Harry Stinson on downtown Hamilton

[BCTed]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

...Stinson will pay $9.5 million within 30 days (that's the first test of credibility IMO), ...

Agreed.

[realcity]

Originally Posted by BCTed

You guys are insane to even entertain the idea of anything close to a 60 foot tower just because Harry Stinson came into town a couple of times. He is just trying to get a whiff of Hamilton because of his miserable failures in Toronto. He is like a snake oil salesman who was exposed as a fraud in another town, but has not yet been in this one.

If he could not get a 70 story tower built in Toronto, you can bet that a 50+ story job will not happen in Hamilton.

I'm going to love when this statement proves to be wrong.

[BCTed]

Originally Posted by realcity

I'm going to love when this statement proves to be wrong.

You're going to love it because Hamilton will have gained a 50+ story tower or you are going to love it because I will have been proven wrong?

Unfortunately for me and my statement, the nature of things is that there is no definitive way of ever being proven correct (with the morbid exception of the event of Harry Stinson's death.) There will always be a possibility, however faint, that HS will build a "WOW" tower.

I am not necessarily cheering against him and his bid to build a super-tall building ---- it is simply a matter of me not having faith or belief in him.

[raisethehammer]

Lol....bro, get over yourself.
Many of us have been posting on this board longer than you've lived here. It's all about Hamilton my friend. We have enough naysayers in town who have lived here their entire lives....adding one more to the mix is nothing new.
I can't speak for realcity, but I can't wait for that statement to be proven wrong because, a) we will have gained a 50+ storey tower, and b) people who I've had to put up with for my entire life slagging this city can finally be told to sit their fat backsides down in front of their TV and shut-up! Even though you're not a Hamiltonian, that negative attitude has persevered here for decades. You'll be happy to know that you aren't even close to being on my list of people that I can't wait to stick it to if Harry is successful.
It's the lifelong Hamilton deadbeats that will hear from me!!

[the dude]

Rachel De Lazzer
The Hamilton Spectator
(May 1, 2008)

Condo king Harry Stinson has made an offer on a sprawling Mountain brow property -- but he isn't saying what he has in mind.

Unity On The Mountain has been operating as a Christian retreat centre for more than 20 years.

"It's an institutional property in a residential neighbourhood and institutional (zoning) will allow an awful lot of things one may or may not want in a residential neighbourhood," he said yesterday.

But city zoning examiner Victoria Brito said the institutional zoning prohibits construction of anything like a highrise condominium or office building.

That would require a rezoning application, which includes a public consultation process.

The property, nearly 73 hectares on Rosedene Avenue off Upper James Street, is publicly listed for $2.9 million, but Stinson wouldn't say what he offered.

Rev. Don Foster with Unity On The Mountain, an incorporated entity that owns the property, said there has been a number of offers but none the group is willing to entertain -- except Stinson's.

"The most concrete offer is the one from Harry Stinson," said Foster, adding Stinson made a counter offer after initial discussions, and Unity has yet to review it.

Stinson said he made the offer around three weeks ago, but no agreement has been reached.

Foster said the church is looking at several possibilities, including selling the property and renting space from its new owner, or selling part of the building.

The church is selling the property after finding its retreat business financially inadequate.

It has been renting its bedrooms to Columbia International College students since March.

On the property is a brick home that was built around the turn of the century. A sanctuary building was added in 1950.

The facility also includes a cafeteria, 35 bedrooms and several meeting and prayer rooms.

[raisethehammer]

maybe we'll finally get a hot restaurant overlooking the city.
I doubt it though...the mountain NIMBYS won't hear of it.

[the dude]

while we've been fretting over the connaught, mr. stinson's been busy building his hamilton empire...well, not quite.

[SteelTown]

If it's a restaurant than I don't see a problem. Likely the only issue will be traffic, but come on it's right next to Claremount Acceess.

[the dude]

hmmm, i think residents will make a big stink about a change in zoning...but i've been wrong before!

i think that property would be an astounding...yes, astounding location for condos. the view looks straight down james. i think flar's got a shot of that view or a similar one at least.

look forward to hearing what he has in mind.

[SteelTown]

I doubt he'll want to place a condo there. Just a restaurant likely. Maybe he can help chip in the cost of an incline railway that used to be on that spot, you can see the trail from the map.

[Hammer Native]

That's very close to where he bought his house.

[flar]

I think this is the place, it's on a huge lot.

[BCTed]

Originally Posted by the dude

The property, nearly 73 hectares on Rosedene Avenue off Upper James Street, is publicly listed for $2.9 million, but Stinson wouldn't say what he offered.

73 hectares???? That does not sound right.

[realcity]

a restaurant and open air theartre would be nice. there used to be a theatre somewhere on the brow.

[flar]

Stinson lives about 3 minutes away by foot. And it is definitely not 73 hectares unless he's buying the mountain brow too. A few acres more likely.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by realcity

a restaurant and open air theartre would be nice. there used to be a theatre somewhere on the brow.

Yea, the old threatre is across the Access (it's a park now), used to be a incline railway so people could go up and watch a movie. The area is rich in entertainment history.

[Hammer Native]

It was originally a convent, that's why the property is big. But definitely not 73 hectares.

[the dude]

i think it must be 7.3 hectares, though even that seems too big.

the fact that he lives in the neighbourhood could help his cause for whatever he has planned. even at 7.3 ha it's a big property, so i'm guessing he'll want to maximize the return - i'm not sure that a restaurant will do that.

also, i'm pretty sure the building that used to stand across the street was the mountain view hotel...right at the top of the incline railway. you're probably thinking of summer's theatre which was further east at the top of the wentworth incline.

thanks 'postcards of hamilton'

[raisethehammer]

How about a new building like that old one? that would be sweet.
I'd go easy coming up with all these great ideas. This site is ON THE MOUNTAIN.
Home to some of Hamilton's craziest, anal NIMBYS.
Obviously a resto/condo mix would make sense...but the air is different up there...nothing makes sense.

[SteelTown]

What could go on the property if it's zoned as istitutional? hotel? restaurant?