COUNCIL NOTEBOOK: Hotel lot to be filled
Vacant lot where Russell Hotel once sat will be office space
City council happenings from last week’s meeting...
Vacant Russell Hotel lot to be occupied
An empty downtown lot on the corner of St. Paul and James Streets where the Russell Hotel once stood may finally see some action.
A seven-storey office building with retail on the ground floor was approved by council for the space at 201 St. Paul Street.
The Russell Hotel was a fixture on the corner from the 1840s to the 1990s when a series of fires caused safety concerns. It was demolished in 1996 and the lot has remained empty every since.
The applicant’s architect Renee Leung of Dialog told council the new building will offer a unique space for prospective tenants with high ceilings, an open plan concept and a rooftop terrace for business use.
“We strongly believe that this project proposal can contribute to the current sense of place and vibrancy of St. Paul Street and become a landmark at this corner lot that has been vacant for over a decade,” she said.
The mixed-use office building was a permitted use on the site but the applicant required permission for the height.
City urban design planner Scott Ritchie explained that while there are generally no maximum building heights in the commercial core area of downtown, the main exception is a section of St. Paul Street where the lot is located. Two to three stories are predominant in that traditional main street area.
Council approved an amendment to the official plan to allow the building height to rise from the permitted 11 metres to 30.5 metres, provided there is terracing above the 11 metres in height and the 26.5 metres in height along the St. Paul and James street frontages.
School work given a passing grade
A plan to convert historic Glen Ridge School into a 10-unit condominium building in Old Glenridge has graduated to the next phase. Council unanimously approved the request from St. Catharines’ Premium Building Group to amend the official plan and zoning by-law to permit the residential apartments inside the building.
PBG President Anthony Continelli said previously that work could start as early as this fall.
The 1928-era school closed in February 2016 due to low enrolment and shortly after, city council created a 101 South Drive Property Task Force. The task force made recommendations for the use of the school and land that included turning a third of the property into a public park and using the rest for a development compatible with the existing neighbourhood.
St. Andrew’s Coun. Joe Kushner said there was a concern that an out-of-town developer would buy the property and try to develop it in an inappropriate fashion and the city is fortunate to get Continelli, who is very sensitive to what the neighbourhood suggested.
“The end result is we have a beautiful development. We have a neighbourhood park at virtually no cost to the neighbourhood. We preserved a heritage building at no cost to the neighbourhood or the city and a development which is higher density and compatible with the neighbourhood. It was a win situation for everybody.”
Continelli’s company previously received approval through the committee of adjustment to build 10 townhouses to the north and east of the school building which will be similar in architecture to the school.
Building sought for Out of the Cold
City staff are looking to see if there are any appropriate city facilities that could be used to temporarily house Start Me Up’s Out of the Cold Program.
The inter-denomination effort has provided dinner and overnight shelter for the homeless during the winter months since 1996 but is at risk of closing this season.
Council asked staff to prepare a report for its next meeting identifying possible appropriate locations for the program after a motion by St. George’s Coun. Mike Britton. The report will outline the opportunities and challenges associated with offering city facility space and will look at all possible locations, including Rex Stimers Arena and the city-owned Robertson Hall at the Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre.
The program requires a building with a kitchen and washrooms.
Council also allocated $15,000 from the civic project fund for the initiative at the request of St. Patrick’s Coun. Mat Siscoe.
The city will also work with Start Me Up Niagara, other hostel service providers, Niagara Regional Community Services and other private sector contacts to find a long-term permanent location for the program.