MacNab Square | ?m | 2 x 30 fl | Planning

[lucasmascotto]

I absolutely love those renders - Hamilton could definitely use more structures like that. Not even Toronto has very many NeoModern geometric mid-rise buildings. Not only are they colourful thus pedestrian engaging, but they're also sustainable, easily retrofitted (if need be), physically scalable and inviting, and appropriate for the growing entrepreneurial generation. I just wish Blanchard would actually start building something rather then just tearing things down. Sigh...a boy can dream...

[thistleclub]

For some reason my mind keeps wanting to insert something like the Gardiner Museum there.

I adore contemporary architecture, but this seems to be a generic solution — somewhat aloof and context-obtuse.

The intersection of James & Main (St. Paul's, 1854; Hamilton Club, 1873; Sun Life Building, 1905; Landed Bank, 1908; Bank of Montreal Building, 1928; Pigott Building, 1928) has endured for generations against the odds.

Would be nice to see some forward-thinking infill that won't look dated in half that time.

As previously noted, the architectural design challenge will be to create an infill structure that aesthetically connects Stanley Roscoe's tower at 25 Main with John M. Lyle's 1 Main West/52 James South.

[SteelTown]

Looks like a plan is brewing, looks tall too. Looks to be shorter than BDC building so looks about 20 storey.

https://twitter.com/joeycoleman/stat...98216847818753

[davidcappi]

The proposal, in case anyone wants the pic:

[matt602]

Kinda weird that they put most of the height on the Jackson side instead of Main. Still would be a massive improvement though.

[CaptainKirk]

Wilson-Blanchard is planning a new 4-storey building on Main Street West behind the heritage designated Bank of Montreal building which presently houses Gowlings law firm.

The building, which will contain two floors of underground parking, will be reviewed by Hamilton’s Design Review Panel on July 9 at 4pm. The meeting, in 264 of City Hall, is open to the public.
The proposal is for the first floor to be commercial retail space and the upper three floors to house offices. The vacant lot owned by Wilson-Blanchard at 20 Jackson Street will be converted to provide surface parking for office tenants...

...'Wilson-Blanchard held a pre-consultation with the City in the late spring of 2014 about a longer timeline Phase 2 development at 20 Jackson Street to build a 19-storey condominium tower attached to a 2-storey retail/office building. Currently, the City is only reviewing Phase 1 at 21 Main West

https://www.thepublicrecord.ca/2015/...n-street-west/

[thistleclub]

Does anyone know what Wilson Blanchard has in its CV in terms of new construction?

Offhand, I'm inclined to think it's something along the lines of 701 Main West, which I could do without being double-stacked by Main and James (or stacked tenfold at Jackson and MacNab, for that matter).

Would be delighted to be wrong.

[HillStreetBlues]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Offhand, I'm inclined to think it's something along the lines of 701 Main West, which I could do without being double-stacked by Main and James (or stacked tenfold at Jackson and MacNab, for that matter).

Would be delighted to be wrong.

I pass that building most days, and have yet to stop hating it. Mostly it's because it sets a precedent for that stretch of Main, which seems a logical place for a mid-rise office building or two. But they might look like that, so I'd almost rather the stretch just stays the way it is.

[ScreamingViking]

I'd rather see the taller building on Main, but something similarly scaled to Gowlings/Bank of Montreal makes a lot of sense too and that gap is long overdue to be filled.

They're probably waiting to see how the more advanced condo plans fare before moving ahead with theirs (and their financing options will probably improve too if lenders start believing that the development trend downtown is going to be long-lived). But it seems like it's always "more to come later" with Wilson-Blanchard, contingent on somethingorother...

[ScreamingViking]

Anyone know what happened at that July 9 DRP meeting referenced above? Did this get reviewed and discussed?

I'd assume we'd have heard something or seen some renders... perhaps it was delayed?

[davidcappi]

I'd assume we'd have heard something or seen some renders... perhaps it was delayed?

I had a chance to look at the elevations for the proposed building between Gowlings and the BDC building along Main, and it's definitely different than anything that's currently online. Lots of glass with staggered brick accents and windows. I'm pretty sure it's 4/5 floors.

Someone at city hall said they're just resolving an alley access issue before getting final approval on the site plan.

[HamiltonBoyInToronto]

any updates on this project ? or any drawings to share?

[davidcappi]

any updates on this project ? or any drawings to share?

Nothing public yet. I had to take a trip to city hall to look at the elevations/plans for this one!

[Dr Awesomesauce]

I'm immediately put off by two things: the people behind the proposal and the naming of it. This is not a square.

The planning/ design/ architecture community needs to repatriate certain words to its lexicon that have been misused over the decades: square, plaza, mall etc.

Just call it what it is, Messrs Wilson and Blanchard. Cheers.

[Hawrylyshyn]

This is now two 30-storey towers, including 700 units, 5-floors of parking, and a new 50,000-sqf YMCA in podium. The new developer seems to have a solid track record of gettign things built (Collecdev-Markee,)

From the church's Facebook group:

"Proposed Development of Housing and Social Services on the Site of St. Paul’s, Hamilton - On Sunday, May 18, 2025, the Trustees of St. Paul’s, Hamilton, signed a conditional offer for its church hall from the developer Collecdev-Markee. If all conditions are met, the developer will build two thirty-story residential towers, five levels of parking, retail space, and fifty-five thousand square feet for the YMCA. For the past three years, as a partner to Hamilton Urban Core, we have hosted ten thousand visits per year from people seeking medical care and addiction counselling. We pray that we can now advance with this new project that will provide about seven hundred new residential units and a full range of social services through the YMCA. This project will transform downtown Hamilton. We are thankful that part of our space has helped so many people up to now, and will help so many more in the future. St. Paul’s will retain its sanctuary and new meeting hall, and all ministries will continue as usual throughout this project. Can you spot the beloved stone spire of St. Paul’s in the artist’s renderings of the proposed development?,"




The site:

[SteelTown]

MacNab Square | ?m | ?fl | Planning -> MacNab Square | ?m | 2 x 30 fl | Planning

[Chronamut]

I will admit the completely red colour is interesting, and I've only seen designs like those arched windows in stinson designs for the cotton factory iirc.. so it actually looks pretty cool - shame they'll have to cut down those trees but at least the trees aren't huge.

This is actually a really good well needed infill spot.

Although I do question if such a narrow alley between the building next foor and the Y will be good for the erm.. "clientele" it tends to attract - junkies etc - or if the overhang so close to the building next door will be approved.

I do love that floating basketball court and second floor race track though - and that outdoor rooftop connection to the second building - looks very cool - and the glass view of the buildings around it looks amazing.. lots of potential I feel..

[King&James]

Hopefully this one is well financed and can be rentals. Would have been interesting to see the Gowlings / BMO building integrated , but I get it.

[ohhimark]

Looks interesting, arches, brick colored, no weird color combinations or misaligned windows. Wonder what the top half will look like?

[HamiltonBoyInToronto]

what will happen to the old YMCA ?