Development at former Ontario Street hospital site progressing
The company that owns the former Ontario Street hospital site in St. Catharines has hopes of starting construction on its retirement community this fall.
Seasons Retirement Communities spokesman Taylor White said a site plan and permit application are expected to be submitted to St. Catharines by the end of this month, with construction planned for September.
The company would not comment further on the proposed development at 155 Ontario St., which used to be home of Niagara Health’s Ontario Street site and formerly Hotel Dieu Hospital.
Seasons, which operates a residence in Welland, announced plans for a $145-million development on the four-hectare property in 2016. The development is expected to provide a spectrum of care for seniors that includes independent apartments and assisted living.
It made an initial submission to the city for its first phase of development in April 2017 and resubmitted in July and October of that year.
Senior city planner Bruce Bellows said the company submitted a revised plan in December 2018 based on city comments and has indicated it’s coming in with a revised submission for Phase 1.
Seasons’ proposal is a threephase build with a total 591 units. The first phase is a six-storey residence with 143 units.
The hospital was closed in March 2013 when the new St. Catharines hospital on Fourth Avenue opened. Its buildings were demolished after Seasons acquired the property which overlooks Twelve Mile Creek and is currently vacant near the corner of Welland Avenue.