Downtown Update

[SteelTown]

Nah, I don't think they'll ever knock down the whole wall. They can replace the facade though. Probably be close to like $3 million to change the whole facade along James St North with glass.

[thistleclub]

A fresh press release...

City lifts temporary suspension on downtown residential loans program

HAMILTON, ON – May 29, 2008 – Effective immediately the City Of Hamilton will be lifting the temporary suspension on the city's downtown residential loans program.

"I am very pleased that the initial investigation has found all monies accounted for," said Joe Rinaldo, General Manager of Corporate Services.

Corporate Services completed a review of all outstanding loans (totaling $6.6 Million) with respect to the Downtown Residential Loans Program. Mr. Rinaldo has confirmed that all loans issued, including all repayments and loan advances are in compliance with the Council approved policies.

"As well, the total amount of the outstanding loans on the Downtown Residential Loan Program were reported on in the City's 2007 Financial Statements, which have just been subject to an external audit by the firm Grant Thornton," added Mr. Rinaldo.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank all our staff who continued to serve our downtown," said Tim McCabe, General Manager of Planning and Economic Development. "Under very difficult circumstances they have continued to demonstrate commitment and professionalism."

Mr. McCabe also added, "The downtown continues to come alive, and we are seeing momentum. I am optimistic that the downtown loans program will continue to transform our city."

Hamilton's Downtown Residential Loan Program provides financial incentives to developers to assist with the costs of converting commercial space into apartments, construction of new apartments and assistance in the renovation of existing residential units. The program is also intended to provide assistance towards the costs of creating new residential units on vacant land. The loans program is part of a suite of incentives offered by the City of Hamilton to encourage revitalization and renewal of Hamilton's historic heart.

[SteelTown]

I have a feeling that Tim McCabe may end up as the next City Manager.

[SteelTown]

On CH News they said the Canadian Blood Service in Hamilton will close down and merge to a new facility in Toronto.

[raisethehammer]

bullcrap. just what we need.

I'm referring to both of the above posts.

[matt602]

That really sucks.

[HAMRetrofit]

To be taken seriously the program really needs to move from 6.6 million to 66 million.

[SteelTown]

Agency opening blood services megacentre

May 30, 2008
Rachel De Lazzer
The Hamilton Spectator

A national effort to streamline the country's blood service operations will start in Hamilton's backyard.

Canadian Blood Services plans to fold three production and distribution facilities, in London, Hamilton and Toronto, into one location by fall 2010.

The organization is considering sites from Hamilton to the western Greater Toronto Area. Within several years, it plans to look at production facilities in Halifax and Western Canada to determine whether similar consolidation or upgrading of buildings is in order.

The organization estimates a loss of about 50 full-time positions out of 1,500 in southwestern Ontario.

CEO Ian Mumford said the current buildings weren't designed for blood processing and have reached a point where major investment is needed to bring them up to date.

The Hamilton facility is on Main Street East near Victoria Avenue South.

Handling blood requires controlled temperatures, something he said could become difficult to manage in the old buildings.

As blood demand is expected to rise 2 per cent annually in coming years, the facilities will need more space for equipment. The new centre will be about the size of two football fields, covering 120,000 square feet.

The $83-million investment will end up saving the national organization about $2.5 million to $3 million annually, but Mumford says savings aren't the motivation. "This is not first and foremost about saving money ... It's about providing a safe and effective environment."

The announcement, made at the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel yesterday, was attended by about 65 local employees.

[SteelTown]

McMaster and the City should partner up together and sweet talk them into building that plant in Hamilton. Those are the kinds of jobs Hamilton is trying to seek.

[DC83]

^^ I know a certain Lot that would be perfect! I hear they're about to tear down a school board bldg and free up some prime space ;)

[SteelTown]

Yep, that's a good spot too. Innovation Park is probably an attractive opportunity as it's next to the 403, good for a distribution centre. They could also knock down the current building and redo the whole lot from Victoria to First Place.

This is the perfect opportunity to grab this new megacentre. If we lost out on this, it would be very disappointing.

[raisethehammer]

^^ I know a certain Lot that would be perfect! I hear they're about to tear down a school board bldg and free up some prime space ;)

very nice idea....maybe they can add some upper floor office space to lease out too.
mind you, based on their 'two football fields' comment I'd guess they're looking at a suburban office park.

[DC83]

Ya, the two-football-field comment made me think twice. But that's WIDE, not HIGH haha
So if not MIP (best, most logical sense) I say Main/Bay (although it would have to be tall... what a shame haha), but it could even locate at the Glanbrook Industrial Park which is currently unused despite it's highway 'access'.

I think this is an amazing opportunity (esp with our new Health-based economy in Hamilton) and we cannot lose out!

[FairHamilton]

Canadian Blood Services plans to fold three production and distribution facilities, in London, Hamilton and Toronto, into one location by fall 2010.

Hmm, I wonder which would be most centrally located between London, Hamilton and Toronto?

The city should be all over this and not let it get away.

Now, if I were an enterprising developer with land that could accomadate a 120,000 sq. ft. building, I'd be pitching a new state of the art building to Blood Services, and I'd be hitting the city up for some of those interest free loans.

[flar]

Hmm, I wonder which would be most centrally located between London, Hamilton and Toronto?


Woodstock and Cambridge are pretty central, with serviced land along the 401 so Hamilton better get on this.

[SteelTown]

But the article states it's only considering sites from Hamilton to western GTA. Therefore Hamilton is perfectly centrally located.

This megacentre is screaming to be located in Hamilton.

[DC83]

^^ Brantford is also pretty central and have quite the aggressive EcDev dept and have stolen several companies from Hamilton already (ie: Camco).

[FairHamilton]

Woodstock and Cambridge are pretty central, with serviced land along the 401 so Hamilton better get on this.

Yes, but they state: "The organization is considering sites from Hamilton to the western Greater Toronto Area." With no mention of Woodstock, or Cambridge.

I know what they say and what happens are two different things. Though I think Woodstock is too remote (far) from Toronto. Cambridge would be central (as would a Milton location), but I think the access to Hamilton/Niagara area via a non-400 series highway would hurt that location.

I think the biggest thing working against Hamilton, is most likely (I'm guessing) the majority of their current employees are at the Toronto location so they'll want to minimize that impact to employees. But if many work in Toronto but live in Mississauga/Oakville, etc. that might play to Hamilton's advantage (or Oakville/Burlington's).

I'm in total agreement, the city should lobby hard to have them locate in Hamilton. With the developing health services industry in the city, it would make for a great fit/addition.

[SteelTown]

I just emailed Neil, Economic Development, about this. I'll post a copy of the email if he ever replys back to me.

[SteelTown]

Good afternoon Andrew, On behalf of the Economic Development Office, I
wanted to thank you for your email and sharing this this news article
with our office. I also want to ensure you that our office is working
on this file, and we will provide the Canadian Blood Services with all
the right reasons to be located in Hamilton!

Thank you again,

Jennifer

Jennifer Patterson, Ec.D.
Business Development Consultant

[fastcarsfreedom]

Excellent opportunity--MIP would seem a great area with excellent highway access--I could also see the attractiveness of a more suburban locale--I'm sure accessibility would be a key factor--perhaps even proximity to YHM? Not sure how much Blood Services uses air to move it's commodity--presumably it would be quite often.

That'll be the extent of my comments on this--I'm the typical tough guy who's scared shitless of needles and blood...eeek...still, a great opportunity for the region.

[SteelTown]

Yo! you gotta check this out LOL! I'm applying online for a training course at McMaster and I found this interesting training course......

“Personal Security in a Downtown Core *NEW*

Learn more about the steps you can take to improve your personal safety whiole working downtown. Presented by Cathy O'Donnell from Security and Parking Services.”

LOL! I feel like applying for this training course.

[FairHamilton]

Downtown's can be very scary. I don't usually venture downtown without my can of mace and whistle. lol.

I think personal safety courses are excellent, but I think it's horrible they specify downtown. Like personal safety awareness doesn't need to happen on a dark, rainy night in a suburban mall parking lot, or walking close to secluded wooded areas, or on a vacation etc.

Techniques used in each instance are just minor variations on the same principles.

What a pathetic attitude/position. The school should be ashamed of themselves for that couse outline.

[Goldfinger]

Cops probing downtown sex assault
Jay McQueen
6/2/2008


Police are probing yet another sexual assault in the city.

This one occurred Friday night around midnight downtown as a woman was walking in the area of Bold and MacNab.

Police say she was sexually assaulted by 2 men who had been driving a white 1998 2-door sports car with black rims.

It had a flag-type sticker near the rear license plate.

The Sexual Assault Unit is now looking for witnesses.

Police are looking into whether there is any connection between this incident and a sexual assault last Sunday at Main & Sanford.

[SteelTown]

Yes, yes okay definitely going to take the training course so that I won't get raped in the downtown core!

[matt602]

I'm sure it wasn't hard to find that article, it was probably stuffed in with the 3 downtown murders over the weekend, numerous car jackings and 2 riots that happened after the strip clubs let out.

downtown is serious business.

[DC83]

^^ There was also an article on the exact same screen (900chml.com)about an attemtped robbery in Stoney Creek (Barton/Centennial). Did you forget to post that? ;)

Crime is everywhere: Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Burlington, etc etc.
Crackhouses are also everywhere. As are drugs labs.

Oh... there is also crime downtown. Imagine! It's just like the rest of the city.

Thanks for pointing that out, Goldfinger. I'm just happy we don't live in the US!

[fastcarsfreedom]

Interesting observation DC83--you defend downtown against hyperbole when it comes to crime reporting--and then jump on the same bandwagon by saying "at least we don't live in the U.S."--you're repeating the same logic as the suburbanite who says they fear crime downtown.

Again, there is crime EVERYWHERE, as you stated--it varies in it's degree and severity--but it is everywhere--INCLUDING downtown. Again, I repeat my previously stated argument that neither the problem or the perception will be solved until people are willing to admit they exist. In the context of this particular crime, pointing out an attempted robbery in Stoney Creek shows an abhorent lack of compassion for the victim of this crime and lends further credence to the belief that this Forum functions as a conduit for an agenda at all costs.

Since this is a thread specifically about downtown issues, I might suggest that you take an active role in motivating your community members, leaders and stakeholders on the crime issue--the police will gladly accept your assistance in working to reduce crime in the downtown core--a crime that is prevented is never reported--so work on eliminating the problem as opposed to worrying about what the media is and isn't reporting.

[Goldfinger]

Thanks for pointing that out, Goldfinger. I'm just happy we don't live in the US!

Well I'm glad you swallowed your Canadian Socialist dogma quite well. You shouldn't be afraid to live in the US. I lived near Los Angeles for 3 years during school and visited many other cities and I can tell you that I'm not afraid, I'm envious.

[raisethehammer]

'near' Los Angeles. haha.
just like you live 'near' Hamilton?

[DHLawrence]

Well I'm glad you swallowed your Canadian Socialist dogma quite well.

Ah, yes, Canadians are Commies, I forgot. Reminds me of the history teacher I had who compared Canadian government agencies to items in the Communist Manifesto--you know, corrupting things like health care for all, public schools...

[DC83]

Well I'm glad you swallowed your Canadian Socialist dogma quite well. You shouldn't be afraid to live in the US. I lived near Los Angeles for 3 years during school and visited many other cities and I can tell you that I'm not afraid, I'm envious.

I'm not afraid of American cities whatsoever... I dunno where you got that idea from. I've also been to several Amercian cities and have enjoyed my time in each of them. They are a good get-away. But I would NEVER EVER EVER want to live in one. So if you're so envious of American cities, maybe you should move to one and troll out their SSP forum?
I was simply pointing out the fact that most American cities have higher crime stats than most Canadian cities... and that is one of the MANY reasons I'm happy living in Canada.

But anyway, maybe we could get back to the true purpose of the Downtown Update thread... which isn't crime. Next time you want to post a crime stat, start your own thread in the appropriate area (most likely General Discussion).

[Jon Dalton]

Here's some good news:

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/379499

June 03, 2008
Nicole Macintyre
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jun 3, 2008)
The city is preparing to crack down on an illegal parking lot on the site of a future downtown hotel.

Bylaw staff are recommending charges be laid against the owner of the former Hamilton Motor Products garage at Main and Bay streets. This prime location is slated to become a 15-storey Hilton hotel.

The property is owned by Vrancor Development Corpor-ation, which is run by noted hotelier Darko Vranich.

When the old garage was demolished last fall, a small parking lot was expanded to cover the entire site. The city has a moratorium on new parking lots in the core.

"It's an illegal operation," said Bill Young, manager of municipal law enforcement.

He said bylaw staff have been investigating for nearly six months and have sent warning letters to the owner. Staff have completed a package of evidence that is being reviewed by the city's legal staff.

"We're recommending charges."

If upheld in court, the charges could lead to fines up to $50,000.

Vranich declined to comment.

Downtown Councillor Bob Bratina said the parking lot isn't on the top of his priority list for bylaw issues because of the impending development, but he agrees with the city's actions.

"We have bylaws, they should be enforced," he said.

City Councillors voted last year to let Vranich tear down the garage over the objections of heritage advisers. The city also approved a $1.8-million loan so he could convert the site to a hotel.

nmacintyre@thespec.com

905-526-3299

[FairHamilton]

Here's some good news:

http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/379499

June 03, 2008
Nicole Macintyre
The Hamilton Spectator
(Jun 3, 2008)
The city is preparing to crack down on an illegal parking lot on the site of a future downtown hotel.

Bylaw staff are recommending charges be laid against the owner of the former Hamilton Motor Products garage at Main and Bay streets. This prime location is slated to become a 15-storey Hilton hotel.

The property is owned by Vrancor Development Corpor-ation, which is run by noted hotelier Darko Vranich.

When the old garage was demolished last fall, a small parking lot was expanded to cover the entire site. The city has a moratorium on new parking lots in the core.

"It's an illegal operation," said Bill Young, manager of municipal law enforcement.

He said bylaw staff have been investigating for nearly six months and have sent warning letters to the owner. Staff have completed a package of evidence that is being reviewed by the city's legal staff.

"We're recommending charges."

If upheld in court, the charges could lead to fines up to $50,000.

Vranich declined to comment.

Downtown Councillor Bob Bratina said the parking lot isn't on the top of his priority list for bylaw issues because of the impending development, but he agrees with the city's actions.

"We have bylaws, they should be enforced," he said.

City Councillors voted last year to let Vranich tear down the garage over the objections of heritage advisers. The city also approved a $1.8-million loan so he could convert the site to a hotel.

nmacintyre@thespec.com

905-526-3299

Yesh, exactly what I was calling for in earlier posts/threads!!!

[SteelTown]

This is good as it'll force Darko to come up with a timeline for construction. If not here comes a court battle.

[hamiltonguy]

I was down there the other day. It doesn't look like its all a parking lot?

Who'd want to park on gravel when there's a paved lot across the road?

[DC83]

I was down there the other day. It doesn't look like its all a parking lot?

Who'd want to park on gravel when there's a paved lot across the road?

When it was 1st torn down, they used it as a Lot pretty often. I haven't seen cars in it for a while now, but I don't live in that 'hood so I don't see it every day.

[raisethehammer]

I try to ignore it and the half blown off back of the Federal Building whenever I go by there now.
Thanks Darko.

[HAMRetrofit]

The by-law should actually be requiring that these sites be boarded with perimeters of a high quality aesthetic nature. The blighted demolition site should not be visible to the publics eye.

[flar]

^^true, empty lots, renos and construction projects are usually fenced off or blocked in with boarding painted with advertising in most cities.

[raisethehammer]

just had lunch at 316Lounge on King and they are almost finished construction of the back courtyard patio. It's going to be wicked! Very much like the Courtyard on Locke. This is a huge addition to King St, considering it's narrow sidewalks and lack of patio space.
316 is very lucky and happy to have this space. It will be well-used.

[FairHamilton]

Sounds great, I can't wait to check it out!!!! RTH, thanks for the heads-up/update.

[SteelTown]

So I just graduated today!

During the ceremony MaryLynn the President of Mohawk College mentioned about an aggressive five year master plan for Mohawk College. She mentioned the College will expand and the Fennell campus will be getting a major makeover, interior and exterior. So perhaps a downtown campus.

[holymoly]

So I just graduated today!

Congratulations, SteelTown!

[matt602]

So I just graduated today!



Congrats :)

[FairHamilton]

So I just graduated today!

During the ceremony MaryLynn the President of Mohawk College mentioned about an aggressive five year master plan for Mohawk College. She mentioned the College will expand and the Fennell campus will be getting a major makeover, interior and exterior. So perhaps a downtown campus.

Way to go SteelTown!!!

[flar]

Congrats Steeltown, are you going to continue working at Mac?

[SteelTown]

Thanks!!

Yes, I’ve been extremely fortunate to attend classes and work at McMaster at the same time, stressful but I managed. Now I work at McMaster full time.

[raisethehammer]

wow, congrats Steeltown!! awesome.

p.s. as a follow-up to my last post, the back patio at 316 lounge is now open.

[hammergirl]

Congratulations SteelTown!

[raisethehammer]

so, according to this website:

http://www.mccallumsather.com/main.html

SISO is going to renovate the historic Mohawk College building on Wentworth St and add more housing as part of it's New Dawn project.
I hope it's true!! I've always assumed that wonderful old building would come down, but if it's preserved, that would be awesome.

[markbarbera]

This is indeed good news. I took an interest course at this site a couple of years ago and the building is both beautiful and in desperate need of TLC. Hopefully SISO is able to proceed with its rehab.

I'm not sure how a residential aspect will be incorporated at the site, seeing as it has a limited footprint. Perhaps they are considering bringing down the new wing at the east end of the building and constructing an apartment or row houses there.

[raisethehammer]

the images shown so a modern, Euro-style housing complex being built there.

[matt602]

I'm trying to rack my brain here, and I have no clue where this building is that you're talking about. Every time I think of Wentworth, I just picture the heavy industry and scrap yards around Barton/Burlington St.

[astroblaster]

i also had no idea that existed.. and i went to mohawk a few years ago.

but apparently it exists:

196 Wentworth Street North
http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/Discover/maps/Wentworth.html

[SteelTown]

It's a community centre that Mohawk College funds and has students running the centre.

[markbarbera]

The school is on the east side of Wentworth, just south of Barton.

I think the renderings are from when SISO was considering a larger parcel of property like the Auchmar site. I can't see it fitting in to the available space at the Wentworth site. Nor would I want it to. It is not a complementary design style for this building at all. Frankly I wasn't keen on the look at all. Bears too close a resemblence to a 70's UK housing estate.

[SteelTown]

Former Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray on Downtown Hamilton

http://www.thespec.com/videogallery/396723

[FairHamilton]

Former Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray on Downtown Hamilton

http://www.thespec.com/videogallery/396723

If The Spec really wants to get into multimedia, I wish they'd purchase a noise canceling microphone........

Interesting interview. I hope the City of Hamilton listens to the part about rejuvenation being more than renovating buildings.

[SteelTown]

It's not the Spec, all or most Torstar media has a multimedia function across the country for local news.

Torstar has been unsuccessful in the past in obtaining a television channel, CTRC awarded Craig media that created Toronto One (and you know how that ended up).

[FairHamilton]

It's not the Spec, all or most Torstar media has a multimedia function across the country for local news.

Torstar has been unsuccessful in the past in obtaining a television channel, CTRC awarded Craig media that created Toronto One (and you know how that ended up).

Yes, I've seen The Star's as well, though I found it slightly better than that interview.

[Millstone]

If The Spec really wants to get into multimedia, I wish they'd purchase a noise canceling microphone........

Interesting interview. I hope the City of Hamilton listens to the part about rejuvenation being more than renovating buildings.

Or a microphone at all. Taping with a built-in mic at an intersection is full of stupid.

[SteelTown]

Loans boss back on job, cleared by city probe

July 08, 2008
Nicole Macintyre
The Hamilton Spectator

A city staffer facing criminal charges is back on the job after he was cleared by an internal investigation.

Gord Moodie, previously head of the downtown residential loan program, returned to work yesterday.

"I'm just happy to be back," he said.

Moodie has been on paid leave since May when he was charged by the Ontario Provincial Police for corruption and breach of trust. They allege he took a $5,000 cheque from a developer.

The city launched its own investigation to determine if Moodie violated the city's employee code of conduct.

"We have found no evidence of wrongdoing from the city's point of view," said Joe Rinaldo, acting city manager.

Details of the investigation are confidential, he added.

Moodie, who denies the police allegations, could still lose his job if found guilty of the criminal charges.

Until the court case is over, Moodie has been reassigned to be a business development consultant in the downtown renewal office. He will have no contact with the residential loan program, Rinaldo said.

Moodie will be working on two high-profile projects, including the new Education Centre planned for Bay and Main streets, a project he helped launch. He will also take a lead in waterfront development.

The city suspended the downtown loan program after police announced charges in the spring. An internal investigation and outside audit found no missing money.

Moodie is expected back in court July 17.

Developer Denis Vranich was also charged in the kickback scandal. Police allege he paid Moodie to help secure loans for his father, Darko Vranich.

[raisethehammer]

great piece in the Star.
Hope to see this in Hamilton sometime soon.


Grocery chains develop a taste for urban living
Jul 08, 2008 04:30 AM

Christopher Hume
There was a time, not so long ago, when it seemed the grocery chains had forgotten that city dwellers also eat.

No longer: across Toronto, supermarkets are popping up now as never before.

Though some food sellers have had difficulty understanding the urban market, others clearly have it all figured out. The rules might seem obvious, but they elude some of the major players. Stuck in the 1950s and ´60s, they're still out searching for large sites with room for hundreds of parking spots. Not surprisingly, there aren't a whole lot of these left in the city, or the suburbs for that matter, but many corporations are deeply conservative and glacial in their response to change.

So while some chains appear to have less presence in Toronto these days, others are suddenly everywhere. Consider the case of Sobeys, which opened its most recent outlet on Balliol St. in North Toronto. Situated in an old strip mall, it is smaller than most grocery stores, and has fewer than 10 parking spaces in front.

In its three-week existence, it has already become part of the neighbourhood. Rather than cater to customers who show up Saturday mornings and fill several carts, this is a store for locals who shop on their way home several times weekly.

Balliol is a street lined with highrise apartments, which means there are enough people who live locally to make the shop viable.

By contrast, the Loblaws at Jarvis St. and Queens Quay, with its enormous parking structure, attracts shoppers from all over the city. It's located close to the Gardiner (that could change if Waterfront Toronto gets its way and manages to have the raised expressway torn down east of Jarvis), and is in an area that doesn't yet qualify as a residential neighbourhood.

Farther west, at Queens Quay and York St., Sobeys installed a supermarket in Queen's Quay Terminal that finally succeeded in bringing life to a complex that was previously geared toward a summertime/ tourist market. In the meantime, the area had become home to thousands of people living in the condo towers that line the street.

Sobeys has also opened a store on Front St. E. near Sherbourne St., a part of town that until very recently food chains would have avoided like the plague.

According to real estate analyst Barry Lyon, the grocery store, with daycare and dog walking area, is an urban essential. When it arrives, he says, so has the neighbourhood.

Certainly, officials with Toronto Community Housing were thrilled when Sobeys signed up to be part of the rebuilt Regent Park. Originally, there were virtually no retail outlets within the boundaries of the housing complex. In its own Utopian way, the attitude toward shopping embodied in old Regent Park set the stage for subsequent suburban growth. But the idea that stores should be kept out of neighbourhoods makes only limited sense, especially at a time when we are under pressure to use the city more intensely, to take advantage of its every opportunity.

Until recently, it seemed the only places to buy groceries downtown were those 24-hour food stores best known for their exorbitant prices. Their day may be coming to an end.

The return of the grocery store is a strong sign of Toronto's good health. Of course there's nothing new about the idea, but cities are only now emerging from their time in the wilderness, a period when they were thought to be the problem. Now we know cities are the solution, and a good place to go shopping for groceries.[/I]

[SteelTown]

List of road rehabilitation that will take place this summer for the downtown is........

BARTON ST - JAMES ST TO FERGUSON AVE
Estimated Cost $720000.00

BAY ST - CANNON ST TO BRIDGE
Estimated Cost $540000.00

CANNON ST - BAY ST TO CAROLINE ST
Estimated Cost $240000.00

HUNTER ST - JOHN ST TO WELLINGTON ST S
Estimated Cost $620000.00

JOHN ST S - KING ST TO JACKSON ST
Estimated Cost $300000.00

KING ST - BAY ST TO JAMES ST
Estimated Cost $380000.00

MAIN ST - DUNDURN ST TO HESS ST
Estimated Cost $780000.00

VICTORIA AVE - CLAREMONT BRIDGE TO BARTON ST
Estimated Cost $1550000.00

WELLINGTON ST - KING ST TO MAIN ST
Estimated Cost $100000.00

[DC83]

Main Street Rehabs, eh? Nice.

Do these 'rehabilitations' include streetscaping?? Like you, Steeltown, I'm a sucker for awesome streetscapes!

[SteelTown]

No, I think it's just new asphalt. Wellington and Main definitely do need work.

I would have dropped King St and put the money saved towards Bay St North for the North End traffic calming measures, Bay and Staurt is recommended to have a roundabout.

[Millstone]

Main Street Rehabs, eh? Nice.

Do these 'rehabilitations' include streetscaping?? Like you, Steeltown, I'm a sucker for awesome streetscapes!

No way, that would take up a lane, we can't have that.

[newflyer]

If The Spec really wants to get into multimedia, I wish they'd purchase a noise canceling microphone........

Interesting interview. I hope the City of Hamilton listens to the part about rejuvenation being more than renovating buildings.

Interesting interview. Good to see Glen promoting the revitalization of heritage buildings.

[raisethehammer]

I was just told that Infusions closed down at Gore Park.
Can anyone confirm this?

[matt602]

No way. I'd be incredibly shocked if that's true.

[ryan_mcgreal]

I was just told that Infusions closed down at Gore Park.

I can't confirm it, but I noticed that the patio tables weren't set up at lunch time this afternoon.

[raisethehammer]

as of 5 minutes ago the place is closed, glass walls are shut and no patio is out.
It's not papered over though.

[markbarbera]

Infusions' business telephone number is not in service.

I'm not entirely surprised. The place didn't seem to do much business. Granted the patio was usually full, but mainly by lingering smokers

[raisethehammer]

frig...it was ultra cool when it opened, and they literally changed NOTHING for like 10 years.
I'm all for 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' but at least clean the place once in a while or add some artwork etc....
that's a big blow to the Gore. Maybe they left because they are scared of the pedestrian-only plan which will cause them to lose 3 parking spots.
Drewitt......

[matt602]

This is certainly a big blow to Gore. That patio drew a lot of people in. I really hope something equally as good replaces it.

I certainly didn't see this one coming. They seemed to have such good patronage.

[raisethehammer]

I was there Friday night...packed as always.
All the furniture is still there...maybe it's not closed.

[Lukey]

I was just wondering if anyone knew what happened to the building beside Jerry's Man Shop on James North. I was walking by it today for the first time in a while and noticed it was gone. I had thought that it was part of the reno plans. Anyone got any info for me?

[raisethehammer]

yea, they are going to build a glass atrium type of entrance with an outdoor courtyard behind it. should look great.

[SteelTown]

http://www.hamiltonartistsinc.on.ca/images/buildingNWview.jpg

[raisethehammer]

will be a great anchor for James Street. Looks good.

[raisethehammer]

where did you find that picture?? is there a large size?

[BCTed]

frig...it was ultra cool when it opened, and they literally changed NOTHING for like 10 years.
I'm all for 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' but at least clean the place once in a while or add some artwork etc....
that's a big blow to the Gore. Maybe they left because they are scared of the pedestrian-only plan which will cause them to lose 3 parking spots.
Drewitt......

Yeah, Infusions was really slipping in its dying days.

[matt602]

Aye, Infusions wasn't doing too great in the environment department in the last 6 months. The clientele also seemed to get a lot worse. Back about 2 years ago when I first started going, it was mostly trendy young people sipping back espressos and stuff. Then drunks and thugs started coming in frequently. The staff also seemed to get a lot less friendly.

They used to have some comfortable couches at the back, which disappeared about a year ago. It was nice to go with some friends and lounge on them in front of the fire.

[raisethehammer]

I've been going there since they opened...10 years, I think?

[paleale2]

After spending considerable time on the south leg of King speaking to almost every business about the proposed changes to the Bus terminal, the removal of buses from Gore Park, the closure of south leg the following are the results I wanted to share with you:



Out of 17 businesses on the street,

9 say the proposal will have little or no negative effect on them

4 say the street closure will negatively impact them (Chesters, Fingers, South Side and Scotiabank)

2 say they will be impacted only by loss of parking for customers who will probably find alternative solutions to parking issue

1 is closing business for personal reasons on July 13th (Infusions Coffee House)

1 owner/manager unavailable for comment



At the Council meeting yesterday it was decided to send the entire Downtown Transportation Master Plan (which includes the pedestrianization of Gore Park recommendation) back to staff for more input as to costs, analysis of impacts of James and John Street as well as the York Street conversion and its relationship to the renovations to the Market and the Library)…. Council did approve the work to be done on the MacNab Street/Go Bus Terminal in anticipation of the removal of buses from Gore Park by 2010.



Just wanted to keep you up to date…

Kathy





Kathy G. Drewitt, Executive Director

Downtown Hamilton Business Improvement Area

20 Hughson Street South, Suite 807

Hamilton, Ontario L8N 2A1

(905) 523-1646 Fax (905) 523-5433

info@downtownhamilton.org

www.downtownhamilton.org

[coalminecanary]

Cool, thanks for the update


4 say the street closure will negatively impact them (Chesters, Fingers, South Side and Scotiabank)

Boy will they be pleasantly surprised when the opposite happens!


2 say they will be impacted only by loss of parking for customers who will probably find alternative solutions to parking issue

There really is no parking issue. I have never, ever had trouble finding street parking downtown. But if it remains a perceived problem, we could extend the streetscaping that was implemented in International village so that there is parking on King all the way to Bay - rather than the current situation of having 4 blocks of highway style driving that is bookended by narrower sections with street parking :-)

[raisethehammer]

too bad the downtown BIA is so inept...I thought for sure the Zig Zag Zebra would be a hot commodity and fill up quick, but it hasn't.
Currently I think that Infusions will fill up quickly, but you know the BIA does jack squat in terms of aggressively going after business.
It could sit empty for years unless some others recruit business in place of the BIA.

[LikeHamilton]

Cannon & James

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8109/img4739lh8.jpg

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7425/img4740rl6.jpg

[matt602]

I hope they get going on that asap. It's looking pretty depressing right now.

[raisethehammer]

well what do you know?? it IS possible to demolish a building without affecting the building attached next door.
maybe LIUNA should let the INC take care of their work.

[hmagazine]

I hope they get going on that asap. It's looking pretty depressing right now.

au contraire Matt - it hasn't looked this good in years...

the former 50s deco of the corner building is shining through and the way the old Italo Club behind it got unveiled to the street actually gives the space depth, character and history.

This will be one nice project...as someone who looks at it everyday - this is a much needed improvement.

[thistleclub]

Promising stuff. Is it too much to hope that that the billboards would vanish too? Or is the CBS contract long-term?

[hmagazine]

They soon will be GONE!

[SteelTown]

Tomorrow the city will likely release applicants approved for the residential loan program for 2008. It got delayed but it should be out tomorrow, it should be good.

Stay tuned.

[SteelTown]

Argh! Nevermind the city just released the audit findings for the loan program. Now the approved applicants for the residential loan program will come out in September likely.

So it's being delayed for nearly 3 months now.

[DC83]

Well if it weren't delayed, the downtown hater's wouldn't win.

On the bright side, I noticed a new asian-esq eatery or something opening up next to the Shawarma Hut on John St S @ Jackson. This is a storefront that has sat empty since before the two-way conversion. Pretty excited to see what it actually is!

Also, Eden Thai on John @ Young has closed down but is already opening back up on Aug 8 as Dong Rang Pho resto. Can't wait to check it out!

[SteelTown]

Dong Rang Pho

*giggles*

[block43]

Eden Thai was a pretty unfortunate restaurant.

[DC83]

^^ Ya, definately wasn't a fan. I had it once or twice, not really impressed by the food either time but wow was there ever a lot of patrons both times I was there. I didn't really undertsand!? ahaha

Usually this site has set empty for months (or even years) when something closes. I'm so impressed something opened up right away! Probably the same owners going down a different Asian path!? haha

ps: Didn't mean to make u giggle... sorry Steeltown, that's just it's name hahaha