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Hamilton Community News: Highway 8 condo plan in Stoney Creek raises eyebrows among neighbours



By Kevin Werner | June 16, 2016

A new nine-storey condominium development at the corner of Highway 8 and Ellington Avenue has Stoney Creek residents steaming about the impact it will have on their homes.

“It’s an eyesore,” said Stan Szewc, 84,who has lived in the townhouse off Ellington Avenue for the last 30 years. “It’s not good for the community. It doesn’t fit.”

It was a sentiment that was echoed by the estimated 15 people who turned out for a public meeting June 8 at the Stoney Creek Municipal Service Centre.

The proposal will need a rezoning application since the current zoning is commercial with a maximum height of three storeys. LJM Developments from Burlington, which is already constructing a major condo development in Grimsby along the Queen Elizabeth Way called the Waterview Condominiums, a luxury residential and retail development, has already filed an application to the city’s planning department for the 124,000-square-feet building that will have 128 units, with the majority of them one bedroom. There will be 142 parking spaces located underground, with visitor parking above ground. Access will be from Ellington Street.

The building will be located next to the recently completed seven-storey Treviso Condominium complex, and across the street from a residential care facility. It has 54 units, and the owners also had to seek a rezoning application from the city.

Residents complained that by adding another high-rise structure to the area, it will impact the surrounding neighbourhood that includes a cenotaph across Highway 8, elementary school and church.

The new residential complex will also add to the traffic problems at the Highway 8 and King Street intersection, said Fred Vamici, who also lives in a townhouse directly behind the proposed development.

“That is a busy intersection,” he said. “There is a lot of children there. I was so surprised when I heard it was going to be nine storeys. That scares me. This is just outrageous.”

Stoney Creek councillor Maria Pearson who helped to organize the public meeting, acknowledged that there is no other nine-storey building within the area.

“I’m not aware of that,” she said.

LJM Development president Liaquat Mian, who has been developing residential and commercial projects throughout the Greater Toronto Area, including Burlington for the last 15 years, said the growth is moving towards Stoney Creek.

“This is not the first time I have been confronted with this situation (opposition from residents),” said Mian during the public meeting.

He said the new building will be a “boutique” development that is affordable” and a “top class building” that will attract young people.

“This area needs condos,” Mian said.

His consultants have already completed the necessary studies, including for traffic revealing there were not be the congestion problems residents say will happen.

He said the building will also increase property values for surrounding homeowners.

But homeowners were put off by Mian’s comments, shouting out that he should go back to Grimsby to build his homes.

“There is supposed to be a major plan in place,” said Szewc, adding the building will not add value to his townhouse. “This is just not good for the community.”

The development proposal is still being evaluated by Hamilton’s planning staff and no date for a public meeting has been set.