New Health-Care Complex (Contact / Media Information)
Site selection process
After a determination that the St. Catharines General and former Hotel Dieu (current Ontario Street Site) properties were not candidate sites to build the new health-care complex, the NHS participated in active discussion with community stakeholders in reviewing 23 appropriate parcels of land.
To assist in completing this review, the NHS contracted BLS Planning Associates to conduct a full assessment of greenfield and brownfield sites in St. Catharines, Thorold and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Their findings are captured in the three investigations detailed below.
Investigation 1: Cities of St. Catharines and Thorold
The first order investigation centred on nine sites in St. Catharines and three sites in Thorold. These 12 alternative site locations were identified by the Staff of the City of St. Catharines and the City of Thorold, as well as by private sector offerings.
Click here to view the first investigation report focused on these 12 properties.
Investigation 2: Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
A second order investigation centred on eight sites at the western edge of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. This general area of site investigation was a result of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake requesting review, as well as special interest groups from the City of Niagara Falls.
Click here to view the second investigation report focused on these eight properties.
Investigation 3: City of Thorold
A third order investigation was undertaken of three additional sites located in the City of Thorold that were identified by the City of Thorold Council.
Click here to view the third investigation report focused on these three properties.
These investigations were based on the following criteria:
Location – The site must have proximity to highways and be within the St. Catharines/Thorold/Niagara-on-the-Lake municipal boundaries, since those residents will be the primary users of the replacement community hospital. There must be potential for additional highway exit ramps, if needed.
Size – The site must have sufficient acreage to build and provide parking, and also to be able to expand and eventually replace the hospital on the same property in 50 or more years (Ministry of Health and Long Term Care guidelines).
Zoning and Official Plan Amendments – Requirement that there need only be minimal changes to build a large institutional structure.
Servicing – The location must be easily accessible to services such as hydro, municipal water and sewer systems, natural gaslines, etc.
Access/Transit – Site must be accessible by passenger and emergency vehicles, as well as public transit.
Constraints and Synergies – An examination of the benefits and restrictions to building on the property needed to be examined.
For more information on the background of selecting a Greenfield site for the new health-care complex, click HERE.