Welcome Back, Stelco

[SteelTown]

Master plan for the redevelopment of Stelco’s Hamilton lands to be submitted in coming months
Slate Asset Management hopes to start construction on the first phase of the project next year.

https://www.thespec.com/business/ham...1bf66ef8e.html

The private equity firm behind the revitalization and redevelopment of Stelco’s Hamilton lands says it plans to submit its formal plans to the city in the coming months, with the first phase of development expected to start next year.

Slate Asset Management purchased the approximately 800-acre parcel of industrial land once dedicated to steelmaking in June 2022 in a $518-million deal, laying out their plans to transform it into a modern commercial district.

[ScreamingViking]

Move those sticks, Slate!

This could be the biggest game-changer the city has seen... since ever.

[craftbeerdad]

Even if 50% of the elements get incorporated, it would be a win. It's such an outside the box design and concept for this city, seems to good to be true. Hopefully Slate, which isn't a half-assed entity, can execute on the vision. So, so much potential.

Heck I'll even throw it out there, this is more exciting the Pier 8 & 9.

[SteelTown]

Ten-acre battery farm is being pitched on Hamilton’s former Stelco lands
NRStor’s energy storage facility is one of three proposed in Hamilton — but so far, the only one in the more densely populated lower city

https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilto...2a30a0730.html

A major developer wants to build a sprawling battery energy storage project on Hamilton’s industrial bayfront — but uncertain political support could still short-circuit the proposal.

NRStor Inc. is best known for partnering with Six Nations of the Grand River on a 250-megawatt Oneida power-storage facility already under construction in Haldimand County that will be among the largest in the world.

[SFUVancouver]

Stationary grid-scale battery storage is a huge deal and will play a major role in the decarbonization of the energy grid. Obviously, battery storage does not produce any power, but it permits surplus baseload power from nuclear and hydro, plus generation from sometimes-intermittent renewables like wind and solar, to be stored and used in peak periods in lieu of 'peaker' gas plants.

With that said, I hope that a prime redevelopment site on the Stelco lands does not end up being used for stationary storage. It's a nearly employment-less form of industry and would be perfectly appropriate for a more peripheral industrial site in the city.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

With that said, I hope that a prime redevelopment site on the Stelco lands does not end up being used for stationary storage. It's a nearly employment-less form of industry and would be perfectly appropriate for a more peripheral industrial site in the city.

Definitely. And it would probably pay minimal industrial property tax.

[drpgq]

Does seem a bit odd, but maybe less need for remediation if all there is there is batteries?

[SFUVancouver]

Originally Posted by drpgq

Does seem a bit odd, but maybe less need for remediation if all there is there is batteries?

That's a fair consideration. Could be.

[matt602]

My first thought was how dangerous a facility like that could be, battery fires are no joke. Aside from that it does seem like a forward thinking idea.

[downtown_eddie_brown]

Very cool project, if it happens. I can't imagine the remediation work needed for this; Is Stelco paying for the cleanup?

[Beedok]

Seems a bit silly to have that much space dedicated to batteries and not also use it for solar panels.

[Berklon]

I don't think that's enough space for the amount of solar panels that will generate much power.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Berklon

I don't think that's enough space for the amount of solar panels that will generate much power.

Depending on the final building configurations, many of them could have panels on the roof. This may be worthwhile especially if they end up being the large boxes in the concept renders.

The proposal for the one near Copetown is "on hold" now:
https://www.thespec.com/news/propose...amilton-region

Proposed Copetown-area battery storage project 'on hold'
Aypa Power announces 300-megawatt project paused, cancels public meeting
Petition opposing project has garnered nearly 2,200 signatures

[Beedok]

Originally Posted by Berklon

I don't think that's enough space for the amount of solar panels that will generate much power.

Probably the best way to build solar infrastructure is to use all these spaces that are bit, but not powerplant big. Because there’s a lot of those spaces around and we’re already using them. (Rather than gobbling up farmland.)

[rdaner]

Why would you be against a battery farm? Isn't it like free money for a municipality without a lot of extra services required?

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by rdaner

Why would you be against a battery farm? Isn't it like free money for a municipality without a lot of extra services required?

From the Spec story:

The proposed BESS had drawn concern from area residents and the local councillor due to its proposed location on agricultural land within the Greenbelt. An online petition started by Michelle Lobbezoo in opposition to the project has garnered nearly 2,200 signatures.

“This proposal will turn our agricultural land into an industrial area, affecting our soil, wildlife and wetlands,” the petition reads, noting the land is zoned agricultural, on the Greenbelt and is in proximity to the Hamilton-Brantford Rail Trail and forests. “No long-term safety studies have been done to evaluate risks to health, air and water.”

In addition, area residents started a Facebook group to raise concerns about the project, citing the Greenbelt location and the impact on local watercourses, health impacts and fire hazard issues, among others.

In an email prior to the project being put on hold, Ward 12 Coun. Craig Cassar said while in concept, BESS technology is an excellent idea, developing on a greenfield site within the Greenbelt is an “odd choice.”

He noted the city has suddenly seen two companies come forward — Aypa and NRStor — looking for council endorsement, as that would make their bid more competitive in the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) proposal process. He noted the IESO is currently open for bids from BESS companies, with a deadline of Dec. 12.

However, Cassar said at the time he would “not support any such undertaking without a full review by staff, which would include a rigorous assessment of the suitability of the location.”

The project did not receive municipal endorsement at the City of Hamilton’s Nov. 15 general issues committee meeting.

In an interview following the announcement, Cassar said he hopes Aypa — and proponents of similar projects — come back with proposals for brownfield areas, which he said “makes a lot more sense” than the Copetown-area location.

“Battery energy storage systems are an important climate tool — it’s just location is important, as well,” he said. “Building in the Greenbelt, after we’ve just had a significant Greenbelt win with the province, doesn’t make a lot of sense.”

Had this been in a developed suburban area, I'm sure the petitioners would have raised noise, parking and traffic as issues as well.

[drpgq]

'Huge, generational project' planned for Stelco lands will give east-enders waterfront access: developer

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamil...ium%3Dsharebar


The massive property stretches from around Sherman Avenue North to Ottawa Avenue North, and north from Burlington Street to the Hamilton Harbour. The area is three times larger than Hamilton's official downtown core, according to Steven Dejonckheere, senior vice-president at Slate and the project lead for the development, known as Steelport.

"It really is city-building," he said, describing the scale of the project, which will be clearly visible from the Burlington Skyway Bridge.

Stelco will continue to use part of the property. According to a report Slate submitted to the City of Hamilton planning department in February, "Stelco's current operations consist of a single remaining coke battery scheduled to be decommissioned in the next few years and the cold-rolled steel mill which is intended to remain for the foreseeable future."

...

An area between eight and 16 hectares of the site is targeted for active remediation from contamination left by the mill, he added, while saying the rest passes the bar for new commercial and industrial development.

The report Slate submitted to the city in February was a draft plan of subdivision, which lays out the location of future roads and city blocks – the "overarching master plan," as Dejonckheere described it. "We're not designing buildings, just figuring out where the buildings will go" at this phase, he said.

"In an ideal world," the city will conditionally approve those plans later this year and construction will start in 2025, he said, adding it will take about eight to 10 years to build out the roads and blocks before the next phase of the project begins.

The city told CBC Hamilton it received the draft plan earlier this spring, planning staff reviewed it and the application for the project was "deemed complete" on June 6. "A statutory public meeting will be scheduled in the coming months to ensure community members have an opportunity to share their feedback on the plans," Anita Fabac, acting director of planning and chief planner, wrote in an email.

[drpgq]

If the city had a brain, they would expedite this in any way possible.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by drpgq

If the city had a brain, they would expedite this in any way possible.

I'd think they will. No NIMBYs to worry about, and any politician who tries to grandstand about this will soon discover that there's no hill to die upon.

[King&James]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

I'd think they will. No NIMBYs to worry about, and any politician who tries to grandstand about this will soon discover that there's no hill to die upon.

Are you sure there are not any trees that need to be saved? Maybe that is not a thing outside of Ward 2