A Design For Downtown

Design Awards
Posted By PETER DOWNS , STANDARD STAFF
As posted on the St. Catharines Standard website, January 28 2009


Architect David Parker has been hoping other St. Paul Street property owners would follow his lead by giving their buildings major facelifts.

It's been nearly two years since he gutted the 18th-century building he bought and renovated it inside and out.

"We thought maybe we can be influential. Maybe we can fix the place up and others will do the same," said Parker, who runs his company, Parker Architects, from the location at 156 St. Paul St.

Parker is still waiting to see other signs of major redevelopment on St. Catharines' main downtown street.

But that doesn't mean his revamp has escaped notice.

The project was among eight developments recognized Tuesday night with Niagara Community Design Awards.

The awards, handed out by Niagara Region and the Niagara Economic Development Corporation, recognize excellence in community design.

Parker's renovation of the former Garden City Florist store won in the facade redevelopment category.

"Any award like that is some sort of recognition that what you've done is acceptable or appreciate," Parker said.

The architect said he has received plenty of positive feedback from downtown business owners, including others who would like to carry out similar overhauls.

But most are putting investments on hold until they see what happens with a proposal by the city and Brock University to transform the old Canada Hair Cloth building into an arts centre.

"There's a lot of buildings that have been left to dilapidate, but if they were rejuvenated, the street's got a lot of potential," Parker said.

The design awards program was created four years ago to honour projects that placed an emphasis on creativity and imagination, said Niagara Region planner Terri Donia, who co-ordinates the event.

"It's really to recognize great design projects ... at look at those to be emulated elsewhere in Niagara."


Niagara Community Design Award Winners


Large-scale Project:Lancaster GreenCondominium Residences, St. Catharines

Adaptive Re-use:Kevan O'Connor real estate office, 336 Mary St., Niagara- on-the-Lake

Brownfield:Honourable Mention, Stokes Community Village, St. Catharines

Policy and Plans:Queenston Secondary Plan, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Urban Design, Facade:156 St. Paul St., St. Catharines

Urban Design:Erie Beach Trail, Fort Erie

Award of Distinction:Centre for Conservation at Ball's Falls, Lincoln

Award of Distinction:Southbrook Vineyards, Niagara-on-the-Lake