City looking for proponent to help redevelop surplus Geneva Street property into housing

The City of St. Catharines has reinitiated its efforts to see 320 Geneva St. redeveloped into a project that includes affordable housing.

On Monday night City Council approved the issuing of a negotiated request for proposal for the property, in an attempt to once again redevelop the surplus City lands into a mixed-income housing development that includes a long-term affordable requirement. To address some ongoing health and safety concerns, the City will also move forward with demolition of remaining buildings on the property.

“While affordable housing does not fall under a lower-tier municipality’s jurisdiction, the City – and our new Council – is committed to supporting the creation of more affordable housing and will use any tools available to us to address the issue,” said Mayor Mat Siscoe. “As we look to find a proponent to redevelop the property, we are looking forward to seeing proposals come forward to help our vision become reality under the current market conditions.”

Building off previous efforts to develop the property, the new process will provide an opportunity for the City to solicit purchase and redevelopment proposals from proponents who will redevelop the property with the long-term affordable housing originally envisioned when the lands were deemed surplus and put on the market in 2020. As part of the process, the City will also be working with partners to look at incentives and funding opportunities to support the private construction of affordable housing.

The 3.9-acre property, formerly home to the City’s Community, Recreation and Culture Services (CRCS) administrative offices and vehicle bays, was originally deemed surplus in February of 2020 and Council directed staff to look at redevelopment opportunities that included a component of social, affordable and market housing.