Tivoli Theatre | ? | 22 fl | Planning

[Beedok]

Then it would look awkward and out of place. A true high rise is able to stand on it's own. Midrises tend to look funny if they're out of scale. (Ottawa has a lot of those. They totally don't fit the feel of the neighbourhood around them.)

[bigguy1231]

I don't see what the problem is, the proposal looks good as does the rendering. It's the downtown, if a highrise doesn't fit in this location on a main street then where exactly do they fit in. We want intensification and this helps achieve that.

[davidcappi]

I for one have always been in favour of seeing downtown become a bubbling landscape of mid rise development. I don't think Hamilton should be a city of lifeless blue glass towers. Height for the sake of height isn't a good building principle. Yes, the city needs density, but we should be thinking of creative solutions to achieving that density, rather than plopping high rises everywhere.

I don't think this will pass city approval.

I'd rather see high rise buildings go up on the lots east of James Street. Midrise would create an ideal transition to taller buildings behind them.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by davidcappi

I for one have always been in favour of seeing downtown become a bubbling landscape of mid rise development. I don't think Hamilton should be a city of lifeless blue glass towers. Height for the sake of height isn't a good building principle. Yes, the city needs density, but we should be thinking of creative solutions to achieving that density, rather than plopping high rises everywhere.

I don't think this will pass city approval.

I'd rather see high rise buildings go up on the lots east of James Street. Midrise would create an ideal transition to taller buildings behind them.

The problem is it's the people who are developing the lands that are going to decide what is most profitable for them. If they don't feel they can make enough of a profit building a midrise then they will leave the land vacant until they get a council that is more agreeable to them. That is why we have so many vacant lots in this city currently. If you make it difficult they will just sit back and wait.

[davidcappi]

It seems to be pretty successful in Burlington. I just worry we'll have empty highrises like Toronto if the city becomes too saturated with them.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by davidcappi

It seems to be pretty successful in Burlington. I just worry we'll have empty highrises like Toronto if the city becomes too saturated with them.

I don't think we will have to worry about that anytime soon.

[ScreamingViking]

I like the proposal as well. I wonder what the DRP's issue is... if it's just about having more of a setback, that should be do-able. But I really don't think it's out of place as-is and the height isn't excessive.

[CaptainKirk]

From Twitter...

Tivoli Condos Community Open House. Show your support for one of the most anticipated developments to come in decades

[Jon Dalton]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

From Twitter...

Tivoli Condos Community Open House. Show your support for one of the most anticipated developments to come in decades

I personally think this project is fine but this open house ad stokes my deep rooted cynicism too much to take it more seriously than a PR cover-up disguised as community feedback. They pay an outside firm to hand out flyers and host an event at 5pm on a weekday that few working class people can make it to. They show a Google Maps screenshot instead of the then-available rendering of the proposed 24 storey building. When the criticism mounts they will bring up the results of this meeting showing lack of vocal opposition and cast the opponents as the usual suspects, NIBMYs and special interests. Hope it works out for them.

[davidcappi]

I heard two dudes at Mulberry talking about this poster which is hung there. They were going on about how this was going to destroy James Street and so on.

Sigh.

[oldcoote]

Originally Posted by davidcappi

I heard two dudes at Mulberry talking about this poster which is hung there. They were going on about how this was going to destroy James Street and so on.

Sigh.

This shouldn't surprise you. There's a significant anti-gentrification community on James N.

[Beedok]

Build it now. Worry about sales later.

[thmx]

Source

[CaptainKirk]

The developers who want to build a 22-storey condominium on James Street North, adjoined to the historic Tivoli theatre, held a public consultation Wednesday night.


The event, held at the Beasley Community Centre just a few blocks from the building site, attracted potential buyers, curious residents of the area, as well as a pair of city planners.

While the developers still haven’t asked the City of Hamilton for a re-zoning, something the condo tower would need given current height restrictions in the area, the public consultations will help the project’s application when it’s filed.


During several conversations with visitors, the Tivoli tower’s principal architect made no apologies for the building’s height.


“I think you are focusing on the drama of a story of height, when the drama of the story should be we have a heritage building that’s going to be saved,” said Drew Hauser, an architect with McCallum Sather Architects Inc.


“This is smart height, and smart density.”


​Hauser pointed out several aspects of the design he hoped would minimize the shock of the building’s height, including a street-level restaurant, and the building’s narrow structure (he called it a “point tower”) devised to cut down on the shadow it casts.


The reviews were, as usual when discussing developments, mixed.


One resident of the area called the design “a breath of fresh air.”


Another woman called the building “ugly,” and wondered where anyone would park.


No matter what the opinion, another said, any development in Hamilton — especially on rapidly involving James — is going to attract attention and opinions.


Hauser spoke with several critical visitors, often encouraging them to write their comments on the design down down.


It’s unclear if the Tivoli’s design will change before the time it’s presented to the city.


City staff will weigh both officially-stated public opinions as well as the potential benefits a new tower would provide to the neighbourhood in the approval process. No definitive timelines were released Wednesday.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilt...ting-1.2762620

[Beedok]

It's a very nice podium.

[durandy]

so what's the plan for the theatre? I can't make it out. Will there be public access through the condo or is there a new entrance planned off Hughson?

I'm worried given the backstory here of dodgy dealings that a lot of corners are getting cut, and meanwhile the developer will get rich off heritage grants for this supposed 'restoration'. Strange coincidence that Drew Hauser is at work here too, he seems to be the man to go to for 'saving heritage buildings'

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by durandy

so what's the plan for the theatre? I can't make it out. Will there be public access through the condo or is there a new entrance planned off Hughson?

Looks to me that the the theatre entrance is the main entrance on James with the big overhang labelled "TIVOLI", and the condo entrance right beside it to the south labelled "Tivoli condos" in smaller letters.

[davidcappi]

I believe the theatre entrance will be the front and centre door with the awning. There looks to be a large lobby with access to office units, and to the theatre at the back.

[Davis137]

Wow that looks awesome...there's no reason why Hamilton can't have a proper nightlife and entertainment district in the future...

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Originally Posted by Davis137

Wow that looks awesome...there's no reason why Hamilton can't have a proper nightlife and entertainment district in the future...

Agreed. Gorgeous. I'd love to see that sucker rise.