537 King Street East | 26.9 m | 6 fl | Proposed

[TheHonestMaple]

Originally Posted by urban_planner

Don't apologize, people get so offended so easily. I don't necessarily want to see the poor/crack addicts/people with mental health issue get pushed out however some horrible planning crimes were committed downtown putting all these outreach centres downtown. Look at that park across from fire station one. You have the Core Urban centre and then around the corner is the Wesley centre then on John across from the Capri is another Drug facility. What kind of Bullshit it that. As much as we on this site see all that great things happening downtown the general view from the rest of the city is that Downtown is still rundown, sketchy and dangerous. These facilities are a big part of why that is. Same with the Salvation Army across from "Copps" again another terrible spot for that. I realize core urban is moving and I think the salvation army is too but at least once will still be in the core. We need a better plan.

Thank you! I agree with everything you said. I can't understand why the city allowed all these facilities to be placed in such close proximity. It's bad for the residents that live around there, and it's bad for the people who use those facilities as well. It's literally not safe, there's stabbings and fights around their frequently.

They're actually moving Urban Core safe injection site directly beside the YWCA shelter for the next two years, and across the street from the YMCA men's affordable living facility. It's going to be a disaster.

I believe with all the condos popping up around this area in the next few years, the owners of those units will simply not put up with it. That's another advantage of condo builds. The people that live in them generally care about the state of their neighbourhoods, because they literally own the property. It's their pride and joy. There will be constant calls to police and eventually the area will get cleaned up. It's a start.

[ScreamingViking]

I think we can blame a few things for the poor planning and location of these services:
- NIMBYs in other parts of the city that raise such a stink about new local facilities, so there are few locations available and downtown tends to have fewer complainers so... (it's not like any kids in Ancaster or Waterdown grow to be adults with issues around substance abuse, violence, mental health problems, lack of ability to earn an income... oh, wait, it can happen to anyone? hmmm... )
- Provincial downloading of social services, which I think has resulted in a very uneven distribution of help; live in Burlington or Oakville and have a problem? It's no problem! We'll order a cab to take you to Hamilton, or Toronto!!! Everyone wins.
- Old thinking that there are one-size fits all solutions, and we can provide them in select locations.

[Beedok]

There are also some synergetic benefits to putting related resources near each other, the same as for any other service or business. Hamilton’s problem is more the lack of other things to dilute them than the amount of shelters and such.

[Hawrylyshyn]

[ScreamingViking]

Nice.

So looks like the former Rebel's Rock is proposed to be saved after all.

[craftbeerdad]

These renders aren't accurate, there's a lack of garbage strewn in the bushes, street, trees and flying across the air.

On another note, is the RR incorporated into the build? Like amenity rooms or something?

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by craftbeerdad

These renders aren't accurate, there's a lack of garbage strewn in the bushes, street, trees and flying across the air.

On another note, is the RR incorporated into the build? Like amenity rooms or something?

Gotta sell it to the common folk.

but yeah what was mentioned above - basically all those amenities close together - you're basically just asking the city "where would you like us to move the drug problems and stabbings to?"

Because that's what it boils down to - these people will always act like.. this. So where do you essentially "hide" it so we can pretend it doesn't exist.

We need a poor people business park basically - away from prying eyes - maybe that spot by the railroad tracks lol..

As for the design above.. I've seen worse - I'll take it - although it sorta feels like it's "absorbing" that house beside it lol..

[LikeHamilton]

Two injured in King Street East fire

Hamilton firefighters rescued a person from the second floor of 537 King St. E. early Monday. They were taken to hospital in critical condition.

Nicole O'Reilly TheSpec.com Monday, April 8, 2024

Two people were taken to hospital, including one in critical condition, following a fire on King Street East early Monday.

Emergency services were called to 537 King St. E., between Tisdale Street North and Steven Street, shortly before 1:30 a.m. for a structure fire, Hamilton Fire Chief Dave Cunliffe said in a news release.

The first crews that arrived reported smoke and fire from the first and second floors of the three-storey brick residence, which formerly housed Rebel’s Rock Irish Pub.

Cunliffe said the fire was quickly brought under control and damages are estimated at around $25,000.

The Office of the Fire Marshall has been notified due to the severity of injuries.

https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilto...94a538083.html

[ScreamingViking]

Squatters, or were people still legally living in that building after the pub closed?

[ScreamingViking]

It's sad either way... and I don't want to start a debate about housing issues.


Fire victims were trespassing at former pub tabbed for condo development: police
Ontario Fire Marshal still probing cause of blaze

Sebastian Bron
The Hamilton Spectator
Wednesday, April 10, 2024

https://www.thespec.com/news/crime/f...b66b2850b.html

Hamilton police say the people inside a former Irish pub that was razed in a fire in the middle of the night Monday weren’t there legally.

While it remains unclear how many people were present at 537 King St. E. when it went up in flames around 1:30 a.m. on April 8, Const. Krista-Lee Ernst said police believe those who were there “didn’t have the authority to be on the premises.”

Two people were taken to hospital after the fire at the three-storey property, which once house Rebel’s Rock Irish Pub.

Hamilton firefighters found one of them outside on the front lawn, while another was located critically injured on the second-floor after crews heard yells coming from upstairs.

The Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM) — who was notified about the blaze due to the severity of injuries — had no update into their probe Tuesday, saying only that its examination of the scene is now complete.

“Further analysis will be required to determine the cause, origin and circumstance of the fire,” spokesperson Sean Driscoll said over email.

The OFM said it couldn’t answer whether there were squatters potentially living at the property.

The site has been tabbed for an eight-storey condo development with nearly 120 units, according to a “staging of development” reported released last January, which didn’t indicate whether the project has been approved.

Property records show the residence was sold to a numbered Ontario corporation in October 2021 for $1.7 million.

...

[ScreamingViking]

After two fires and with development looming, heritage advocates look to save ‘unusual’ features of former Rebel’s Rock Irish Pub
Vacant King Street East building a candidate for heritage designation — but it has had two recent fires and owner has plans for demo.

https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilto...45bb6c54d.html

Nicole O'Reilly
The Hamilton Spectator
Nov. 13, 2024



A vacant King Street East building remains boarded-up — but still standing — following two recent fires, amid a push to give the building heritage designation.

The owner of 537 King St. E., which formerly housed Rebel’s Rock Irish Pub and is slated to be part of a bigger condo development project, applied on July 20 for a demolition permit, the City of Hamilton told The Spectator. However, the application remains “under review,” awaiting response from the applicant.

Despite the two fires, the building is not at imminent risk of collapse, but is unsafe for occupation, according to the city.

“The owner submitted a building permit application to demolish and is working through the process with the building division and heritage planning to ensure due process is followed,” the city said, adding that a permit to demolish cannot be issued until the owner has met requirements under the Ontario Heritage Act to give formal notice of its intention to demolish.

The building has been on the radar of Hamilton’s municipal heritage committee for several years and is on the register of places with heritage interest. This means there is some interim protection of the building, including a requirement to give 60 days’ notice before any demolition — a delay meant to allow the committee time to consider designation.

“Despite the recent internal damage caused by the fire(s), the building still retains cultural heritage value or interest (primarily the exterior features of the building) and is still a candidate to be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.,” the city said.

Graham Carroll, a citizen member of the Hamilton municipal heritage committee, researched the property and says he believes it’s a clear candidate for heritage designation that will easily garner approval.

The property dates back to at least 1890, when it first appeared on the city’s street directory, he said. It was owned by a man named Thomas Lovejoy, a brick mason who was originally from England.

Among the features of the house that he’d like to see preserved is the terracotta on the outside of the building — an unusual feature for the time and area. Carroll wonders if Lovejoy built the house or did the brickwork himself. There is also a window inside the chimney on the east side of the house — something he’s never seen before — along with an unusual hexagon-shaped tower, and a half-round window with a brick voussoir (an arch more often found in stone) on the west side.

“We drove a bunch of streets in the area and can’t find anything similar,” he said, describing the building’s features as Edwardian with Victorian highlights.

Carroll hopes these “very unusual” features can be incorporated into the development design. Fortunately, damage from the two fires is primarily in the interior and the back of the building.

...

[Chronamut]

*Watches as people all over the city actively try to destroy all traces of heritage through their neglect*

There's gonna be nothing to look at soon.. just bland rectangular boxes as far as the eye can see..

[ScreamingViking]

And she's coming down.

Former Rebel’s Rock Irish Pub building deemed unsafe, to be demolished
Some of the building’s exterior was removed last week, but plan to preserve heritage features remains unclear.

Nicole O’Reilly
The Hamilton Spectator
Nov. 21, 2024

https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilto...a93bfdb20.html

A vacant King Street East building that once housed Rebel’s Rock Irish Pub and was damaged in two recent fires has been deemed unsafe and needs to be demolished.

Last week, the City of Hamilton received an engineering report submitted by the owner of 537 King St. E. that, after review, led the city to deem the building unsafe and in need of demolition, Rob Lalli, the city’s chief building official and director of building, said in an email response to questions from The Spectator. That order was issued Nov. 14.

The building, which dates to the 1890s, has been on the radar of Hamilton’s municipal heritage committee for several years. It is on the register of places with heritage interest, but has not been designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Soon after The Spectator published an article noting some of the heritage features on the exterior of the building that advocates want to preserve, some of those features, including terracotta, disappeared. This caused concern among heritage advocates who didn’t know who had removed the features or why.

On Thursday, the city clarified that its heritage staff were on site Nov. 13 “to document the property owner’s removal and salvaging of exterior features to protect against further damage,” Lalli said. Without a heritage designation, approval was not required for the owner to alter the building.

It’s not clear what will happen with those features, or when demolition will occur.

...

[LikeHamilton]

Demolition has started. It is an aggressive demo with two large machines. It maybe completely down by the end of the day.

[Hawrylyshyn]

delete

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by Hawrylyshyn

delete

Just like our heritage and culture..

[ohhimark]

When all the good stuff is gone, will they bulldoze the commie blocks?

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by ohhimark

When all the good stuff is gone, will they bulldoze the commie blocks?

Commie blocks are like spiteful people, they outlive everyone else.

[LikeHamilton]

I think this project maybe dead or at least drastically changed as there was a LRT expropriation notice last week in the Spec for the 2 properties that have the houses on them.