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Scale model of the Port Dalhousie heritage district
showing the proposed Port Place project at the far end of
the district looking east.
View looking west.
Public courtyard
Entrance to theatre and courtyard with historic
jail on display in a portico beneath the condo building.
View from the existing Lakeside Park beach.
Sit back St. Catharines.
Take a look at the Port Place proposal and don’t feel
bad about thinking “Is this what the fuss is all about?”
Granted, these photos are only artistic renditions
but they, along with a scale model, were prepared in detail
for the sole purpose of demonstrating to the OMB a factual
representation of something that has yet to be built. The
concept of a tower monster crushing the town is as valid as
the one hiding under a child’s bed. Irrational fears
may exist in the imagination but not in reality. And, it might
be emphasized, that the OMB, unlike certain elected officials,
does deal in reality.
The scale model of the heritage district of
Port Dalhousie contains the Port Place development but, as
can be seen, the “tower” does not “overwhelm”
the district nor does the multi-use facility “block
access to the beach, piers or harbour.” Nor is the project
being built “on the beach” or “in the park.”
Though some may feel that our historic small
jail might be subjugated by the condo building, this will
be the first time in its 160 year history that it has been
open for public viewing—a view that can be obtained
from all sides and even from above. In addition, the city
has the option to relocate the jail to another site if preferred.
An element that is shown, but not at its full
potential, is the public courtyard. Here is where imagination
is required to recognize that this area will take on numerous
personas depending on the type of events that will be held
in that fully accessible public area surrounded by retail
shops and cafés.
This is as close as the community can get to
knowing what Port Dalhousie can become. Do we want it or not?
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