FAQs
- Flexible community space
- Visitor services
- Public washrooms
- Potential leasable tenant space
- Parking
- User-based revenues associated with the site
- Potential partnerships
- Reserve funds (including Parking Reserve and potential future allocations)
- Create a welcoming, accessible community space in Old Town
- Enhance services for both residents and visitors
- Support a vibrant, complete community while planning for future needs
- Generate potential revenue that can be reinvested into municipal services, programs, and infrastructure that benefit the entire Niagara-on-the-Lake community
- Refine financial modelling
- Explore partnership opportunities
- Develop more detailed design drawings, including potentially adapting the current structure or constructing a new structure, depending on the most practical and valuable option
- Complete technical studies (e.g., traffic, environmental)
- Report back to Council for direction on next steps
- A survey
- Interactive community mapping and community boards
- Targeted small-group workshops
- Community walks and conversations
- In-person Public Information Centres (PICs)
What is being proposed for 176 Wellington Street?
The Town is exploring the potential redevelopment of the Former Hospital Site into a multi-use civic space designed to provide broad community benefit, support community activities, and enhance the overall experience in Old Town.
This concept offers an opportunity to reimagine a prominent site to meet community needs today and into the future.
Has the final design been determined?
No. The current concept is preliminary and intended to illustrate one possible approach. Any potential design will continue to evolve through further study, consultation, and Council direction.
What is being considered as part of the concept?
The Town is exploring a range of potential components that could be incorporated into the site, including:
Consideration is also being given of how to best support access and mobility in the area while preserving the streetscape and character of the existing area by maintaining the setbacks of the original buildings on Wellington Street and Byron Street, and the mature trees and natural features.
How would the redevelopment project be funded?
Funding options are still being explored and may include:
How will this benefit residents?
The Town is currently exploring opportunities to:
These benefits reflect priorities identified through public engagement and align with Council’s Strategic Plan, including a focus on exploring opportunities for sustainable revenue generation.
What is the Community Health and Well-Being Reserve?
This is a proposed reserve fund that would allocate net revenues from the facility to support community programs, services, and initiatives across Niagara-on-the-Lake that are in alignment with Council's Strategic Plan.
What happens next?
The Town will:
When will a final decision be made?
At this time, there is no date set for when a final decision will be made by Council.
What engagement has been done on this project and what was the result?
The Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake partnered with NPG Planning Solutions Inc. to lead a community engagement process to consider future uses for the Former Hospital Site at 176 Wellington Street in Old Town.
Throughout 2025, several engagement opportunities were held, including:
The results can be found in NPG's presentation to Council at the December 9, 2025, Council Workshop meeting. Read the Engagement Summary.
Is the Town retaining ownership or selling the land?
The Town is retaining ownership of the land.
Is the Town working with other groups on this project?
Aside from working with its consultant, NPG Planning Solutions, during the public engagement phase, the Town is not currently working with other external groups on the next phases of this project.