
2025 — Council approves 626 units at 6357 Progress Street. Phase 1 sold out. No city.
Do not confuse this file with Thundering Waters Golf next door. Different owner, different fight.
———
SOURCES
Ontario Newsroom, Nov 13, 2015 — Premier’s China Mission / $100 million / 484 acres
news.ontario.ca/en/release/34878/premiers-china-mission-generates-25-billion-in-agreements
Richard Hutton, Niagara This Week, Nov 13, 2015 — “Chinese investors find ‘Paradise’” (Diodati, CITIC photo)
niagarathisweek.com/news/chinese-investors-find-paradise-in-niagara-falls/article_c44ba684-409a-587f-b321-8a46cc8347cd.html
Ray Spiteri, Niagara Falls Review — Thundering Waters / Paradise explainer
niagarafallsreview.ca/news/niagara-region/what-you-need-to-know-of-thundering-waters-plan/article_aea991a7-5e04-5aeb-ac70-17487bec3a3d.html
Storeys, Dec 11, 2019 — Helen Chang, 3,400 units, train, amusement park
storeys.com/niagara-falls-housing-tourism-development
May 2018 6–2 vote
mississauga.com/news/what-s-up-with-the-paradise-project-at-thundering-waters-in-niagara-falls/article_d86d89b4-4028-5539-b7ba-cecb59339869.html
Niagara Independent — later revised-plan vote
niagaraindependent.ca/riverfront-community-development-in-niagara-falls-clears-yet-another-hurdle
Ontario Superior Court — Ballantry v. GR (CAN), July 5, 2022 sale $64.9M to Centennial
rahmanravelli.co.uk/assets/Uploads/fc9e3f06f2/Ballantry-Construction-Management-Inc.-v.-GR-CAN-Investment-Co.-Ltd.pdf
Bacher v. GR (CAN) Investments, 2022 ONSC 2937
Ray Spiteri, Niagara Falls Review, April 2025 — 626 units at 6357 Progress St
niagarafallsreview.ca/news/council/niagara-falls-development-proposal-once-referred-to-as-thundering-waters-becomes-less-contentious/article_a132236f-7b69-5d9d-aed1-b33d0c62b494.html
Centennial marketing
centennialhomesniagara.com/community/riverfront-community
Original pitch (still up)
riverfrontcommunity.ca
———
#NiagaraFalls #Canada #Ontario #China #CCP #HousingCrisis #CanadianHousing #ForeignInvestment #Wetlands #Niagara #ParadiseProject #RiverfrontCommunity #KathleenWynne #JimDiodati #CITIC #CanadianPolitics #NiagaraRegion
They called it Paradise. A city within a city. 484 acres west of Marineland. $1 billion. A private train to the Falls. An amusement park. Chinese-style clinics. Homes, shops, tourism — all announced in Beijing in 2015 with Premier Kathleen Wynne and Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati.
You’re standing in it. It’s a swamp.
This is the story of GR Investment Group’s Niagara mega-project: the CITIC photo, the $100 million press release, the 6–2 council vote, NPCA wetland charges, the land listing, the $64.9 million sale to Centennial Homes, and the 626-unit subdivision that actually got approved in 2025.
No city within a city. No train. No billion dollars on the ground. A product that didn’t close.
I’m Jon Flynn. This is Niagara. Sources in the description.
———
KEY DATES
2015 — “Paradise” announced in Beijing. Ontario says $100M toward the project. 484 acres.
2018 — Niagara Falls council passes official plan amendment 6–2.
2018–19 — NPCA violation notice and charges for work in provincially significant wetland.
2019 — Land listed. Developer says they need more investors and government support.
2022 — Chunk sold to Centennial Homes for $64.9 million (court file).
2025 — Council approves 626 units at 6357 Progress Street. Phase 1 sold out. No city.
Do not confuse this file with Thundering Waters Golf next door. Different owner, different fight.
———
SOURCES
Ontario Newsroom, Nov 13, 2015 — Premier’s China Mission / $100 million / 484 acres
news.ontario.ca/en/release/34878/premiers-china-mission-generates-25-billion-in-agreements
Richard Hutton, Niagara This Week, Nov 13, 2015 — “Chinese investors find ‘Paradise’” (Diodati, CITIC photo)
niagarathisweek.com/news/chinese-investors-find-paradise-in-niagara-falls/article_c44ba684-409a-587f-b321-8a46cc8347cd.html
Ray Spiteri, Niagara Falls Review — Thundering Waters / Paradise explainer
niagarafallsreview.ca/news/niagara-region/what-you-need-to-know-of-thundering-waters-plan/article_aea991a7-5e04-5aeb-ac70-17487bec3a3d.html
Storeys, Dec 11, 2019 — Helen Chang, 3,400 units, train, amusement park
storeys.com/niagara-falls-housing-tourism-development
May 2018 6–2 vote
mississauga.com/news/what-s-up-with-the-paradise-project-at-thundering-waters-in-niagara-falls/article_d86d89b4-4028-5539-b7ba-cecb59339869.html
Niagara Independent — later revised-plan vote
niagaraindependent.ca/riverfront-community-development-in-niagara-falls-clears-yet-another-hurdle
Ontario Superior Court — Ballantry v. GR (CAN), July 5, 2022 sale $64.9M to Centennial
rahmanravelli.co.uk/assets/Uploads/fc9e3f06f2/Ballantry-Construction-Management-Inc.-v.-GR-CAN-Investment-Co.-Ltd.pdf
Bacher v. GR (CAN) Investments, 2022 ONSC 2937
Ray Spiteri, Niagara Falls Review, April 2025 — 626 units at 6357 Progress St
niagarafallsreview.ca/news/council/niagara-falls-development-proposal-once-referred-to-as-thundering-waters-becomes-less-contentious/article_a132236f-7b69-5d9d-aed1-b33d0c62b494.html
Centennial marketing
centennialhomesniagara.com/community/riverfront-community
Original pitch (still up)
riverfrontcommunity.ca
———
#NiagaraFalls #Canada #Ontario #China #CCP #HousingCrisis #CanadianHousing #ForeignInvestment #Wetlands #Niagara #ParadiseProject #RiverfrontCommunity #KathleenWynne #JimDiodati #CITIC #CanadianPolitics #NiagaraRegion
