Downtown Heritage Conservation District Study
March 27 Update: Downtown Heritage Conservation District Study feedback survey open
We would like to get your feedback on the draft Downtown Heritage Conservation District Study. Our survey on the study is now open. Please find the survey link at the bottom of the page. The survey will be open until May 1, 2025.
Downtown Heritage Conservation District Study
A draft of the Downtown Heritage Conservation District Study is now available. Please read and review the study and take a few minutes to complete our feedback survey.
Thank you to everyone who attended our Public Information Centre #2 on March 26, 2025, at Market Square, 91 King St.
You can view the draft here.
You can view the Property Inventory here.
The City of St. Catharines wants your input on the creation of a new heritage conservation district (HCD) in our downtown. You can read the Study and view a map of the Study Area at the bottom of this page.
The City is pursuing a potential heritage conservation district to help manage change in the downtown to ensure its character is maintained for future generations. The downtown is slated for intensification. We know changes are coming, and we want to find a unique solution that maintains our history, while welcoming change and investment.
Currently, the City has five Heritage Districts that have been effective at conserving the City's heritage. You can learn more about them here.
Designation of a HCD takes place in two distinct phases: the Study Phase and the Plan Phase. At this time, we are only working on the Study Phase, which identifies what is significant by:
- Identifying and evaluating the key historical, architectural and heritage buildings landscape features
- Reviewing the current planning and regulatory context re: heritage designation
- Establishing a clear, defensible rationale for the appropriate boundaries of a Heritage Conservation District
- Obtaining meaningful input and support from local stakeholders, business owners, and residents through effective public consultation
If the Study Phase identifies all or part of the Study Area to meet the threshold criteria from Ontario Regulation 9/06 of the Ontario Heritage Act, Council may decide to proceed with the Plan Phase, and prepare an HCD Plan for the recommended boundary.
A HCD Plan provides policies and guidelines for conservation, protection, and enhancement of the area's special heritage character.
While we have consultants doing research and evaluating the downtown for heritage potential, we'd like your input, as well.
What has happened so far?
The City of St. Catharines has hired Stantec to complete the Downtown Heritage Conservation District Study. The study has been ongoing for over a year, including:
- Extensive research about the downtown completed in consultation with the City’s Heritage Advisory Committee and Historical Services staff
- A property inventory involving the documentation of around 450 properties in the study area. This also included documenting important streetscapes, public space and views throughout the downtown.
- An evaluation of the study area using the criteria in the Ontario Heritage Act to determine if it merits designation as a heritage conservation district
- Providing alternative options that would meet the objectives of the study and conserve the downtown’s heritage
- Public engagement as described below.
The Study and Property inventory can be found below.
Engagement Opportunities
Past Engagement Opportunities
Public Information Centre #2
A second Public Information Centre (Open House) was held on March 26, 2024, at Market Square where our consultants made a presentation, followed by a Q and A session.
Public Information Centre #1
An initial Public Information Centre (Open House) was held on April 24, 2024, at Market Square.
The project display boards from the Open House can be found here.
A slide show with more information can be found here.
Community Survey
The community survey was open to the public from April 11 to May 21, 2024.
We received a lot of valuable feedback from people across the city, and from downtown property and business owners. Many thanks to everyone who provided their input and shared their thoughts about the future of the downtown.
The results of the survey can be found here.
Community Mapping Project
As part of the initial survey, we also posted a Community Mapping Project that allowed for the public to post their thoughts on the downtown on an interactive map. This allowed us to learn more about the areas of the downtown that were the most important to you.
Downtown Block Party!
City staff and members of the Heritage Advisory Committee had a booth at the Downtown BIA's Downtown Block Party on July 27, 2024. Many visitors stopped by to talk about the project, view historic photos of St. Paul Street, and share stories about their connection to downtown's history. Our Heritage Committee Chair hosted two well-attended walking tours of St. Paul Street. And we reopened the community survey to gain additional public feedback.
Community Survey - Property and Business Owners
The City received a lot of great feedback in the first round of surveys and wanted to hear more from downtown business and property owners. Thank you to those of you who participated in this survey, and special thanks to the Downtown BIA for circulating the survey to its members.
The results of the survey can be found here.
Downtown BIA Heritage Panel Event
On Sept. 26, 2024, the Downtown BIA held a Heritage Panel event at the Library. The event was an opportunity for property and business owners to ask questions to members of a panel who have experience in St. Catharines with heritage properties. The meeting was recorded on YouTube and you can watch the session here.
Downtown BIA Board Meetings
City staff and our consultants met with the Downtown BIA Board on two occasions in 2024. The initial meeting was a kick-off presentation from our consultants, while the second meeting involved a question and answer session with City staff. We would like to thank the Downtown BIA Board for the invitation and their time.
Downtown Heritage Conservation District Task Force
As part of the City's efforts to ensure that local business perspectives and property owners are heard, the City started a Downtown Heritage Conservation District Task Force made up of representatives from the Downtown BIA, Council and the Heritage Committee. The group's Terms of Reference can be found here.
The Task Force held its first meeting on June 27, 2024. The meeting was recorded on YouTube and can be found here.
The date of the next Task Force meeting is March 27, 2025, at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place on Zoom.
