Author Archives: Sub Standard

After an in-camera meeting last week, a spokesperson for the St Catharines City Council announced that it would be formally abandoning all democratic processes at the municipal level. “We’ve been moving in this direction for some time,” a spokesperson for the city stated in a phone interview with a SubStandard reporter. “Most of our importantContinue reading “Council decides to abolish democracy”

At the November 15 council meeting, Mayor Sendzik confirmed that he is as concerned as ever about two ruins in the city. He asked for patience in cleaning up the debris from the old Welland House “because there is heritage components (sic) to what is there, currently.” Readers will recall that the 160-year-old building receivedContinue reading “Heritage Rubble Pile, Toxic GM Site Top Mayor’s List of Priorities”

After racing to put out six fires blazing at the old GM site in six weeks, the St Catharines Fire Department finally realized that neither the city nor the owner was going to take action to clear the property anytime soon. Showing creativity and resourcefulness, the department decided to take a novel approach to theContinue reading “St Catharines Fire Department Designates GM Site as New Training Facility”

Hard on the heels of the $3.6 million awarded to Port Dalhousie’s Harbour Club, another developer of a new multi-million dollar luxury condo building has qualified for $6 million in CIP funds from the City based on the new program’s point system that prioritizes the number of bike racks on the property. “Since our projectContinue reading “Additional Bike Racks Qualify Development for CIP Funding”

Thanks to a bold move by a St Catharines city councillor, a room in the luxurious Harbour Club Residences in Port Dalhousie will be set aside as an affordable suite. At the September 27 city council meeting, eight members of council decided to gift the developer of the Harbour Club condo development $3.5 million fromContinue reading “Hundreds Line-up for Chance to Own the Porter Suite at the Harbour Club”

Citing an unfair advantage resulting from the recent St Catharines CIP decision to fund a luxury condo project in Port Dalhousie, Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati announced the city would be doubling their CIP incentives for upscale developments. “What St. Catharines did this week is obviously a scheme to steal luxury developments from Niagara Falls,”Continue reading “Niagara Falls Calls CIP Foul!”

Stepping up to the challenge of Saint Catharines’ affordable housing crisis, the city has announced a novel concept for those on limited incomes. A brand new development, to be named The Sheik’s Tent Residences, will be located along the beautiful banks of the Second Welland Canal in what is now Centennial Park. Information released byContinue reading “City Announces Bold New Affordable Housing Initiative”

June 17, 2025 The trial of Bayshore Group directors Robert and Chiara Megna has been postponed again due to a freak accident at the provincial courthouse. The pair were to stand trial for demolishing the stack at the old GM site without a proper demolition permit, an incident occurred five years ago. “I was mountingContinue reading “Bayshore Owner Stubs Toe – Smokestack Trial Delayed Again”