MacNab Square | ?m | 2 x 30 fl | Planning

thmx · #1 Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 4:23 AM**

Source: Google Maps

Red: New mixed use commercial/residential building

Green: 20 Jackson Street West will be demolished, possibly replaced by a new parking structure for MacNab Square

Blue: Outline of possible new parking structure

"Wilson-Blanchard – which operates Hughson Business Space Corporation and Office Mortgage Investments Inc. – owns the commercial stretch from MacNab Street South (25 Main Street West) to James Street South (1 Main Street West).

Wilson-Blanchard has plans to construct a new mixed use building (commercial/residential) on the parking lot between 25 Main and 1 Main. It is tentatively called MacNab Square.

This is an important infill project that will add to the intensification of the downtown and bring more Class A commercial real estate on stream.

The architectural design challenge will be to create a structure that connects the modernity of the office tower at 25 Main with the historic elegance of 1 Main (the old Bank of Montreal building)."

Source/More Info

20 Jackson Street West is currently being demolished to make way for the development:

Source | Image Credit: Eric McGuinness

Dr Awesomesauce · #2 Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 12:34 PM**

I'm a bit dubious, it must be said.

What's with WB anyway? Do they not even consider public opinion? It's been known for weeks that building on Jackson was coming down. Had they mentioned something was brewing on the adjacent lot, I'm sure people would have been far more relaxed and perhaps even a little excited about the whole thing.

Won't even get in to the Gore...

Beedok · #3 Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 1:37 PM**

I really question Mr. Blanchard. If all of this gets built I'll be happy, but right now I trust Mr. Stinson to get something done more.

durandy · #4 Posted **Sep 14, 2013, 12:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beedok

I really question Mr. Blanchard. If all of this gets built I'll be happy, but right now I trust Mr. Stinson to get something done more.

The thing about developers is they don't care what you think of them unless your name is the bank. They're not in the business of making urban enthusiasts happy.

SteelTown · #5 Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 2:37 PM**

What's boxed in red is the current parking lot for the Gowlings, tenant of Bank of Montreal building.

So I'd imagine they have to build a parking structure first so Gowlings would have a place to park before anything can happen to what's highlighted in red.

KDP · #6 Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 5:24 PM**

After demolishing 20 Jackson, they should build 1 big underground parking that encompasses bith red and blue so that you don't need a parking structure, but can building something more useful on that space in the future.

CaptainKirk · #7 Posted **Sep 12, 2013, 7:06 PM**

The source info is from March 2012, and when I click on the tab labeled MILESTONES, an empty page appears.

ScreamingViking · #8 Posted **Sep 13, 2013, 6:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDP

After demolishing 20 Jackson, they should build 1 big underground parking that encompasses bith red and blue so that you don't need a parking structure, but can building something more useful on that space in the future.

Underground parking? I am curious about the possibilities this concept may present

CaptainKirk · #9 Posted **Sep 13, 2013, 1:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Underground parking? I am curious about the possibilities this concept may present

Jackson Square's underground parking is nearby, with a ramp exiting right across the street from 25 Main St W at MacNab and King

KDP · #10 Posted **Sep 13, 2013, 4:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

Jackson Square's underground parking is nearby, with a ramp exiting right across the street from 25 Main St W at MacNab and King

The article said that they wanted to build a parking garage on 20 Jackson, which is why I suggested the 1 big underground garage. Even if the jackson square one is right across the street, it sounds like their going to make a new garage anyways, so they may as well hide it.

ScreamingViking · #11 Posted **Sep 13, 2013, 7:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

Jackson Square's underground parking is nearby, with a ramp exiting right across the street from 25 Main St W at MacNab and King

I was being sarcastic.

But quite right - there's a big example just across the block.

Preserving surface lots for downtown development must be cheaper for the developers, but the city should push them to dig down. If demand for development goes up, and land becomes more valuable, economics could eventually provide that push too but I think it's a ways off.

CaptainKirk · #12 Posted **Sep 13, 2013, 7:53 PM**

I like the idea of hiding any parking structure underground. The point of my Jackson Square comment was not well made. I meant to imply that any new underground parking lot at 20 Jackson W could be attached to Jackson Square's underground parking. One big underground parking network.

KDP · #13 Posted **Sep 13, 2013, 4:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Underground parking? I am curious about the possibilities this concept may present

I Know! Revolutionary idea, isn't it.

Beedok · #14 Posted **Sep 14, 2013, 1:38 AM**

So? I'm allowed to complain. If I want to complain about Putin he wouldn't care, but I still can.

durandy · #15 Posted **Sep 14, 2013, 10:24 PM**

you're right, I didn't put that properly. What I was trying to say is that developers are in the business of making money - people can complain all they want about their product, but I'm more likely to think that people like Blanchard aren't making uncalculated risks. Stinson I'm not so sure about, but Blanchard you can bet has a plan.

thmx · #16 Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 9:34 PM**

dp.Ai posted these on their instagram. It looks like these were the original designs for MacNab Square. The photos are captioned "Unbuilt office project", so MacNab Square has most likely been cancelled.

Design #1:

source

Design#2:

source

Design #3:

source

realcity · #17 Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 9:40 PM**

Amsterdamish... too bad we could use that for variety. Is that beside the Landed Bank on Main?

thistleclub · #18 Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 9:58 PM**

I think it's Gowlings. (The building represented would occupy the red square.)

The high-rise in the background resembles the east face of One James South, but (given the "MacNab Square" moniker) is likely intended to be the east face of 25 Main West.

Trying to untangle the layers of architectural "homage" going on in those renders. (The Will Alsop nod is the most obvious.)

lucasmascotto · #19 Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 10:07 PM**

I absolutely love those renders - Hamilton could definitely use more structures like that. Not even Toronto has very many NeoModern geometric mid-rise buildings. Not only are they colourful thus pedestrian engaging, but they're also sustainable, easily retrofitted (if need be), physically scalable and inviting, and appropriate for the growing entrepreneurial generation. I just wish Blanchard would actually start building something rather then just tearing things down. Sigh...a boy can dream...

thistleclub · #20 Posted **Jun 8, 2015, 11:22 PM**

For some reason my mind keeps wanting to insert something like the Gardiner Museum there.

I adore contemporary architecture, but this seems to be a generic solution — somewhat aloof and context-obtuse.

The intersection of James & Main (St. Paul's, 1854; Hamilton Club, 1873; Sun Life Building, 1905; Landed Bank, 1908; Bank of Montreal Building, 1928; Pigott Building, 1928) has endured for generations against the odds.

Would be nice to see some forward-thinking infill that won't look dated in half that time.

As previously noted, the architectural design challenge will be to create an infill structure that aesthetically connects Stanley Roscoe's tower at 25 Main with John M. Lyle's 1 Main West/52 James South.