Have your say on a Downtown STC Heritage Conservation District

The City of St. Catharines is excited to announce the launch of a new public engagement campaign to gather important feedback on the creation of a new heritage conservation district in the city’s downtown.

The City is pursuing a potential Downtown Heritage Conservation District (HCD) to help manage change in the downtown to ensure its character is maintained for future generations.

As part of the Study Phase, the City is gathering input from a range of stakeholders, including residents, downtown business operators and property owners, in a short online survey to gauge interest in a Downtown Heritage Conservation District.

The downtown is the city’s urban growth area. The intent is to find a unique solution that maintains the downtown’s history, while welcoming change and investment.

“This is a unique opportunity for the public to provide input on the future of the downtown,” Heritage Planner James Neilson said.

“We know that we’re in the middle of an era of change for the city, but we also know that people still want the downtown to look and feel like our downtown. We’ve had a lot of success with our five other heritage districts, and we think that this is a real opportunity to effectively conserve our history while creating a vibrant and attractive downtown for future generations to enjoy.”

This Study Phase is the first step towards the potential designation of a Downtown HCD.

The study will determine what is significant about the downtown by identifying and evaluating the key historical, architectural and heritage buildings and landscape features; reviewing the current planning and regulatory context re: heritage designation; establishing a clear, defensible rationale for the appropriate boundaries of the HCD, and obtaining meaningful input and support from local stakeholders through effective public consultation.

The goal is to have the study completed later this year, at which point Council will determine if the project should proceed to the Plan Phase, which will determine the policies and guidelines for the new heritage district.

Opportunities for Community Involvement:

Community Survey: Residents, business operators and property owners are encouraged to participate in a brief online survey, accessible from April 11 through May 21, 2024. The survey aims to gather insights on the importance of maintaining the history and character of the downtown, as well as that of specific buildings.

Public Information Centre: An open house will be held on April 24, 2024 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Market Square, 91 King St. Attendees will be able to learn more about the Downtown HCD Study, ask questions and share their thoughts with City staff and the Heritage Consultants.

Written Comments: Individuals may submit written comments via email to Heritage Planner James Neilson at jneilson@stcatharines.ca or by dropping off or mailing to St. Catharines City Hall at 50 Church St., St. Catharines, ON L2R 7C2.