Bruce Kuwabara West Harbour tower | 147 m | 45 fl | Approved

[atnor]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

Did anyone watch, what is his reason for voting against? I don't get that guy. he wants to massively increase spending for his social programs, but consistently votes down development that will pay for it?

Edit: I just listened to it on youtube. His objections to the development are 1) Not enough affordable units planned. 2) Not enough community engagement. (he rolled his eyes at Bruce Kuwabara at this point) 3) Not enough greenspace

Kroetsch with his usual grandstanding City staff can’t stand that guy.

Who else voted against this proposal?

[StuffedPouch]

Originally Posted by atnor

Who else voted against this proposal?

Both Wilsons, Nann, Kroetsch and Danko. Basically the same group that has championed intensification (minus Cassar) within the urban boundary as opposed to expansion. Gotta love the politicians that are speaking out both sides of their mouths.

[TheHonestMaple]

Originally Posted by StuffedPouch

Both Wilsons, Nann, Kroetsch and Danko. Basically the same group that has championed intensification (minus Cassar) within the urban boundary as opposed to expansion. Gotta love the politicians that are speaking out both sides of their mouths.

I really don't understand why Danko would vote against it. He was literally on CHML yesterday morning to talk about how the city needs more intensification and commercial development to increase our tax base...

Sure, this tower could probably be in a better location. Downtown somewhere. But why on earth would the city want to turn away guaranteed tax revenue. It's mind numbingly short sighted. This city needs development so badly, look at our infrastructure. It's literally crumbling. Get stuff like this built already

[atnor]

SMH at those councillors. They should worry less about activism and more on city building. Can’t wait to see Kroetsch’s long winded thread explaining why he was righteous enough to vote against this.

[TheHonestMaple]

Originally Posted by atnor

SMH at those councillors. They should worry less about activism and more on city building. Can’t wait to see Kroetsch’s long winded thread explaining why he was righteous enough to vote against this.

lol ya I already checked his twitter, hasn't posted yet. I'm sure it will come after his post about Sabrina Dehab's investigation by the school board.

[StuffedPouch]

Originally Posted by mikevbar1

So that begs the question of why they are going for a tower.

North End residents took the City to planning court, and to stop it from dragging on, the City agreed to investigate having a tower so that more units could be family sized. Once that was out there, I don’t think the City had any chance to argue against the idea, even if planners disagreed.

Officially, the North End wants to be a place for families. In reality, they want to maximize property values. A 4 bedroom townhouse on the waterfront is gonna be $1+ million easily and completely out of reach to a family. Of all the “neighbourhood development” communities that came out of the Code Red series, the North End has seen the largest increase in property values. They know how to game the system, which is why the members of their two main community associations are nearly unrecognizable from 10/15 years ago since all the established folks cashed out and GTFO’d from Hamilton.

[PaperSun]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

Did anyone watch, what is his reason for voting against? I don't get that guy. he wants to massively increase spending for his social programs, but consistently votes down development that will pay for it?

Edit: I just listened to it on youtube. His objections to the development are 1) Not enough affordable units planned. 2) Not enough community engagement. (he rolled his eyes at Bruce Kuwabara at this point) 3) Not enough greenspace

Not enough community engagement? Lmfao that's rich coming from him who did absolutely zero community engagement regarding the tiny homes on Strachan and pissed off the entire community only then did he finally have a community meeting that he was too afraid to attend.

This guy is an absolute menace.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by PaperSun

This guy is an absolute menace.

Hamilton city council isn't complete without a mouth that won't STFU. Agostino, Merulla, Fergie, et al... all have been vocal about many topics of which they know bupkiss, but they talk, and their opinions mean little in votes that don't swing on their choices. It appears that this edition of our fearless leadership has Kroetsch.

[SteelTown]

Bruce Kuwabara West Harbour tower | 147 m | 45 fl | Proposed -> Bruce Kuwabara West Harbour tower | 147 m | 45 fl | Approved

[King&James]

https://bayobserver.ca/hamilton-council-...t-tower-with-environmental-stipulations/

Now approved by full council

[TheHonestMaple]

Again, I find the application process in Hamilton so confusing. Why does this building go before council, but others don't? Now that it is approved by council, what is the procedure moving forward? When will this start construction?

[SteelTown]

Bruce Kuwabara West Harbour tower | 147 m | 45 fl | Proposed -> Bruce Kuwabara West Harbour tower | 147 m | 45 fl | Approved

[atnor]

Kroetsch’s reason for voting against the proposal:

In case you missed it, Council voted to go ahead with the 45 storey tower today on Pier 8. I voted against it because I don't think a luxury waterfront condominium is a signal we should be proud of and I don't think it reflects the inclusive Hamilton I ran to represent.

As I said today in public, not only will this tower encourage above market prices for housing, it doesn't deliver on our term of Council priorities, and happened without consultation from and with Indigenous communities. That's not ok.

I'm proud of the work this Council has done to make our waterfront more inclusive, from Macassa Bay to the Discovery Centre, by ensuring that the voices of members of Indigenous communities are front and centre in decision making.

This goes against the good work we have done and, I think, will end up being more of a precedent than a landmark. Much of the discussion was about "family friendly" housing. Despite this, there's absolutely no guarantee that a single family will move to the waterfront.

I recognize this development has impacts citywide, but as the Councillor where this will see the greatest of them, I'm disappointed. Yes, it's better that it will be a net zero building, and it makes sense to do that, but I'm not so sure it will come to fruition.

Thanks to Councillors Craig Cassar, Tom Jackson, Nrinder Nann, and Maureen Wilson for their votes against this proposal.

[Pipedreams]

[QUOTE=atnor;10086720]I don't think it reflects the inclusive Hamilton I ran to represent.

Kroetsch is more comfortable bathing in moral superiority of criticism then making the hard decision to get things built. In a city where working people don't have homes to live in, we don't have time to sacrifice putting roofs over people's heads to signal virtues.

[TheHonestMaple]

He's now voted 'no' on two major high rise developments in the downtown that would bring significant economic growth to our city. He also attempted to delay Television City. It's pretty obvious, this guy doesn't want wealthy people moving into Hamilton and he'll do whatever he can to stop it. I don't doubt that he'll vote no to that studio district development as well. Has no issue voting yes on slum city housing and other activist causes.

[atnor]

And people still don’t think he’s a grandstander. (Ritsman)

[ScreamingViking]

Is he sure there was no Indigenous consultation? This began well before the current council was sworn in.

Seems nothing happens around here without it.

Unless the "Development Institute" is just waiting on things to get rolling before making an offer the city can't refuse.


I wonder if he consulted with Indigenous communities about the 'tiny homes' proposal?

[TheHonestMaple]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

I wonder if he consulted with Indigenous communities about the 'tiny homes' proposal?

LMAO love it

[atnor]

These councillors are fried. They rightfully state we are in a housing crisis but voted against this proposal.

[TheHonestMaple]

Originally Posted by atnor

These councillors are fried. They rightfully state we are in a housing crisis but voted against this proposal.

Not the right kind of housing