Downtown St. Catharines

Intersecting Native American trails, at the confluence of Dick's Creek and 12 Mile Creek, laid the foundation of the downtown streets as they appear today.[1] Among them remains the largest and most historically significant street of the city, St. Paul Street. Construction of the first and second Welland Canals behind St. Paul Street quickly elevated the area into a prosperous hub for commerce and industry in the Niagara Region.

The Old Courthouse, at the corner of James and King streets

Like many downtowns in North America, the area experienced significant decline as shopping malls and power centres in the suburbs took over as major shopping destinations. Citizens of St. Catharines often complained of the lack of parking and inconveniences associated with one-way streets in the core. Today, the downtown is experiencing a modest turnaround thanks to public and private investment in the areas surrounding St. Paul and James Streets, as well as the former Lower Level Parking Lot.

On April 3, 2006, St. Catharines City Council voted in favour of returning two-way traffic to the downtown core, at an anticipated cost of $2 million. At the time, two-way traffic was promoted as one way of making the downtown streets safer, slowing down traffic and boosting business. By October 2009, most of the conversion work was completed. The addition of two-way traffic, especially to St. Paul Street, played a role in the Ontario Wine Council's decision to modify the Niagara Wine Route to pass through downtown St. Catharines in 2014.[2]

On June 16, 2006 the Province of Ontario released a Growth Plan under the Places to Grow Act, 2005, of which was born the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe in 2017.[3] In the plan, Downtown St. Catharines is identified as one of 22 Urban Growth Centres for the province, given a growth target of 150 residents and jobs combined per hectare by 2031.

Canada Hair Cloth building, before conversion for university use

Since the Places to Grown Act, municipal and regional governments have invested heavily in infrastructure projects in the downtown core. A detailed inspection and analysis of the Burgoyne Bridge in 2010 revealed the need for a new span over Twelve Mile Creek. Construction on the new signature bridge, which features a steel truss-arch, began in 2014 with an estimated budget of $91.35 million, and was completed in 2016.[4] In the nearby Lower Level Parking Lot, construction began in 2013 on the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, a new campus of Brock University. Completed in 2015, the school operates alongside the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, a municipal cultural project, built on adjacent lands. The facilities house 500 full-time students in new buildings along St. Paul Street and the historic Canada Hair Cloth building.[5]

The grand opening of the city's new spectator arena, the Meridian Centre, took place on October 21, 2014. The 5,300-seat arena was built by the municipality to house the Niagara IceDogs ice hockey team of the Ontario Hockey League.[6] The venue also plays host to numerous events throughout the year such as sporting events, concerts, trade shows and conferences.

The downtown's extensive history left an impressive showplace of heritage sites in the core. Architectural landmarks reveal the stories behind St. Catharines varying roles as the former seat of Lincoln County, a popular health-spa destination, and the premiere retail centre for Niagara.

Architecture on Ontario St.

• St. Catharines Armoury - A recognized Federal Heritage building, listed #1991 on the Register of the Government of Canada Heritage Buildings.[7]
• British Methodist Episcopal Church, Salem Chapel - A national historic site, played an important role during the abolitionist era and frequented by Harriet Tubman, the famed conductor of the Underground Railroad.
• City Hall - Built on the site of the previous City Hall, this building was officially opened in August 1937 at the corner of Church and James Streets. Designed by local architect Robert Macbeth, the structure was originally built to accommodate all city departments, including a police station and jail in the basement. In 1963, the building was extensively renovated, however, most of the significant elements found inside, such as the main entryway, its marble floors, ornate ceiling and wide sweeping staircase, were left intact.
• Farmers' Market - One of the oldest farmers' markets in Ontario, dating back to the early 1860s. It continues to operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, as it did over a century ago.
  

  Montebello Park
• The Grand Opera House (1877–1998) - With seating for 1200, the facility opened to much fanfare as a centre for musical production on Ontario Street. Over the years it housed an orchestra and featured numerous concerts and vaudeville shows. After a fire ravaged the building's facade and most of its interior, there was some public interest in restoring what was left of the auditorium, but the city and some professionals concluded that renovations would be much too costly and the site was levelled. The site is used today as a parking lot.
• The Canada Hair Cloth Company Ltd (1882–2007) - An industrial factory for over a century, the building closed in 2007 and is now home to Brock University's Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts.
• The Russell Hotel - a noted hotel and tavern built in 1843 by Samuel Stinson at the corner of St. Paul and James streets. The building was destroyed by fire and the site currently sits empty.[8]
• Mansion House - Thought to have been constructed in the early 19th century by William Hamilton Merritt, it is the oldest tavern in St. Catharines and the oldest continually licensed bar in Canada.
  

  The former Welland House
• Montebello Park - Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted in 1887, who went on to create New York City's Central Park. A commemorative rose garden with over 1,300 bushes in 25 varieties is the city's largest rose collection and features an ornamental fountain. The focal point of the park is a band shell and pavilion built in 1888. The park is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
• Old Courthouse - Built in 1848–49, the Old Courthouse was the centre of political, cultural and social life in St. Catharines. Designed by renowned architect Kivas Tully, it was hailed as a great architectural achievement. The existing building soon became too small and an addition was added in 1863–65. Today, the building is home to Carousel Players, an independent theatre group, and recently underwent an extensive restoration.
• Welland House Hotel - One of the few surviving symbols of the city's extensive health spa history. Today the building is home to a student residence and CFBU, Brock University's campus radio station.

A few streets within the St. Catharines Downtown Core where the houses are primarily used for residential purposes.

James Street

• Yates Street Heritage District - Stately Victorian era homes line this street of what was once a thriving canal-side village. The remnants of the original Welland Canal can still be seen at the bottom of the cliff on which this street is perched.
• Montebello Place & Queen Street - Historic and architecturally significant homes. The corner of Montebello and Welland Avenue will soon be home to new townhouse style condominiums.
• James Street (north of Church St.) - Mainly consisting of rental units, but also has historic and architecturally significant buildings. Many can watch the Wine Festival's Grande Parade from their front porch.
• Gerrard & Beecher Streets - Cosy community within the Downtown Core with many historic homes, some dating back to the 1860s. Many improvements in the neighbourhood make this area an up-and-coming destination for those seeking to live in the Downtown Core.

• Information Technology - The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario is the largest employer of IT jobs in the core.
• Call Centres - The Garden City Tower and RBC tower on Church Street are home to a few call centres
• Education - Brock University as well as the District School Board of Niagara which operates Harriet Tubman Public School on Henry Street.
• Municipal government - City Hall is located at James and Church Streets.
• Regional government - The Niagara Regional Police headquarters was once located on Church Street. Today is serves as a detachment of the police force.
• Provincial government - The Garden City Tower is home to a number of ministries, the largest being the Ministry of Transportation.
• Federal government - Canada Revenue Agency is located on Church Street.

• St. Catharines Downtown Association — map of downtown
• The Underground Railroad - Niagara's Freedom Trail
• City of St. Catharines Tourism Homepage