12-storey plan for Merritton land riles neighbours
Six buildings planned for site of high school that closed in 1999
A proposed redevelopment in the community of Merritton has residents on edge.
The land at 10 Seymour Ave. is currently occupied by private school Royal Imperial Collegiate of Canada and the property is owned by Fullview International Group Inc.
A development proposal from Fullview International to the City of St. Catharines has the property owners hoping to replace the school with six residential apartment buildings that would range in height from three to 12 storeys along Seymour Avenue. The construction of the proposed development is estimated to span five years.
There will be a public meeting at city hall Dec. 9 for residents to ask questions and voice concerns to city staff.
Former St. Catharines city councillor David Haywood is one of many people who have voiced concern on Facebook over the proposed development.
“From my experience, my four years on city council, there’s just a lot of things that jumped out to me that were concerning,” said Haywood.
Some of the concerns he highlighted are: planned parking with the project only including 412 spaces; traffic at the intersection of Merritt Street and Seymour Avenue; infrastructure with sewage and water needing to be updated, causing major road construction; and the maximum height of the apartments.
Merritton Ward Couns. Lori Littleton and Greg Miller said the proposal is in its early stages.
“We’re on the one-metre line of a 100metre race,” said Miller. “This is just the private owner of a land saying, ‘This is what I’d like to do.’”
Littleton said no decision will be made by city council at the December meeting. Instead, following the open house, city staff will compile public concerns and work with the developer on those concerns before a recommendation is made to council.
“I hope Greg and Lori listen to the views of the Merritton community and fight for us,” said Don Bell, who owns a home in Merritton and whose mother lives directly across from the school property.
Bell is specifically concerned with the parking — the intersection becoming busier than it already is — and the number of storeys.
Dusty Savarie, who owns a home di- rectly across the street, raised privacy concerns: “If I’m sitting out in my back- yard, I’m going to have 400 people looking down at me.”
Bailey Yendt, who lives off to the side of the property, said she’s in favour of redevelopment on the property as long as it fits in with Merritton.
“No issue on the redeveloping, but the redeveloping they want to do is not something that should be done here,” said Yendt. “We’re not Toronto.”
All three Merritton residents expressed concerns of how community traditions will be handled with five years of construction and major development on land that is used for the Merritton Labour Day parade, fireworks and other events that raise money that goes back into the community.
Yendt said losing the baseball diamond to the redevelopment will be a major loss for the community, as there are games there most nights in the summer.
Said Haywood, “I’m not against them developing the property, but it’s got to be something that fits more of the character of what’s already there.”