Historically, Port Dalhousie served as the northern entrance to the first three Welland Canal routes, inaugurated in 1829, 1845, and 1889. Much of its development is tied to that canal-era expansion.
In the last 40 years, Port Dalhousie has undergone a shocking and significant amount of changes. Some for the better, some for the worse.
Today, although Port Dalhousie is still home to a vibrant community and world-class events like The Henley Regatta, it still feels like a shell of its former self.
It begs the question: What Happened?
Table of Contents
1990s–early 2000s: The Golden Era
Port Dalhousie was the go-to entertainment district in St. Catharines, especially for students, weekend warriors, and locals looking for live music and lakeside beer patios.
Anchored by student-loved institutions, the strip along Lock Street and Lakeport Road thrived with pubs, live bands, arcades, mini golf, and candy shops.
My Cottage was a legendary party spot for Brock University and Niagara College students, known for cheap beer, a massive patio, and live DJ nights. It had a true dive-bar-meets-beach-town aesthetic, and was frequently packed at least 4 days/week.
Port Mansion was originally built in the 1800s as a hotel, converted into a dinner theatre in the 1980s. It hosted live theatre, jazz nights, murder mysteries, and comedy festivals. It also offered high-end waterfront dining with second-floor views, and had an endearing reputation for supporting local performers and community theatre.
Hogan’s Alley & Lock Street were buzzing every summer weekend; patios full, crowds flowing between venues, live music spilling out from every corner. The area was walkable & lively. Granted, a bit worn around the edges, but full of character.
The beach, carousel, and piers gave daytime Port a family-friendly vibe, but after dark, it was a full-blown party zone. Locals and tourists alike would “do the strip”, walking from bar to bar until the early morning hours.
Yet by 2004, developers began purchasing heritage buildings with plans for redevelopment and delusions of massive condo towers (20–33 storeys).
The Fortress Union Waterfront property in St. Catharines, specifically at 12 Lock Street, was a pre-construction condominium project by Fortress Real Developments. It was intended to be a 12-story, 170-unit mid-rise building.
A 71-day Ontario Municipal Board hearing in 2008 pit community voices and city heritage rules against redevelopment ambitions. Despite opposition, OMB controversially approved a tower plan, marking the FIRST such approval in a designated heritage district, with promises of a theatre, hotel, and public space.
2011–2013: Demolition & Stalled Promises
In 2012–2013, most commercial leases weren’t renewed. One by one, businesses shut down. Iconic institutions were demolished to prepare for the so-called “Port Place” condo project, leaving a gaping void in commercial presence, and disenchantment from the Port Dalhousie community.
My Cottage was demolished in 2011.
Port Mansion, a 150+ year old heritage institution, was demolished in 2011.
Hogan’s Alley and the several local businesses it housed, was dismantled in 2011.
The high-rise plan seemed like it was doomed to fail before it started. Despite cleared lots, no construction occurred.
Then for more than 10 YEARS…nothing happened.
Public backlash and appeals to the Ontario Municipal Board and later the Ontario Land Tribunal stalled all progress.
What was once a lively, if slightly ramshackle, beach district became a fenced-off gravel lot, an urban planning limbo. A fate St. Catharines would continue to falls victim of.
2018–2022: Rankin Takes the Helm
Unsurprisingly, the original project (now 14 years removed from its initial announcement) encountered financial difficulties and was placed in receivership in 2018 due to a $10.3 million debt to FirstOntario Credit Union.
By the end of the 2010s, Port Dalhousie’s commercial core had become a scarred landscape; buildings long gone, vacant lots fenced off, and previous development proposals either abandoned or stuck in bureaucratic limbo.
The dream of revitalizing Port had become a cautionary tale of overreach and missed opportunity.
Rankin’s local credibility gave residents reason for cautious optimism. Unlike previous developers, Rankin had already proven its ability to build high-quality, waterfront-oriented housing in the area, most notably with the Royal Port condos at 57 Lakeport Road. The mid-rise luxury project that successfully integrated into the waterfront and was fully completed by mid-2023.
In April 2022, a breakthrough finally arrived. The City of St. Catharines, Port Dalhousie Conservancy, and Rankin Construction announced a conditional settlement on a significantly revised redevelopment plan for the area. Gone were the 20+ storey condo towers and hotel previously pitched. In their place: a more balanced, heritage-conscious concept called “The Locks.”
Under the proposed plan, “The Locks” would include:
Up to 180 residential units
19,000 square feet of commercial space, to accommodate shops, cafés, and restaurants
A 4,400 square foot community centre, to be owned and operated by the City of St. Catharines
Preservation of key heritage buildings, including:
Austin House
Stanton Grocery
Port Dalhousie Jail (to be relocated to Lakeside Park)
Six new mid-rise buildings, ranging from 5 to 12 storeys
Public courtyards, walkable pedestrian zones, and a revitalized Hogan’s Alley
A three-level parking structure, with two levels underground to preserve views and maintain a pedestrian-friendly waterfront
It began to feel like the wait was finally over.
2023–2025: Still Waiting
Despite the cautious optimism that followed the 2022 settlement, construction on The Locks has yet to begin as of mid‑2025.
What was supposed to be a fresh start for Port Dalhousie has instead turned into a familiar and frustrating pattern: legal and logistical delays, shifting timelines, and a once-promising plan stuck in limbo.
While Rankin Construction now owns the land and has a conditional green light from the City and the Port Dalhousie Conservancy, several key steps remain unresolved:
Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) sign-off on the final settlement is still pending
Site plan approvals, including detailed architectural drawings and environmental reviews, have not been finalized
Traffic impact studies and updated heritage permits are required before shovels can hit the ground
Additional consultations around parking access, pedestrian flow, and water/sewer capacity have caused further delays
The Harbour Club, located in the historic Lincoln Fabrics building, is under construction with luxury condos and event space in the works
The Lakeside Park Piers were rehabilitated in 2022 as part of a federal-to-municipal land transfer, creating more public access to the waterfront
These projects have restored some momentum to the Port area, but without active storefronts or meaningful foot traffic along Lock Street, the core still feels incomplete.
Rankin stated they will keep pressing forward to get all the approvals, with hopes of getting started on the development next year.
Since the initial plan for The Locks was unveiled in 2022, the extra storey was added and indoor parking spaces were increased from 259 to 376.
The Open House was received with mixed reviews, with some residence still hesitant to change, and others concerned about current market demand for high-end condos, which could stop Rankin in their tracks until the Real Estate landscape changes.
The Aftermath
The loss of those legacy venues left a void in the city’s social and cultural scene.
While nearby places like Lakeside Park, Lock Street Brewery, and Royal Henley still draw visitors, they don’t match the energy that Port once had.
Locals frequently refer to Port as a “ghost of its former self,” and many believe the delays and inaction caused irreparable damage to the area’s character.
Port Dalhousie is a place full of memories and meaning.
What happens next isn’t just about real estate, it’s about restoring trust, creating spaces that matter, and making sure the past isn’t paved over by hollow promises.
Whether The Locks can eventually become the catalyst that Port needs, or whether it joins the list of never-realized visions, remains to be seen.
