Hotel Live!  Rock ’n’ Roll Hotel Transformation Hits Pause

Niagara Falls was all set for a rock‑and‑roll makeover with the former Howard Johnson at 472 Main St. getting a full revamp into Hotel Live!, complete with ~80 boutique rooms, a live music venue, and a celeb‑backed restaurant. The entire build‑out, scoped at $16 million, even secured $450K in Cataract Tourism Funds last summer  .

🚧 Why It’s on Pause

Construction was expected to kick off soon with a targeted June 2026 opening. But as of July 10, developers confirmed the project’s been temporarily delayed while final funding is locked in ().

👷‍♀️ Local Impact

Once finished, the destination hotel should bring around 52 new jobs to the Falls and is aiming to tap into $2.1–$2.25 million in tax incentives from Niagara County IDA ().

🔍 Bottom‑Line

• Still happening, just waiting on the last round of financing.
• If funds close soon, construction could start late summer or early fall.
• Keep an eye on another downtown player (Hotel Niagara) which resumed development earlier this spring  .

What’s next: Developers say they’re in closing talks now, and the Niagara County IDA has granted extra time to finalize the tax‑incentive deal. As soon as the money’s signed off, building crews should roll in—and we’ll hopefully see Hotel Live! rocking Main Street by mid‑’26.