Downtown Update - Page 11

oldcoote · #**201** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 3:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

hmmm, I asked this very question over in the Locke St discussion and only recieved one reply so far - from BCTed stating that the big retailers/chains don't operate like that, following each other into new neighbourhoods.
Queen West in TO seems to indicate otherwise, but I really have no idea...does anyone know if the presence of two mega-chains like Lulu and Starbucks will help draw other big retail downtown or is Ted right?

Major retailers often transform neighbourhoods.

When Sporting Life moved to it's current North Toronto location (north of Eglinton on Yonge), it transformed the entire strip. What used to be a myriad of mom and pop shops became Roots, Gap, Second Cups, followed by Chapters, Future Shop, and a number of mom and pops as well.
The Restoration Hardware there is also very popular.

Now, Restoration Hardware would be a great destination retailer for Hamilton.

DC83 · #**202** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 3:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

work is progressing in the corner building owned by the WestTown guys. Not sure what's happening in there, but reno's are underway.

Really? Wow, that was quick. I was there last on Sunday, and I had noticed they ripped down the paper covering the windows and added a "For Lease" sign. If they leased the bldg THAT quickly all b/c they ripped down the window-blocking paper, then that's amazing! haha

I REALLY wanted a bar/resto patio there... stupid NIMBYs!

DC83 · #**203** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 3:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldcoote

Now, Restoration Hardware would be a great destination retailer for Hamilton.

omg I WISH!! I think RH is a lil 'ritsy' for Hamilton residents, and wouldn't do nearly as well as it does at it's Yng/Eg, Forest Hill hood. That area is dripping with yuppies!

That neighbourhood is my favourite shopping hood in Toronto, actually. There's TONS of big-name shops that moved in after SL: West49, Puma, Roots, Lululemon, a SECOND Sporting Life, a Firkin Pub, Kitchen Stuff Plus (LOVE IT), the norms (dollar store, mcdonalds, b-king, etc) and of course TONS of indy shops/restos/bars. Damn... if Locke turns into the next Forest Hill, then you KNOW Downtown Hamilton's retail drought wil come to an end!

oldcoote · #**204** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 4:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC83

omg I WISH!! I think RH is a lil 'ritsy' for Hamilton residents, and wouldn't do nearly as well as it does at it's Yng/Eg, Forest Hill hood. That area is dripping with yuppies!

That neighbourhood is my favourite shopping hood in Toronto, actually. There's TONS of big-name shops that moved in after SL: West49, Puma, Roots, Lululemon, a SECOND Sporting Life, a Firkin Pub, Kitchen Stuff Plus (LOVE IT), the norms (dollar store, mcdonalds, b-king, etc) and of course TONS of indy shops/restos/bars. Damn... if Locke turns into the next Forest Hill, then you KNOW Downtown Hamilton's retail drought wil come to an end!

Sorry, not to nit-pick, but Yonge & Eglinton is not Forest Hill.

Forest Hill is further south-west, closer to St-Clair. The actual Forest Hill Village is along Spadina, just north of St Clair.

DC83 · #**205** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 5:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldcoote

Sorry, not to nit-pick, but Yonge & Eglinton is not Forest Hill.

Forest Hill is further south-west, closer to St-Clair. The actual Forest Hill Village is along Spadina, just north of St Clair.

No need to apologize. But when I lived in Toronto, Torontonians (specifically people living in this area) referred to this neighbourhood as 'Forest Hill', so I just repeat what Torontonians tought me about their city.

ps: I never once referred to (nor do Torontonians refer to) this shopping district as 'Forest Hill Village'. Infact, most refer to the shopping district simply as 'Yonge & Eglinton' or 'Yonge & Eg', or somtimes even 'Up Town'.

FairHamilton · #**206** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 6:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldcoote

Now, Restoration Hardware would be a great destination retailer for Hamilton.

Unfortunately, they are financially disadvantaged and I doubt will be opening any new stores in Canada in the forseeable future.

Besides, I was at the one in Bayview Village a few weeks ago and there really wasn't as much that interested me as in previous years (perhaps that's why they are weak financially)

FairHamilton · #**207** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 6:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC83

Hey kewl, thanks! I didn't know that! I haven't spent much time on Queen West since I was a teenager.

In fact they are already in their second location on Queen Street, having moved a few months ago. Originally, they were west of Spadina, and are now east of Spadina.

I'm work at Spadina and Adelaide, so I'm on Queen W pretty much everyday.

oldcoote · #**208** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 8:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC83

No need to apologize. But when I lived in Toronto, Torontonians (specifically people living in this area) referred to this neighbourhood as 'Forest Hill', so I just repeat what Torontonians tought me about their city.

ps: I never once referred to (nor do Torontonians refer to) this shopping district as 'Forest Hill Village'. Infact, most refer to the shopping district simply as 'Yonge & Eglinton' or 'Yonge & Eg', or somtimes even 'Up Town'.

That's true.

I only know what I do because I grew up in that neighbourhood, and later owned a house there. You might call it a poor man's Forest Hill.

Forest Hill homes are found west of Avenue Rd. If you ever driven the area to the west of Upper Canada College, that's prime Forest Hill. Beautiful homes too. Can't imagine the property taxes.

matt602 · #**209** Posted **Mar 20, 2008, 9:13 PM**

Forest Hill's boundaries can be a little odd to figure out. If you drive West on Eglinton, you'll run into it in the area East of Bathurst as well (pretty much everything between Avenue Rd. and Bathurst). It certainly doesn't extend East of there though, that is certainly Yonge/Eglinton. I was born and raised right in that area, I know it incredibly well. The traditional Forest Hill area is St. Clair/Avenue Rd. though.

Yonge/Eglinton wasn't always as prosperous as it is now. When I was born it was very much like downtown Hamilton. Lots of dollar stores, indy stores and crappy small name places. Things really exploded in the late '90s and early millennium though and now it's comparable to the parts of Yonge South of it. The transformation of Yonge/Eglinton Centre had a lot of influence on developments on Yonge and Eglinton East. It's almost un-recognizable to me now, actually.

(I would talk about this in Local: Toronto but nobody seems to be interested about anything other than super tall proposals there - sorry for the off topic, I can't resist talking about my old neighborhood)

FairHamilton · #**210** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 12:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldcoote

Can't imagine the property taxes.

Considering Toronto's low mill rate, they are probably not too bad in relation to the value of the homes.

oldcoote · #**211** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 1:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt602

Forest Hill's boundaries can be a little odd to figure out. If you drive West on Eglinton, you'll run into it in the area East of Bathurst as well (pretty much everything between Avenue Rd. and Bathurst). It certainly doesn't extend East of there though, that is certainly Yonge/Eglinton. I was born and raised right in that area, I know it incredibly well. The traditional Forest Hill area is St. Clair/Avenue Rd. though.

Yonge/Eglinton wasn't always as prosperous as it is now. When I was born it was very much like downtown Hamilton. Lots of dollar stores, indy stores and crappy small name places. Things really exploded in the late '90s and early millennium though and now it's comparable to the parts of Yonge South of it. The transformation of Yonge/Eglinton Centre had a lot of influence on developments on Yonge and Eglinton East. It's almost un-recognizable to me now, actually.

(I would talk about this in Local: Toronto but nobody seems to be interested about anything other than super tall proposals there - sorry for the off topic, I can't resist talking about my old neighborhood)

What street did you grow up on?

matt602 · #**212** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 2:20 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldcoote

What street did you grow up on?

Petman Ave. I miss it.

On topic, there was people working on the Foster building again today. They seemed to be doing drywall in the Mackay building. Victoria Hall is still largely untouched.

raisethehammer · #**213** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 2:26 AM**

London Tap House is slowly coming along...I like the nice big wooden doors. 2 on Main, 1 on John.

HAMRetrofit · #**214** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 3:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt602

(I would talk about this in Local: Toronto but nobody seems to be interested about anything other than super tall proposals there - sorry for the off topic, I can't resist talking about my old neighborhood)

I would too. This summarizes why the Toronto Local thread is of no interest to me. Hamilton Local has some of the best urban discussions on this whole forum.

the dude · #**215** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 3:19 AM**

^haha...when was the tap house supposed to be finished? hallowe'en?

man, by the time i roll back into town, locke will resemble a mini sherbrooke st. once again, the spill-over effect could be tremendous. i can also imagine real estate in kirkendall going completely into the stratosphere.

HAMRetrofit · #**216** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 3:42 AM**

Locke is on the verge of supporting some nice multimillion dollar condos.

SteelTown · #**217** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 3:48 AM**

^ 230 Dundurn would be ideal.

One of the most profitable LCBO in Ontario is on Dundurn.

the dude · #**218** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 3:52 AM**

^is that the abandoned warehouse?

dundurn now finds itself at the centre of two exciting [or potentially exciting] areas - locke and mip. its gentrification will likely take care of itself.

Millstone · #**219** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 4:15 AM**

I drove by the new Starbucks tonight. It was closed, but doesn't have a huge presence and I almost missed it (northbound).

raisethehammer · #**220** Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 12:27 PM**

Yea, I agree they've done a good job at blending into the streetscape like other businesses on Locke.
The small circular sign over the sidewalk is just like the other signs that hang along the street. I'm glad they didn't try to make a big show out of it and dominate the street.