Statement from Mayor Siscoe on release of third-party building assessment of 25 YMCA Dr. property

At the March 17, 2025 meeting of St. Catharines City Council, direction was provided to staff to release the third-party building assessment of the former YMCA property located at 25 YMCA Dr.

Given the community interest in this property, combined with the future development potential of the property, Council deemed it important to release the assessment to residents. 

While many of us on Council had hoped for a continued community use of the property as a recreational hub of some form, the information in the third-party assessment led Council to decide against pursuing a future City use for the former facility.

The decision to release the third-party assessment was made as a result of Council’s decision to not pursue a City use for the former facility. The third-party building assessment was previously unavailable to the public as, at the time, it was presented to Council as a privileged and confidential record due to exemptions under legislation respecting potential acquisition or disposition of land. However, since Council made the final decision not to proceed with the acquisition of the land, it is Council’s opinion that the third-party building assessment can now be made available to the public. As such, the third-party building assessment is now being released. 

You can view the document in its entirety here.