St. Catharines shuts downtown residence after numerous emergency and bylaw visits

The City of St. Catharines ordered a downtown residence to close last Wednesday after numerous bylaw complaints and emergency services visits.

The residential dwelling at 5 Duke St. has been the site of concerns since mid-2023.

“The site has been the source of nearly two dozen calls for St. Catharines Fire Services since that time due to fires, medical emergencies and other investigations. In 2024, the Niagara police responded to more than 52 calls for service, ranging from alleged illegal activity and illicit drug use to noise complaints,” read a City statement.

Bylaw officers responded to 18 property maintenance complaints, “the majority of which resulted in orders to comply under the City’s waste bylaw.”

City officials posted the closing order and conducted enforcement at the property on Sept. 24, which included removal of refuse that included unsafe items due to illegal activity and human waste.

A dog was also removed and put into the care of the Greater Niagara Humane Society.

The City called the closure a “rare and serious measure.”

“This was not a decision the City took lightly … In this case, it was necessary and the most effective means to protect the community,” read a news release.

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