Plans for former NOTL hospital site will not involve ongoing funding from the town

A local philanthropist wants to convert the former Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital site into a hub of “sophisticated tourism.” 

The project was included in some capacity on three agenda items during Tuesday’s committee-of-the-whole general meeting. 

The first was a presentation from Eddie Sheppard from Abacus Data, a firm that recently conducted a survey to measure whether the community would like to see what is being proposed by the James A. Burton and Family Foundation, which is to turn the property into a community centre for arts, culture, education and tourism. 

The survey gathered opinions from 331 adult residents, determining that three out of four residents want the site to keep its community use zoning.

"The survey revealed that 82 per cent  of respondents support transforming the hospital into a vibrant community centre for the benefit of residents and tourists," said Sheppard. "This is a clear directive from the community, who expressed passion for preserving the town’s rich heritage and enhancing its cultural and educational offerings."

The overhaul of the hospital site would be known as the Niagara Gateway Project and would aim to involve organizations such as the Shaw Festival, Yellow Door Theatre Project, and Fort George, said Jim Burton, speaking to town councillors on behalf of the foundation on Tuesday night. 

“We want to make a difference,” said Burton, a 19-year resident of Niagara-on-the-Lake. “We are not a developer. We don’t have any commercial interest in the projects we do.” 

The War of 1812 and the town’s rich Indigenous history would also be focal points. “There’s a vital part of our history I think we can bring to another level,” he said, also noting the facility has plans to host a nursery for children. 

Coun. Maria Mavridis asked if the hospital site is the only property the foundation is interested in.

“There’s a lot of specific advantages that property has,” said Burton, referring to parking and location. 

One selling point in the foundation’s pitch was that they are not asking taxpayers to contribute any funding. 

Burton said the project could be made possible by leasing or even purchasing the former hospital site from the municipality. 

Grants and donations will be sought, but no money from the town, Burton reiterated. 

“We don’t expect and don’t envision that part of the process is the town putting money into this,” he told councillors and staff on Tuesday night. 

The Abacus survey also addressed the economic aspects of the project, noting that the development would be self-funded and designed to operate without municipal tax levies, easing financial pressures on the town’s budget, says a news release about the survey. 

Also on Tuesday’s agenda was a report approved by the committee, directing staff to begin a public engagement process to see what residents want done at the site, located at 176 Wellington St. 

The process will be done externally and through Tuesday’s approval, the town will spend an additional $35,000 on top of $50,000 already allocated for a public engagement process. 

In the report about the upcoming feedback process, the survey taken by Abacus and the Burton Foundation’s plans are mentioned. 

“The results of this survey will be included as an input to other public feedback collected as part of the town’s broader public consultation for council’s consideration,” the report says. 

The engagement process will be funded by parking revenue. 

Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa said petitioning residents for thoughts on what the property should be will be an “exciting conversation to come,” and that it will be “an opportunity to do some really interesting things in the community.” 

The building currently includes space leased to Royal Oak Community School, which would remain part of the plans, said Burton. 

There is also a massage therapist, a telecommunication tower, and use from Niagara EMS, says the staff report approved on Tuesday. 

The initial public engagement in 2018 involved a staff-led online idea board limited to registered users on the town’s "Join the Conversation" platform. “Modest feedback” was received at that time, town staff said in its report.

Requests for expressions of interest and proposals were sought in 2022, resulting in nine ideas coming forward, all of them rejected by council due to “unmet strategic objectives” and post-pandemic economic changes, said the report on Tuesday's agenda. 

 Future plans were deferred to the current council. 

In 2017, the town bought the former hospital from the Niagara Health System for $3.6 million.