Condo redevelopment proposed for Dundas' Grafton Square
(Dundas Star, Craig Campbell, Jan 7 2016)
Building permit applications are being reviewed by city staff for a residential renovation of Grafton Square’s top two floors, in downtown Dundas.
A proposal for King Condos West could transform spaces formerly used by Hamilton Police Service and City of Hamilton Public Health into 12 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom condominiums on the second and third storeys of 2 King St. W. Nine suites would be located on each of the two floors for a total of 18 units.
But the property’s existing zoning includes some area, and site, specific policies dating back 22 years that have apparently delayed getting approvals for the residential use.
The building permit application is for alterations to the three-storey commercial and office building to create residential suites, and changes to the ground floor layout. There is a separate application to create a sales office on the third floor.
Current ground floor retail tenants include the Dundas Community Policing Centre, Dundas Community Services and Il Fiasco restaurant.
Hamilton Police Division Three Inspector Greg Huss said the service is aware of the proposal and does not anticipate any impacts on its space.
According to a description of the project by George Robb Architects, the scope of work includes retrofitting the second and third floor office space to condominium apartments.
“Entrances and the lobby will also be transformed to accommodate the new use,” the project’s architect states on its web site. “The floor layout will create a variety of unit sizes.”
Draft floor plans show units ranging from 602 square feet to 893 square feet.
The building apparently has ample surface and underground parking, shared with two other residential buildings.
City of Hamilton planning staff did not respond to several requests for information on ongoing discussions with the applicant regarding the existing zoning. Talks apparently began nearly two years ago.
The city’s public health office was a tenant of the building since it opened in 1993. The department completely vacated the building by the end of 2015.
Hamilton police had previously used much of the upper floors for a larger police station before building the new Division Three headquarters on Hamilton Mountain.
According to the Urban Hamilton Official Plan, the site at the intersection of King Street West with Main Street and Cross Street is identified as a community landmark area.
“In these areas, the City shall support the development of unique or distinctive focal points for the community which shall contribute to and enhance the unique identity and sense of place of the Dundas community,” the Official Plan states.
Specific requirements for setbacks, side yards and landscaping are included.
The property’s Central Area Commercial zoning includes site specific policies allowing the police and public health uses, as long as no more than 47 per cent of the ground floor is occupied by those uses.
A Committee of Adjustment hearing is reportedly anticipated in February, with the showroom office possibly open by March and, if all goes smoothly, retrofit completed as early as Fall 2016.
Draft floor plans for the proposed renovation are included on a project website at www.kingcondoswest.com.
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Grafton's once held both 2 and
7 King Street West, and a September 1881 blaze originating at Grafton's' property is credited with burning down a good share of streetwall on the north side of King Street:
"Most of buildings east of the Collins Hotel are built after 1881, due to a fire that destroyed all wooden structures east of the Collins to Cross Street. While most of the ground floors have been altered throughout the decades, the downtown’s building’s facade from the 2nd floor up and skyline remains very well-preserved from Victorian times....Grafton Square was the location of Grafton’s flagship store and manufacturing operations from 1853 to 1977. Grafton’s also occupied the building across the street at King and Cross (the source of the 1881 fire)."
The Laing Apartments, designed by Hamilton architect Peter Brass and erected by Dundas grocer-provisioners Robert and Peter Laing, were built in 1882.
Graftons' downtown Hamilton outlet (located at 9 James North) was also destroyed by fire, on
Feb 12, 1917 — and
rebuilt on the same location within the year.
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