Still waiting on an email response for architectural plans. Went by and got some close photos today though:

https://i.imgur.com/Es1QaZqh.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/kmuagLph.jpeg

When I travelled by this morning they were gingerly digging around a large steel tank. Cant recall but was this property ever a gas station etc.

I think it was used car lot - if it had been a gas station they would have had to do decontamination of the soil and tests

Still waiting to hear back from the city staff... No surprise there.

Anyway, they're almost done digging out the entire area that was shored.

https://i.imgur.com/uxRxr0bh.jpeg

probably a crane in a few weeks the rate this one is going and given it only has 1 underground level.

Okay, so I've got some bad news everyone. This one got significantly uglier. Also the architectural package is ultra confusing (to me at least) I think this has been reproposed as a hotel so Vrancor can do their switcheroo and rent it out instead to avoid paying fees: https://cityshare.hamilton.ca/s/JwsKLGeQEk3jGdM

https://i.imgur.com/7rklXGN.png

https://i.imgur.com/MLVdp5Mh.png

Ground floor:

https://i.imgur.com/1kQ2KMIh.png

Level 2:

https://i.imgur.com/jBwyaQOh.png

Even more confusing, is the site plan still lists "proposed hotel". These are the most up to date architectural package remember. Is this a hotel now?

https://i.imgur.com/9cq6sBph.png

At least there's retail

Same as Walnut I'm sure. It's hotel at every point in the process where that requires less fees and environmental regulations, and residential whenever that's the cheaper category, and ultimately will function as residential regardless of how many requirements for residential development were neglected throughout the process.

still not really sure where a hotel would even save them fees. It's odd - Vranich clearly has a strategy between swapping back and forth, I'm just curious as to what it actually is.

Also: thanks for the updated plans, even if it's unsurprisingly downgraded.

The retail spaces look decent. There is a 2-level space which is nice, looks designed to support a restaurant.

I've reached out to Cameron, as he knows a lot about these types of avoidance methods. One thing I notice is on the plans there is no amenity space required. This is one big cost they are able to save by doing it as a hotel, then applying as a variance for reduced amenity space afterward. I'm curious if there are other corners they are able to cut.

One thing is that the parking requirements for a hotel are much more stable at 0.6 per guest room. It seems like on the SPA though they used a residential parking ratio. Perhaps it resulted in a lower ratio than doing it as a hotel?

I looked through the SPA. The street-level renderings and materials actually look really nice. There's black marble stone proposed for the first level with wood panelling and integrated lighting above. Also lots of glass on the ground level.

You know it's kind of funny, over at Urban Toronto, many have become sick of fully glass ground floors as they create a lifeless texture at street level. Here we have so few that it seems to be a positive.

So if this is a hotel. where is the lobby and check-in?

it won't be a hotel.

As said this won't be a hotel, but the Laundry Rooms doesn't have a front desk or check in. Many of these fake hotels become ghost hotels, ie Airbnb hotel with no residential. I suspect there is some switcheroo going on here.

I have a feeling this is going to end up looking a lot like 49 Walnut Street, unfortunately.

Hoping for the best on this one, same developer as 20-22 George (maybe Vrancor's best effort), and goated along by Mac's adjacent build.

And if it's a turd or too bland to merit a glance, hopefully Radio Arts across the street will be worth looking at instead.

It is nice to see more windows lit at night downtown though, when you're somewhere with a view. Coming down York the other evening I noticed this, and things are just getting started!

• Video Link

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...665e6e71_b.jpg
source

Drove by today. The hole is at least 2 storeys down as the digging equipment disappears below grade.

I had a brief talk recently with someone in the Vrancor group who said that they expect to be at grade in March. At that time 354 King St will restart so they can take advantage of some economy to scale for the projects. Apparently the plans are complete and items are on order or being ordered.