Frank Gehry's proposal | ? | ? | Proposal

SteelTown · #1 Posted **Sep 2, 2010, 11:17 AM**

Gehry floats iconic building proposal for west harbour site
Top architect's firm expresses interest

Paul Morse
http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...t-harbour-site

World-class architects don't come any bigger than Frank Gehry.

And, if everything works out, Gehry will design a building for the city's west harbour lands that will put Hamilton on the map, says Richard Abboud, president of Forum Equity Partners.

"There is a unique opportunity to reposition Hamilton with an iconic building that would redefine its waterfront and hopefully redefine the city," Abboud told The Spectator yesterday.

Gehry's Los Angeles-based firm has "confirmed their interest through a letter and proposal to participate with Forum in the development of the iconic building," Abboud said. "It would be one that was big enough to have the desired effect."

He would not reveal how many of the city's 20 west harbour acres a Gehry building would require.

"We want to do something that will have a meaningful impact on the west harbour and on repositioning the city of Hamilton, and that can't be done with a small building."

Abboud said the building would house a single client, whom he refused to identify. "Oh yes, we certainly have uses contemplated for this building. It's a single-use."

He refused to provide any other details of his envisioned plan, saying it was simply too early.

Gehry's city-changing star power is no idle boast.

The Toronto-born Canadian-American architect's Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, is universally hailed as one of the most important buildings of the 20th Century. It transformed Bilbao into one of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain.

Among Gehry's other world famous works are the Walt Disney Concert Hall in L.A., the Dancing House in Prague, and the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto.

Forum Equity burst into the Hamilton stadium debate spotlight on Tuesday when Abboud, 44, presented a development proposal for west harbour to council. Forum Equity has been interested in a west harbour redevelopment for a while, he said yesterday, but remained behind the scenes until the emergency council meeting Tuesday necessitated a public presentation.

Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger said an iconic building in west harbour would add value to the downtown and the waterfront.

"When we hear Forum Equity, in association with Frank Gehry, talk about their interest in west harbour, that's a pretty exciting opportunity to look at what kind of iconic building could be put there that would a signature for Hamilton," Eisenberger said. "It could potentially be a major attraction that would bring people to Hamilton."

SteelTown · #2 Posted **Sep 2, 2010, 2:45 PM**

Canadian Football Hall of Fame?

Berklon · #3 Posted **Sep 2, 2010, 3:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Canadian Football Hall of Fame?

I would hope an iconic building would be used for something more important/popular than the CFHOF. I would prefer it to be used for something geared more towards the arts - whatever that may be.

FRM · #4 Posted **Sep 2, 2010, 4:33 PM**

"Abboud said the building would house a single client, whom he refused to identify."

I wonder who the client could be??

thistleclub · #5 Posted **Sep 2, 2010, 7:41 PM**

Art museum satellite? Thomas Krens-era Guggenheim attempted a global brand via satellite museums financed in part by targeting blighted areas to maximize public funds. Bilbao is the most famous example of this, a collapsed iron/steel town wracked by massive unemployment that staked $200-odd million of public money on an art museum and an additional $1.5 billion on other starchitecture features, like the Calatrava-designed terminal for their airport. (Guggenheim’s Brazilian expansion was similarly eyeing hobbled areas of the country -- Rio, Recife and Salvador -- where there was chance to make impact and engage a motivated project partner. Went flat, but that looked to be their MO.) Coincidentally, Arcelor has a gallery named after it in the Guggenheim Bilbao. Richard Serra’s massive The Matter of Time installation lives there.

bigguy1231 · #6 Posted **Sep 2, 2010, 10:03 PM**

Did anyone happen to Google Forum Equity Partners. They are a small time developer who rely on governments buying or leasing from them. They only have about 800k sf of space that they own, including the buildings of 60 Speedy Muffler dealers. Not exactly a big time developer.

I am not so sure we should be spending taxpayer money on iconic buildings. If some private developer wants to build it okay but not with public money.

Anders Knudsen · #7 Posted **Sep 3, 2010, 2:51 AM**

That's a bizarre comment. Who said anything about public money? I can't understand you ringing alarm bells because you googled Forum Equity Partners. Their president is saying they have a proposal with Gehry's firm. That's not big time enough for you?

c@taract_soulj@h · #8 Posted **Sep 3, 2010, 3:18 AM**

Tower? lol

Landmark Place:

"It was built by Al Frisina as a mixed use building; commercial, residential and retail. Original plans included adding a heliport and a revolving rooftop restaurant but those plans were scrapped. Frisina also believes that no other building will be built in Hamilton taller than Landmark Place because as he puts it; 'the demand's not there and nobody's crazy enough to do it."
-Wikipedia

I just thought it was funny...but who knows....A well known archetect, stadium solution finally and perhaps the LRT plan in place. Maybe despite all the city council mishmash, we're finally coming together? Not saying a tall biulding per-se, but could this trump Stinson?

bigguy1231 · #9 Posted **Sep 3, 2010, 3:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anders Knudsen

That's a bizarre comment. Who said anything about public money? I can't understand you ringing alarm bells because you googled Forum Equity Partners. Their president is saying they have a proposal with Gehry's firm. That's not big time enough for you?

They only seem to do business with governments or government agencies. That tells me they don't have much of their own money to spend. They rely on public funds to enrich themselves.

If they want to build something on their own dime, I don't have a problem. But from checking them out I don't think they have the wherewithall to finance and build anything designed by Gehry.

Having seen so many proposals over the years for dream projects in this city, I am a little skeptical to say the least.

isaidso · #10 Posted **Sep 3, 2010, 3:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berklon

I would hope an iconic building would be used for something more important/popular than the CFHOF. I would prefer it to be used for something geared more towards the arts - whatever that may be.

You're clearly someone who doesn't recognize this huge cultural contribution to north America that Canada has made. Football has become one of the biggest iconic symbols from this continent, and its roots are Canadian. People lament that we're just moose and bacon then ignore something homegrown that's shaped the popular culture of an entire continent? How much more iconic can you get than football? You don't even have to like sports to realize what a huge impact football has had culturally.

It never ceases to amaze me how many Canadians have so little respect for/knowledge about their own culture. It's part of our sporting heritage, so it's not worthy? Unbelievable!

Berklon · #11 Posted **Sep 3, 2010, 1:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by isaidso

You're clearly someone who doesn't recognize this huge cultural contribution to north America that Canada has made. Football has become one of the biggest iconic symbols from this continent, and its roots are Canadian. People lament that we're just moose and bacon then ignore something homegrown that's shaped the popular culture of an entire continent? How much more iconic can you get than football? You don't even have to like sports to realize what a huge impact football has had culturally.

I just don't think it'll get much use if it's the CFHOF... and that seems like a waste of having an "iconic" building designed by someone like Frank Gehry. How about something that people will visit more than once every few years? I get the same response from friends/family when I bring up using it for the CFHOF - that it'd be a wasted opportunity.

Heritage, culture and patriotism has nothing to do with my reasons - so playing that card is pointless.

SteelTown · #12 Posted **Sep 3, 2010, 1:39 PM**

The Hamilton Realty Capital Corporation is part of this deal. Since they've been formed they haven't built a single project, must be saving up for a big project.

LikeHamilton · #13 Posted **Sep 3, 2010, 5:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigguy1231

Did anyone happen to Google Forum Equity Partners. They are a small time developer who rely on governments buying or leasing from them. They only have about 800k sf of space that they own, including the buildings of 60 Speedy Muffler dealers. Not exactly a big time developer.

I am not so sure we should be spending taxpayer money on iconic buildings. If some private developer wants to build it okay but not with public money.

I looked at their web site and they are anything but small. I believe they have built or own close to a half a billion $ of buildings. My wife was in the automotive franchising business for 12 years and she says the speedy buildings would be worth $1mil each in assets. 800,000 sq ft at $200 a sq ft works out to $160 mil in owned assets. As to government leasing the building, that is smart as they always pay and I have looked at who finances their projects. They include Bank of Montreal, Canada Life Assurance Company and Sun Life and others. No one uses their own money now a days. Anything they make usually goes to the shareholders and the leverage the buildings based on the leases for the building. Even Canmet at MIP has a huge mortgage on it. No the feds did not pay for it. They gave the lab (and a lease) a little seed grant and McMaster funded it. The loan/mortgage on the building is paying McMaster back. I believe it is around a $45 mil mortgage on the building.

One of their projects was the Orléans Town Centre in Ottawa on 19 acres. It was a

Quote:

“The three-stage development plan represents a total investment of more than $225 million. The complete project includes the 86,000 square foot Shenkman Arts Centre, a hotel, 2 office buildings, retail and commercial space, a seniors home, seniors' condos, mixed residential units and green space.”

I do not believe this is small time.

They said they have a client and world-renowned architect for waterfront. We should give them all the support we can and get something done down there. Frank Gehry project become tourist destination and a place to go and see where ever he builds.

bigguy1231 · #14 Posted **Sep 3, 2010, 10:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

I looked at their web site and they are anything but small. I believe they have built or own close to a half a billion $ of buildings. My wife was in the automotive franchising business for 12 years and she says the speedy buildings would be worth $1mil each in assets. 800,000 sq ft at $200 a sq ft works out to $160 mil in owned assets. As to government leasing the building, that is smart as they always pay and I have looked at who finances their projects. They include Bank of Montreal, Canada Life Assurance Company and Sun Life and others. No one uses their own money now a days. Anything they make usually goes to the shareholders and the leverage the buildings based on the leases for the building. Even Canmet at MIP has a huge mortgage on it. No the feds did not pay for it. They gave the lab (and a lease) a little seed grant and McMaster funded it. The loan/mortgage on the building is paying McMaster back. I believe it is around a $45 mil mortgage on the building.

One of their projects was the Orléans Town Centre in Ottawa on 19 acres. It was a I do not believe this is small time.

They said they have a client and world-renowned architect for waterfront. We should give them all the support we can and get something done down there. Frank Gehry project become tourist destination and a place to go and see where ever he builds.

Big time developers have millions of sf and properties worth billions of dollars. This company is small time when it comes to developers. When we get the big boys in this country showing interest in this city then I will be impressed. These guys just don't impress me.

matt602 · #15 Posted **Sep 6, 2010, 10:55 PM**

I hate to be pessimistic but I'm gonna have to see something more concrete than a rumor to get excited about this. It is a wonderful idea however and just what the city needs. Hamilton has a wonderful stock of architecture but a horribly bland and very dated skyline.

highwater · #16 Posted **Sep 7, 2010, 2:36 AM**

We should start a new thread for proposals like this called IBIWISI. (I'll Believe It When I See It.)

bigguy1231 · #17 Posted **Sep 7, 2010, 3:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by highwater

We should start a new thread for proposals like this called IBIWISI. (I'll Believe It When I See It.)

Exactly.

I hate to be pessemistic as well, but I have been in this city all my life and have seen too many of these proposals come to nothing.

SteelTown · #18 Posted **Sep 12, 2010, 10:34 PM**

Frank Gehry will be in the area tomorrow. He is set to make an appearance in Toronto.

emge · #19 Posted **Sep 17, 2010, 12:50 AM**

Any news for what happened/didn't here?

SteelTown · #20 Posted **Sep 19, 2010, 7:06 PM**

Hume: Is Hamilton ready for Frank Gehry?

By Christopher Hume

Hamilton may not be the kind of town you’d expect to find Frank Gehry, but until recently the same could have been said of Bilbao.

The prospect of having the world’s most celebrated architect design something for Steeltown was raised this week by Richard Abboud, president of Toronto-based real estate firm, Forum Equity Partners. Abboud told the Hamilton Spectator that he has been in touch with Gehry, who affirmed his interest in the idea.

Other than that, all we know is that it’s too early to get into any of the details, except that the project would be situated on a site in downtown Hamilton, the west harbour, which was to have been the location of a proposed Pan American Games stadium.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/arti...or-frank-gehry