Welcome Back, Stelco

[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

[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.

[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.)

[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.

[ihateittoo]

thread is here:
https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/sho...ight=steelport

[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

[TheHonestMaple]

I feel like this project will never happen. I hope it does. But I just don't think the demand is there for it. And I also just get the feeling they are feeding us pretty renders, and if it does happen it won't look anything like it.

I wish Slate would focus their efforts on Corktown Condos.... which appear to have completely fizzled out.

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

I feel like this project will never happen. I hope it does. But I just don't think the demand is there for it. And I also just get the feeling they are feeding us pretty renders, and if it does happen it won't look anything like it.

I wish Slate would focus their efforts on Corktown Condos.... which appear to have completely fizzled out.

There's actually massive demand for ready to use space for light industrial, cargo, and things like that. The big reason nothing had happened here is because Stelco owned it, and because it's in a dilapidated state. With some fixing up, companies will be clamouring to get industrial space near the QEW, the US and possible water access.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by TheRitsman

There's actually massive demand for ready to use space for light industrial, cargo, and things like that. The big reason nothing had happened here is because Stelco owned it, and because it's in a dilapidated state. With some fixing up, companies will be clamouring to get industrial space near the QEW, the US and possible water access.

Exactly. There have been stories about the Port Authority running out of industrial property... I'm sure they were quite interested in this land.

Someone else may be re-developing it, but it will be a massive boost for the city and the entire region in many ways. We're probably lucky a private entity is running the show, even if they're having a tough time right now in some aspects of their business.

There are lots of under- and un-utilized industrial sites in this city, not all adjacent to the port. As supply wanes and demand continues to grow, the cases to remediate and repurpose them for new economic activities get stronger.

[TheHonestMaple]

I hope you're right! Fingers crossed this one is a success, our city needs it.

[craftbeerdad]

Slate is challenged on the real estate side these days due to rising costs, but this will happen as there's many vested parties interested in seeing this completed. Whether it will look like the renders? Who knows. Hopefully, as they do look impressive.

On another note, Hamilton should strive to incorporate ideas Halifax has undertaken with their waterfront. Many different areas, installations, and green spaces. Heck they just decommissioned an over pass near the casino to add a bandshell, park and more trails.

However Hamilton's waterfront will take time to change over sadly due to the amount of red tape and compromised lands from industry of yesteryear. So maybe not in my life time, but there's a lot of upside in gradual steps.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by craftbeerdad

On another note, Hamilton should strive to incorporate ideas Halifax has undertaken with their waterfront. Many different areas, installations, and green spaces. Heck they just decommissioned an over pass near the casino to add a bandshell, park and more trails.

However Hamilton's waterfront will take time to change over sadly due to the amount of red tape and compromised lands from industry of yesteryear. So maybe not in my life time, but there's a lot of upside in gradual steps.

The city's hands are probably tied for anything in the "industrial" side of the port. Beyond being a stakeholder, and the usual municipal approvals process.

West Harbour has become a people-place and will be more so soon.

It'll probably always be a work in progress, but I hope to live long enough to see/experience additional significant changes. Compared to when I was a teen in the 1980s the waterfront is night-and-day different; Confederation Park and the beach strip have evolved in big ways too.

[jonny24]

https://financialpost.com/pmn/busine...-c70-per-share

Stelco will (pending a vote?) be acquired by Cleveland-Cliffs. The release says they will maintain the name, operations, local partnerships, etc.

[ScreamingViking]

Not a bad "investment" by Kestenbaum and his colleagues.

Hopefully Cliffs doesn't pull the same kind of stuff U.S. Steel did, but I'd be surprised if the best and most specialized parts of Stelco aren't all that remain in the end, especially if the Canadian Dollar ever strengthens again.

Some photos from The Spec

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2022:


• Video Link


And, more recently: