Plans for Old GM Site Spark Positive Reactions in St. Catharines

Elna Mayberry sat at a table filled with sticky notes, markers, and large printed maps displaying three potential plans for the area around the former General Motors site in St. Catharines, Ont.

She believes all three options are “better than what’s there now.”

What exists now is a long-abandoned location that used to host two auto parts manufacturing plants once operated by General Motors, which has received two “repair, replace or demolish” orders from the city.

The maps were part of the Ontario Street Corridor Secondary Plan Study and outlined possible uses, layouts, and densities for the stretch along Ontario Street from the QEW in the north to Welland Avenue in the south. This corridor includes the 22-hectare former automotive production site that was reclassified from employment to mixed-use in 2021.

The City of St. Catharines and NPG Planning Solutions (NPG), a planning and development firm, showcased these concepts at an open house on Tuesday night at the Holiday Inn on Ontario Street.

“Community feedback is a foundational aspect of setting policy particularly in a corridor like this and for properties that have the potential of 282 and 285 Ontario Street,” Tami Kitay, director of planning and building services for the city, told CBC.

Swati Chambyal, an urban planner who lives nearby, shared her thoughts about green space.

“I feel like having smaller parkettes equally distributed across the stretch would be a better urban design concept because it creates these corridors or these spaces which people can enjoy while having houses developed around these pockets,” she said.

Options Highlight Increased Mixed-Use Density

NPG managing partner Aaron Butler discussed the three plans with residents and encouraged everyone at each table to find common ground.

“And that doesn’t have to be concept one or concept two or concept three,” he told them. “Most likely it’s going to be a mix of things. Maybe you like building heights from one plan or some features from another plan along with different road networks shown elsewhere. So we want you to use your creativity and come up with your preferred plan.”

The three concepts all feature plans for a mixed-use area combining commercial and residential spaces, including new street connections, mid-rise and high-rise buildings up to 25 stories tall providing thousands more homes, as well as trails and various parks.

Residents mark up three redevelopment concepts during a public meeting for the Ontario Street Corridor Secondary Plan Study on June 9, 2026. The concepts propose transforming former industrial lands along Ontario Street into a mixed-use neighbourhood with new housing, parks, trails and commercial areas. (Coleman Molnar)

Concept one estimates creating 6,586 new units accommodating about 11,974 additional residents while generating 179 new jobs. Concept two proposes adding 7,440 new units for roughly 13,976 extra residents alongside creating 138 new jobs in the area. The third concept outlines plans for 12,231 new units supporting approximately 22,054 newcomers plus generating about 228 jobs.

‘Complex Remediation’ Needed at Former GM Site

General Motors acquired the plant located at 282-285 Ontario St. back in 1929 and operated it until its closure in 2010 when it became St. Catharines’ largest employer during those years.

The production ceased at both plants in 2010 when GM sold off the property to developer Bay Shore Groups for $12.5 million back in 2014.

At tables during meetings held recently popular topics included traffic effects along Ontario Street along with underlying concerns over cleanup efforts.

A partially ruined building used as Bay Shore Groups’ corporate headquarters at General Motors’ former East Plant on 282 Ontario St. in St. Catharines , Ont. Photo was taken through a metal grate gate on Oct.31 ,2025. (Diona Macalinga/CBC)

The city refers to this old GM site as representing “complex remediation and redevelopment” on its website.

Recently , the City of St. Catharines issued two “repair , replace or demolish” orders against Bay Shore’s subsidiary citing necessary maintenance work such as securing electrical components plus clearing debris.

“The city does not have any more recent up-to-date environmental information as to locations and quantities [of contamination],” Kitay told CBC.“The information we do have is still dated accompanied by old applications that are no longer active.”

Next steps include drafting plans using community feedback followed by holding another open house aimed at gathering more public input.

Kitay stated they hope to approve land use policies by year’s end so developers can start approaching owners about potential purchases.

“We don’t have any control over that aspect but that’s our goal; getting that land use framework will help make it attractive enough so developers want move forward.”

As she left after attending Mayberry mentioned she’d support nearly any change.

“I could live with any of those plans if they would just do something.”

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