Ontario Construction News staff writer
The future of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s old hospital site is still up in the air after town councillors rejected all nine proposals for development.
The suggestions were in response to the town’s Request for Expressions of Interest to redevelop the old hospital – but all were deemed unsuitable. As a result, the process has been cancelled.
The town hired a fairness monitor Optimus in April 2021 to collect ideas for developing the property at 176 Wellington St. in Old Town.
After launching the search and examining the submissions last summer, council has decided that “none of the proposals adequately satisfied all the strategic objectives of the town,” Greg Dadd, principal of Optimus, said in a report to council.
Two presentations were made to council on the submissions and results of the evaluations.
After deliberation, council determined that none of the proposals adequately satisfied all the strategic objectives of the town set out in the RFEI document.
“On that basis as well as the substantive change in the economic environment due to COVID-19 since the RFEI was issued, council decided not to proceed with Stage 2 of the RFEI (detailed proposals) and cancelled the process,” Dadd wrote.
“Because the RFEI procurement process was cancelled prior to completion, any scoring and results from the Stage 1 evaluation are deemed invalid and should not be released.”
Proposals submitted ranged from housing plans and a seniors facility, to a motel development.
The following companies responded to the RFEI:
- the Arts, Culture and Education Hub
- Fortis Construction Group Inc.
- Fram Building Group Ltd.
- Idrakoth Limited
- Lais Hotel Properties
- Manor Village Life Centres Inc.
- Niagara-on-the-Lake Wellness Centre Inc.
- Wellness Suites Condominiums
- White Owl Properties Ltd.
Next steps will be debated in January 2023, after a new council is sworn in following the upcoming municipal election.