Harry Stinson on downtown Hamilton - Page 4

realcity · #61 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 9:49 PM**

Harry is going to transform Hamilton. He's going to do what everyone has been saying can't be done. That's his personality. I think he's driven to prove people wrong. LIUNA/Hi-Rise are full of crap. I had total respect and confidence in LIUNA since the CN Station reno but now it's all gone. The shame is it should've remained a train station. Perhaps one day it can be a station again. Lister and Royal Connaught have all but erased all the confidence i had.

fastcarsfreedom · #62 Posted **Dec 21, 2007, 11:54 PM**

This interest in development downtown is awesome news--I'm thrilled--whether it's Harry Stinson or not. As for the lot at the head of the Gore--I'd be interested to see how that unfolds--seems to me that much of that land is owned by Yale--I'd be downright shocked if they'd be willing to sell.

raisethehammer · #63 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 12:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastcarsfreedom

This interest in development downtown is awesome news--I'm thrilled--whether it's Harry Stinson or not. As for the lot at the head of the Gore--I'd be interested to see how that unfolds--seems to me that much of that land is owned by Yale--I'd be downright shocked if they'd be willing to sell.

me too...if Yale owns, he'd have to offer a pretty penny to snag that site.

markbarbera · #64 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 2:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

me too...if Yale owns, he'd have to offer a pretty penny to snag that site.

Well, the current property owner is willing to sell. Back in 2006, when the site was included as part of the option to redesign the McNab terminal, the city made enquiries about the availability of the land and anticipated cost to acquire the land. The terminal assessment report indicates the land could be purchased from the current owner at a cost of about $2 million.

Why would anyone be surprised that the land would be available for purchase? The property's original buildings were bulldozed even though structurally sound, then the land was paved as a parking lot. This is a tell-tale sign of a speculative landowner who has no intention of putting down development cost, and is just holding on to the land to flip it once the price is right. For this property, $2 million is the right price. If the owner had any intention of developing the site, this would have been done a decade ago.

raisethehammer · #65 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 3:59 AM**

cool...I hope you're right. Imagine a nifty signature tower overlooking the Gore? Light it up at night and it would be visible from everywhere...heck, if he goes tall enough, it'll be visible from everywhere in the daytime.

fastcarsfreedom · #66 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 5:48 AM**

That land was initially assembled as part of a plan by Royal Bank to build a complex similar in scale to what CIBC did. Before that came to pass Royal got out of the real estate development business altogether and is now comfortably at Stelco Tower.

As for Yale--and why I'd be surprised to see them sell--frankly mark, they've owned plenty of land around downtown for years that they have no intention of developing--it seems to be there modus operandi.

raisethehammer · #67 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 1:35 PM**

Stinson spoke about this in his interview yesterday as well (apparently CHML is repeating the whole thing today on-air).
He said that he's spoken with many landowners and some are interested in selling, but most say "no way. This land will be worth something someday". He says back to them "are you content to wait and maybe your child or grandchild might see the payback? Why not do it now?".
He says most are going to start developing themselves if someone can really kickstart the whole area - that's what he wants to do. That's another reason he wants to do something right at the Gore. And I agree with him....so far we've seen some great things starting to happen in all 4 directions out from the Gore, but not right in the Gore itself. A new signature tower with a well-known cafe/restaurant on the ground floor (geez, I'm starting to sound like the rest of ya!) would really send out a strong message that downtown is back.

markbarbera · #68 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 1:36 PM**

Exactly, fastcarsfreedom. They are holding onto the land until the right price comes along. Fortunately (finally), Hamilton is catching up with surrounding real estate and the 'right prices' are starting to pop up.

A more cynical person would suggest they are holding land to prevent others from developing property that would compete with space offered in their current property holdings in the city, or even to intentionally hold back development to punish city hall for percieved wrongs, but that's a little far-fetched, wouldn't you think

raisethehammer · #69 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 1:41 PM**

yea, there's no way someone is owning property for that reason....they all would like to develop, but don't want to take the initial risk. At least that's what Harry said he found from talking to many land-owners.

fastcarsfreedom · #70 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 4:27 PM**

What was I thinking--Yale would never try to stonewall development to protect it's own complex (which it invests nothing into).

raisethehammer · #71 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 4:48 PM**

that's totally different than suggesting that someone has bought up downtown properties for the sole purpose of intentionally doing nothing with no desire and no plans of ever doing anything. I really can't see someone buying up property with that intention.

raisethehammer · #72 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 5:47 PM**

realcity will get a kick out of this. The website for Sapphire Tower Toronto:

http://www.sapphiretower.com/

...will continue where?? In the Hammer??

SteelTown · #73 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 6:12 PM**

I would love to see Stinson build a high rise tower at the parking lot beside Pigott and CIBC. I would personally be interested in a condo on that site especially if my front window is facing Gore Park. It would be the hottest piece of property in Hamilton.

Maybe Stinson and the City could work together and have a bus terminal at the back of the building facing MacNab like the Transportation building at St. Kitts. That would be another sweet bonus of living in the building, a main transit terminal in your building! lol

realcity · #74 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 6:19 PM**

If Stinson builds the Lister into Condos or a Sapphire somewhere in Hamilton, I'm personally buying three units, this is where people -- retiring boomers -- want to be. Close walking distance to doctors, theatres, hospitals, markets, it will totally be the hottest property.

raisethehammer · #75 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 6:22 PM**

3 units?? wow...must be nice. How about loaning me some coin?? lol.
Maybe he'll try to put Sapphire next to Pigott?? I think the final version of Sapphire was 60-62 floors...maybe a little tall for here...I'd think that 50-55 would work in the Hammer.

SteelTown · #76 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 6:51 PM**

Well to beat the current tallest it's gotta be 44 stories or more. I like to name the building as Renaissance Tower.

realcity · #77 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 7:01 PM**

sorry Steel but i think Renaissance is too generic. Every city has a renaissance building. I would like it be named Sapphire. Or something symbolic to the apex of the Golden Horseshoe.

It could be 55 - 60. It doesn't mean it will be the only thing built. If downtown experiences a post mod version of the early to mid 70s, there could be cranes building a dozen 300+ footers.

chris k · #78 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 7:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

3 units?? wow...must be nice. How about loaning me some coin?? lol.
Maybe he'll try to put Sapphire next to Pigott?? I think the final version of Sapphire was 60-62 floors...maybe a little tall for here...I'd think that 50-55 would work in the Hammer.

I like the idea of having our tallest building in the very centre of our city but i think that that space would be more suited for parking. (Just kidding lol)

I actually think the having more residential condos then hotel/condo mix would be more suitable for that area as you are next to class A office towers and this would be a good balance of space.

This is saying that Stinson gets control of the royal connaught and transforms that into a good res/condo mix.

These plans would bring tons of people back downtown and directly around the gore and make that area thrive as Stinson originally siad it one day would be.

matt602 · #79 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 7:39 PM**

Let's call the building "The Hammer".

.... whaaat? It's original!

GreatTallNorth2 · #80 Posted **Dec 22, 2007, 8:00 PM**

Do you guys believe in Santa too? Just kidding.

What is the current rail transportation situation like in Hamilton? Is there a train to Union, either GO or Via? That is really what is needed if you don't already have it. A fast link to Union would send land prices soaring and it would make tall buildings a reality. I hope it happens.