Community Improvement Plan Update

We are currently updating the City's Community Improvement Plan (CIP). The plan was last updated in 2020, resulting in the 2020 Community Improvement Plan (2020CIP). The CIP undergoes a comprehensive review every five years given evolving community renewal goals, objectives, and strategies.

The theme of this update for the 2026CIP is to focus on the needs of the community by encouraging sustainability, affordable housing, and renewal through brownfield remediation. Your feedback will help shape the future CIP.

Proposed updates to the CIP:

• The Tax Increment Finance (TIF) and Brownfield Tax Increment Finance (BTIF) programs have been updated to respond to community needs including:
  • revised scoring,
  • requirement for redevelopment projects to include affordable housing, and
  • revised criteria for brownfield redevelopment projects.
• The Brownfield Tax Assistance (BTA) Program has been removed due to a lack of uptake under the 2020CIP.
• The Façade Improvement Program (FIP) and Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) grant programs have updated grant values proposed.
• The Downtown Forgivable Loan Program (DFLP) remains in place, with no changes.

View the draft 2026CIP or the "Summary of Changes" for each program under 'Important Documents' to the right ➡️

For more information on the City's current 2020CIP, please visit: www.stcatharines.ca/CIP

Background

Community Improvement Plans are one of the most effective tools available to municipal governments to directly incentivize redevelopment, accelerate the creation of housing units, and support growth in strategic areas, including brownfield sites and growth centres. The City of St. Catharines has had a CIP in place since 2004, which was revised in 2015 and in 2020.

Get Involved!

Please provide feedback on the revised plan by May 22, 2026. Comments and feedback on the proposed plan and policies are welcome.

Task Force

A Community Improvement Plan Task Force was established in order to discuss the effectiveness of the CIP. This working group reviewed the 2020CIP in terms of the CIP's goals and areas of focus. From June 2025 to December 2025, the CIP Task Force met in accordable to a workplan which had emphasis on brownfield redevelopment and affordable housing.

The CIP Task Force is composed of the following members:

• Mayor Siscoe (Chair)
• Councillor Lindal (Merritton Ward)
• Councillor McPherson (St. Patrick’s Ward )
• Councillor Kushner (St. Andrew’s Ward )
• Councillor Williamson (Port Dalhousie Ward )

The CIP Task Force workplan is available under 'Important Documents' to the right ➡️