The owners of a former General Motors auto parts facility in St. Catharines have lost their appeal but received a four-month window to address serious safety concerns at the abandoned industrial property. The city’s property standards committee rejected requests for further delays while acknowledging the complexity of the cleanup operation.
City officials issued compliance orders in May for the properties located at 282 and 285 Ontario Street following numerous resident complaints. The orders require the owners, operating under a numbered company, to either repair, board up, or demolish the deteriorating buildings that have become a neighborhood eyesore and safety hazard.
During a hearing in late June, Patrick Maloney, the attorney representing mortgage holder Celernus Investment Partners Inc., argued that the standard 21-day compliance period was far too short for such a complex situation. He emphasized that potential demolition would require extensive engineering assessments, structural reports, and permit applications that cannot be rushed.
City inspector Robert Davis presented troubling findings during his testimony, describing collapsed roof sections, severely corroded steel structures, crumbling brickwork, and unsecured openings at both addresses. The inspector also documented a partially collapsed wall section and dangerous hanging electrical and mechanical components throughout the site.
Local residents who attended the hearing expressed frustration with ongoing delays, urging the committee to hold the property owners accountable. Community member Ann-Marie Zammit called for immediate action, stating that the time for excuses has passed and demanding the property be brought up to proper standards without further postponement.
