Lister Block | ? | 6 fl | Renovation

[Jon Dalton]

Seniors residence in that area, seems like a tough sell.

[DC83]

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

Seniors residence in that area, seems like a tough sell.

Au Contraire... there is a giant bingo hall 1 block away! CHA-CHING! hahaha

[SteelTown]

Bringing in any residence to the core is a good thing in my opinion, I haven't said anything against the affordable housing project for St Deny's. As long the architecture is good. These residences will increase the pressure for a grocery store, perhaps a tenant for the Lister Block's arcade.

[DC83]

^^ I agree that we can't be too picky with the type of development downtown... but come on! MORE retirement? There's already the ginormous First Place Bldg at King/Wellington, the LIUNA built one on Market/Hess, the one at James/Augusta.

IMO, we need to attract young professionals to our core. These are the ones with disposable income who are going to shop in our shops, eat in our indy restaurants, and involve themselves in cultural events. Old people generally don't have a disposable income at all. Their pressence downtown would be nothing more than just that... a pressence. Young Professionals will get involved and make Downtown what we all want/need it to be!

[HAMRetrofit]

There really is not that much retirement accommodation downtown Hamilton. The city should try to attract all demographic groups especially seniors who will benefit from its urban environment that accommodates pedestrians and walkability. The seniors population has a higher disposable income, which will be a boost to retail amenities. In addition their presence signifies that the community is safe.

Yorkville is by no coincidence home to about 5 to 6 retirement homes. These seniors have spawned Whole Foods and other high end restaurants. Their presence is important and should not be discriminated against (these amenities have attracted urban professionals to the area as well). Over the next twenty years the senior population is going to swell. This is the reality that our generations are going to have to deal with. We should give them the most dignified living arrangements that we can and the downtown is a reasonable place to start. Better there then in gated communities outside of town.

[SteelTown]

Do we need more affordable housing for the core? Tons of it in the core.

I agree we sould be spreading out affordable housing projects and retirement houses around the city but the core has the best transit service in the city. We'll probably see tons and tons of more retirement housing projects in the future anyways as the first generation of baby boomers are starting to retire now. Which isn't a bad thing because that will make more high rises.

[flar]

All the seniors are moving to Dundas!

[raisethehammer]

flar...totally off-topic, but holy smokes, your photo tours are just getting better and better.
awesome work!!

[Jon Dalton]

I believe we need all of it. We need retail, housing, and probably most of all, jobs. Each is an equally important component of a successful downtown. There's no point pushing one over the other. We have vacant storefronts, half-filled condo towers and half-filled office towers to populate. I would be equally excited about either office jobs (that aren't phone centres) or high quality condos in the Lister Block. What we don't need any more of is low income housing. Some areas around the core have the cheapest rents in the city and the strip of James adjacent to the Lister Block is mostly cheap, low end apartments.

[SteelTown]

Lister Decision Possible On Wednesday
Feb, 26 2008 - 5:50 PM

HAMILTON (AM900 CHML) - The fate of the Lister Block is back on the agenda this week.

City Councillors meet on Wednesday morning, to decide whether to accept an offer to purchase the heritage building from LIUNA once it has been restored.

Councillors will be recieving a peer review of a proposal that LIUNA made two weeks ago.

That proposal estimated that with borrowing costs factored in, it would cost 32 million dollars over 20 years to buy the symbol of downtown decay.

Mayor Eisenberger is hopeful that the project "is a go". He has called the Lister Block a "beacon" for whether we are on the path of downtown rehabilitation.

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

I believe we need all of it. We need retail, housing, and probably most of all, jobs. Each is an equally important component of a successful downtown. There's no point pushing one over the other. We have vacant storefronts, half-filled condo towers and half-filled office towers to populate. I would be equally excited about either office jobs (that aren't phone centres) or high quality condos in the Lister Block. What we don't need any more of is low income housing. Some areas around the core have the cheapest rents in the city and the strip of James adjacent to the Lister Block is mostly cheap, low end apartments.

Well Said, exactly!

[matt602]

ruh-roh...

Purchasing Lister Block is no deal, report finds

Nicole Macintyre
The Hamilton Spectator

(Feb 27, 2008)

The city's cost of buying the Lister Block has jumped again as council sits down today to decide the fate of the downtown landmark.

An outside consultant estimates it would cost the city $38.60 gross a square foot -- $5 higher than the last proposal -- to buy the restored building. The price includes a $7-million grant from the province.

The deal would cost taxpayers an extra $1.2 million a year compared to rent at other city offices.

Mayor Fred Eisenberger, who was ready to move on the purchase two weeks ago, called the revised cost "daunting." But he said he wants to hear from staff before deciding.

Last month, council balked at paying $37 a square foot to lease the building. The deal was revived when owner LIUNA and partner Hi-Rise promised it would be cheaper for the city to buy.

The developers' price of $25 million hasn't changed, but the consultant advised the city it underbudgeted for operating costs and tenant improvements. The lease cost would also be higher now.

The new square foot cost is higher than the lease cost that council rejected, but does offer the city an asset in the end, noted Eisenberger. The building's undepreciated value in 2031 would be $15 million.

Councillor Bob Bratina said it doesn't make sense to pay nearly $34 million for the building. "It's unacceptable. We can't justify that. The numbers speak for themselves."

[SteelTown]

Haha and they thought Liuna was gouging them. You know what's next if this deal is rejected.....a demolition permit.

[Jon Dalton]

That's shit news to start the day with. So, bring on the wrecking ball?

[SteelTown]

Councillors debate Lister Block proposal

Feb, 27 2008 - 11:00 AM

HAMILTON (AM900 CHML) - The fate of the Lister Block restoration is back on the discussion table this hour.

Hamilton politicians are meeting to decide whether to accept an offer to purchase the heritage building from LIUNA, once it's been restored.

Councillors have been told the purchase will cost the city about 34-million dollars over 20 years.

That works out to about 38-dollars per square foot, about twice what the city currently pays to house staff elsewhere.

On the other hand, a consultant is recommending that the city move forward on the purchase.

[SteelTown]

Lister Project Still Alive But Losing Steam


Feb, 27 2008 - 2:30 PM

HAMILTON (AM900 CHML) - Supporting is waning, in regards to a proposal to restore a high-profile symbol of downtown decay.

Hamilton politicians have now voted to proceed with the possible purchase of a restored Lister Block, only if they get the developer to guarantee construction of a pair of residential towers behind it on James Street North.

Councillor Chad Collins says it's "now into the realm of the absurd".

Councillor Brad Clark argues that even if the developer comes in with a bond, it could later write it off as "the cost of doing business".

Clark also describes the proposed purchase of the Lister as "probably the most irresponsible financial decision Council could make".

The latest figures say the cost of buying space for staff in the heritage building would be 38 dollars per square foot, twice what the city currently pays at other downtown locations.   For taxpayers, that works out to an extra 1.3 million dollars in leasing costs each year.

[raisethehammer]

for petes sake...this is insane.

[flar]

Why can't they figure this out?

[raisethehammer]

that's the problem...they (LIUNA) have figured it out. A looooong time ago.
They're sitting in their office right now popping open the bubbly as they see the city backed into a corner that only has 3 possible results:

1. LIUNA gets a ton of taxpayer money
2. LIUNA gets a ton of taxpayer money
3. Downtown continues to suffer as the hostage

[SteelTown]

Finally the city and Liuna has reached a deal. The independent consultant estimates proved Liuna isn't gouging the city. We all know it cost a lot more money to renovate old buildings than to rebuild. Good to see this issue finally resolved even if you disagree with this process, it's been a long 4-year process. Any other developer would have been fed up years ago. Back in the beginning with just realcity and me the only forumers around we talked about Lister Block.

I like how the city made the deal based on having twin residential towers.