General: Ste. Marie Street is similar to lower Pine Street in that it was constructed as a residentail street, but is now zoned commercially up to Fourth Street, with the exception of the Anglican Church property, and many businesses inhabit former dwellings.  It is also similar in that large areas behind the main street are devoted to parking lots. The public lots are softened with landscaping and planting like that on Pine Street. On the east side of the street, from Elgin Street southwards, substantial planting of mature trees provides a pleasant edge to the street.

Ste. Marie Street, Block 1, Between Huron & Simcoe: looking south from Huron Street

Ste. Marie Street, Block 1, Between Huron & Simcoe

West Side: An expanse of parking punctuated by the flank of the heritage commercial building at the corner of Huron Street, unfortunately defaced by a modern mural, and a very fine mid-block Victorian residential row. About 30% of the frontage has heritage value.

East Side: Not very rich in heritage resources. Two small house-form buildings at Nos. 23 and 33 are all that remain of the original streetscape.
 

Ste. Marie Street, Block 2, Between Simcoe and Ontario:
looking south from Simcoe Street

West Side: The rear building of Day's Garage at No. 94 is the only heritage building on the block. The Salvation Army centre at the corner of Ontario Street is a fine recent building that honours heritage character without imitating it. The middle of the block is dominated by the rear of the Town Arena and a municipal parking lot. This area presents interesting opportunities which have begun to be taken advantage of already. Having the Arena downtown is a civic plus, and improvements to its appearance could enhance the streetscape. Along the south wall of the Arena, a broad walkway, on the Schoolhouse Lane axis, needs only reinforcement to become an attractive pedestrian link. The rear of the Arlington at 115 Hurontario replicates its front, lending the parking lot the air of a plaza, and provinding an example of use-intensification of the backs and laneways. About 4% of the frontage has heritage value.

Ste. Marie Street, Block 2, Between Simcoe and Ontario:

East Side: This block is divided by the slant of Elgin Street,.South of Elgin Street the corner hotel building retains its heritage character above an unfortunate reworking of the ground floor masonry and in spite of cheap aluminum replacement windows. North of Elgin Street the buildings of the All Saints parish are of great heritage value. 100% heritage value..

Ste. Marie Street, Block 3, Between Ontario & Fourth:

West Side: The northern part of the block is occupied by Price Chopper and its parking lot. The southern part has three 19th century residential buildings at Nos. 222-242, two of which are semi-detached pairs, and the flank of the Queen Anne cottage at 42 Fourth Street East. These buildings are mostly intact, other than the windows in Nos. 240-242 and an unsympathetic front porch addition on 242. About 42% of the frontage has heritage value.
 

Ste. Marie Street, Block 3, Between Ontario & Fourth:
Fine house-form buildings near Market Lane

East Side: This block is divided by Market Lane.  North of the lane at No. 171 is a modern one-storey building without sympathy to heritage character. South of Market Lane, a mixture of commercial and residential uses occupy seven house-form buildings of varying quality. Nos. 183, 185, 73 and 215 are substantial two-and-one-half storey brick buildings, as is the corner property at 37 Fourth Street. About 75% of the frontage has heritage value.

Ste. Marie Street, South of Fourth:

The residential character of the street continues as it leaves the Downtown Core area, with the exception of an uninspiring modern church building at No. 270, and the Lord Collingwood School which occupies the south end of the block on the west side of the street. The converted residence at No. 243 is an unusual and outstanding heritage building.

Pine Street, Block 4, South of Fourth, looking south from Third Street

A continuation of the residential and heritage character of Block 3.
 

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