Downtown Update

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

Thanks for the videos. I feel like it's an idea that sounds good in theory, but in a society that is very car dominant like North America, I fear it would make the cost of parking in the downtown so cost prohibitive it would actually discourage people from living downtown in the short term. Most of our downtowns simply aren't walkable full communities right now (jobs, shopping, etc), and we still very much rely on cars to complete daily living. Hamilton is pretty close to being a complete downtown (like Toronto), but not quite there yet. I think that might change in the next 10 years though.

In general I like the idea though, it would be nice for our downtowns to completely not rely on cars. I just hope all aspects of the policy are well thought out.

The point about this accelerating construction sounds valid though, and I welcome that.

Not sure why you think it would make it more expensive.

What happens right now is that parking is often sold at a loss in buildings and those spaces are subsidized by the unit sales.

This will change it so that developers will only build the spaces if they can sell them for a profit, which means it will make parking market-based in demand - typically something from my understanding you are quite supportive of.

If someone really needs a car when living downtown, they'll pay for it.

Toronto removed their parking minimums city-wide last year and in suburban areas parking ratios in new development have barely changed - it's mostly dropped in the Downtown where developers are getting rid of complicated, expensive parking solutions previously needed to meet requirements.

What I imagine will happen is many developments downtown will drop their parking ratio, but not eliminate parking. Larger units especially are known for still needing parking to sell the unit, so developers will still build it.

What it helps the most is small sites (think buildings like 11 Robert), where providing parking can be really expensive. Those kinds of small projects benefit the most from removing parking minimums as building a large parking structure is uneconomical on small sites for small buildings.

[TheHonestMaple]

It would increase the cost of parking because it would restrict supply. Not just hourly rates, but also the buy and sell parking spot market (yes that's a thing).

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

It would increase the cost of parking because it would restrict supply. Not just hourly rates, but also the buy and sell parking spot market (yes that's a thing).

The affect on supply would be marginal at worst. Restricting supply and pushing up the cost of car ownership would encourage a livable non-car oriented downtown. If we continue to oblige cars at every corner we will continue to have cars downtown, and continue to not have a downtown where people want to build car free lives. I already know people who live without a car, and they are doing fine. Developers aren't likely to build 0 stalls except where it makes sense. Not to mention it will reduce the overall cost and increase the speed development can happen at. Cheaper development means more development.

Further to this point, we are currently requiring far more parking than is needed in residential developments. You can tell because they regularly push for less parking than is required and sell or rent their units just fine.

When I bought a condo and rented it out in Burlington I rented the unit to someone who didn't own a car, which meant I paid for the parking spot, and didn't get any better rent. If I could have purchased without a stall, that would have been preferable because the cost to own the unit would have been cheaper and I could have even reduced the rent and still covered my costs. Forced parking stalls increase prices. If you have a car, and the building you want to buy in doesn't have much parking, you can either pay for it, or find another building that has more parking. It doesn't make housing more expensive, it makes housing more expensive for car owners. In a downtown that has too many cars, and will continue to be further choked by traffic, we should be encouraging less car ownership, not encouraging it more by mandating under threat of law that one must possess storage for one, which encourages people to buy one.

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

It would increase the cost of parking because it would restrict supply. Not just hourly rates, but also the buy and sell parking spot market (yes that's a thing).

well yea - it wouldn't be subsidized.

I'm surprised to see you support the subsidization of private parking here, I guess. It would shift to a market demand basis - you know, capitalism and all that.

[TheHonestMaple]

I'm not in support of subsidized parking, and I definitely encourage allowing the free market to do what it's going to do. Like I said, in general I support the idea. I just wonder what the implications on cost are, as it seems to me like that hasn't been well researched (at least in this city). Just because it's free market, doesn't necessarily mean the price will go down.

You actually raise a good point. I find it interesting that generally left leaning people are in support of free market parking lol, but on other topics they are completely opposed (think subsidized housing).

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

I'm not in support of subsidized parking, and I definitely encourage allowing the free market to do what it's going to do. Like I said, in general I support the idea. I just wonder what the implications on cost are, as it seems to me like that hasn't been well researched (at least in this city). Just because it's free market, doesn't necessarily mean the price will go down.

You actually raise a good point. I find it interesting that generally left leaning people are in support of free market parking lol, but on other topics they are completely opposed (think subsidized housing).

Oh I dunno.. maybe its because instead of other places like the states canadians can have opinions that don't JUST run along party left or right lines? Lol..

[TheHonestMaple]

oh absolutely, I totally think that's healthy. I am strictly opposed to subsidized housing, but I can see some benefit to at least a little parking requirements. Nothing wrong with having an opinion

[Innsertnamehere]

https://pub-hamilton.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=376249

The Ikea warehouse is at the Committee of Adjustment, but for some reason the City hasn't posted any of the architectural plans for any of the variances in front of committee next month.

I hope that doesn't become a trend.. the CoA is a rare source of actual architectural plans in this city since the City doesn't post application materials online like most municipalities...

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

https://pub-hamilton.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=376249

The Ikea warehouse is at the Committee of Adjustment, but for some reason the City hasn't posted any of the architectural plans for any of the variances in front of committee next month.

I hope that doesn't become a trend.. the CoA is a rare source of actual architectural plans in this city since the City doesn't post application materials online like most municipalities...

They likely just forgot or will add them later. The city isn't a tightly run ship and does this kind of stuff all the time. Staff told me the Parking minimum report would be posted noon Wednesday the week before the meeting, but the link on the HTML agenda had no attachments. I had to reach out because someone seemingly forgot to include it on the agenda.

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by TheRitsman

They likely just forgot or will add them later. The city isn't a tightly run ship and does this kind of stuff all the time. Staff told me the Parking minimum report would be posted noon Wednesday the week before the meeting, but the link on the HTML agenda had no attachments. I had to reach out because someone seemingly forgot to include it on the agenda.

Here’s hoping.

Honestly best practice for the city would be to move to online development file postings. Most municipalities in the GTA have it now, honestly Hamilton is probably the largest municipality in the province to not provide the service. It’s a huge pain that it’s not offered. Toronto's had it for a decade now I think, at least.

[Innsertnamehere]

Aha - just like that, @TheRitsman is right - arch plans are posted now.



According to the covering letter for the application from IKEA, the warehouse will feature a "pick up point" for orders. I believe that's new information.

They also appear to be planning for a mostly electric fleet of delivery trucks - about 2/3 of the truck parking spaces include EV chargers.

[TheRitsman]

I know without any information this isn't really an update, but the Marquee building definitely has some drywall going up inside the ground floor commercial unit as I was able to see inside. Maybe something will finally fill these longtime empty units?

[Innsertnamehere]

Originally Posted by TheRitsman

I know without any information this isn't really an update, but the Marquee building definitely has some drywall going up inside the ground floor commercial unit as I was able to see inside. Maybe something will finally fill these longtime empty units?

Indeed it is:

23 126171 00

Alterations to the shell building for the interior fit-out of a supermarket, "SAMIR SUPERMARKET"

20 GEORGE ST HAMILTON

Review

Samir Supermarket is a small middle eastern grocer by the looks of it, they have 3 locations around the Hamilton area already (Upper James, Stoney Creek, Burlington)

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

Indeed it is:



Samir Supermarket is a small middle eastern grocer by the looks of it, they have 3 locations around the Hamilton area already (Upper James, Stoney Creek, Burlington)

Not that I don't like other cultures and their food, and can definitely appreciate ethnic grocers, but to me this is a bit of a downer. It's such a huge space where a gym, shoppers, larger LCBO, or mini-No Frills would be awesome.

I do wonder if they plan to use the entire commercial space on the corner.

[Innsertnamehere]

It's ultimately not on a major street so it's pretty sub-par retail space. I never expected much more than a local retailer or convenience store / nail salon type retail here.

When those types of retailers show up downtown, they'll be on James, King, or Main St, not Caroline or George.

It's also far too small for a full grocer like No Frills. No Frills generally need 25-30,000sf minimum, which is probably 4-5x as much as available in Marquee.

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by Innsertnamehere

It's ultimately not on a major street so it's pretty sub-par retail space. I never expected much more than a local retailer or convenience store / nail salon type retail here.

When those types of retailers show up downtown, they'll be on James, King, or Main St, not Caroline or George.

It's also far too small for a full grocer like No Frills. No Frills generally need 25-30,000sf minimum, which is probably 4-5x as much as available in Marquee.

It's a massive space though right downtown. It's actually pretty big compared to any other commercial units downtown. I can't recall the square footage, but it's gotta be around 10,000 minimum. Could have at least fit an LCBO or a market style grocer. Again, I guess a more local-esqe grocer, but considering the relative food desert downtown, something a little less niche would have been cool.

I don't know also if they're utilizing the entire unit or just the smaller one facing Caroline. It kind of looks like they may have rented just a section of the entire commercial space.

[King&James]

For me this is a win, based on a quick google search on their Burlington store, it will fill a need for the their local market with an okay aesthetic. So many more towers underway so should create some demand and give Nations some competition.

[Wigs]

Does Samir market offer a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables? An in-store Halal butcher and deli?

Then it's a win for downtown residents.

[SteelTown]

It does have a butcher and a deli.

Think of it as basically the same as Zarky's/Sweet Paradise/Denninger's.

[TheHonestMaple]

https://www-theglobeandmail-com.cdn.ampp...on-enhances-hamiltons-historic-downtown/