Lister Block | ? | 6 fl | Renovation

[raisethehammer]

Originally Posted by Millstone

No, it's smart business.

yes, you're right.
In Hamilton 'smart business' involves breaking the law and backroom mafia-style deals.

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

Does anyone have a copy of the demolition permit? Of late, council has been issuing demolition permits with the condition that construction of a replacement building start within two years of demolition. It would be interesting to see if this stipulation was applied equally to the LIUNA properties or if they get special treatment yet again.

I'm guessing the demolition permit does have special items attached as it's a demolition based on an engineering report which says the building is unstable.

Let's not forget LIUNA is going being a good corporate citizen and is demolishing the building to protect the public in case it collapses! Note, I said that with tons, and tons, of sarcasm in my post.

[realcity]

why don't they plant corn? then LIUNA can be taxed at the Agri property tax rate. Knowing Hamilton, vacant commercial is probably lower then agri.

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

well, if that's true, then that bylaw is completely useless.

Any law is only as good as the people (and community) who police and enforce it, and we the general public have a large roll by reporting infractions and supporting, sometimes pushing, for their enforcement.

Unfortunately, I think there are a few problems in Hamilton.

1. People talk about the breaking of bylaws, but don't officially report them. Bob Bratina is quoted as saying he's had a slew of calls, but calling a councillor isn't the right channel to lodge an official complaint. Reporting the infraction to the proper bylaw authorities is the right channel. Reporting it to a councillor should only ever compliment a formal complaint.

2. The city and the bylaw enforcement department must enforce bylaws equally and to the fullest extent possible. Recent media coverage on changes to the bylaw office indicate that office was lax in it's work efforts. And quotations like the one Bob Bratina made in The Spec article leads one to believe there's a lack of political will to enforce the bylaws equally to all.

Hopefully, this will change. After living in Hamilton for just 3.5 weeks, I for one have plans to become much more involved with City of Hamilton bylaws and their proper enforcement.

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by realcity

why don't they plant corn? then LIUNA can be taxed at the Agri property tax rate. Knowing Hamilton, vacant commercial is probably lower then agri.

Actually, a community garden is a really, really good idea. It would be a nice complement, not a competitor, to the Farmer's Market and add a certain flare to King William.

I've always liked the idea of providing small patches of land to farm, to those who are concrete bound (i.e. apartment/condo dwellers).

[highwater]

Originally Posted by FairHamilton

1. People talk about the breaking of bylaws, but don't officially report them. Bob Bratina is quoted as saying he's had a slew of calls, but calling a councillor isn't the right channel to lodge an official complaint. Reporting the infraction to the proper bylaw authorities is the right channel. Reporting it to a councillor should only ever compliment a formal complaint.

Bratina's office should be forwarding the complaints to the proper department, or at the very least giving out the relevant contact info. That's what my councillor does. Our neighbourhood association is very good at publishing the contact info for the various types of bylaw enforcement, so I usually know who to call. Occasionally I'm not sure so I contact my councillor's office and they've always helped me out.

[highwater]

Fairhamilton, I don't know what neighbourhood you're in, but one of the first things you should do is join your neighbourhood association. Your neighbourhood association and your councillor should be able to give you all the info on who to call for what infractions. It can be a bit Byzantine. I was the Mrs. Cratchett of Sterling St. when we lived there. I was on the phone to one department or another nearly every week. It's time-consuming and a bit demoralizing, not because of the city - I always got good service, it's just that no one like to see themselves as the local busybody/tattle-tale. Someone's got to care enough to do it though, and as one of the few remaining resident homeowners on Sterling, I figured it was me. Overall I had very positive dealings with staff, especially Building and Licensing who always seemed pleased and thankful that someone cared enough to call. Most of the frustrations came from the limits on what they were able to do.

[Millstone]

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

yes, you're right.
In Hamilton 'smart business' involves breaking the law and backroom mafia-style deals.

Not being a — to your developers is a surefire way to get them to do more business in your town.

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by highwater

Bratina's office should be forwarding the complaints to the proper department, or at the very least giving out the relevant contact info. That's what my councillor does. Our neighbourhood association is very good at publishing the contact info for the various types of bylaw enforcement, so I usually know who to call. Occasionally I'm not sure so I contact my councillor's office and they've always helped me out.

Perhaps the office did, I can't comment. Though, I would think most callers like to tell their councillor what they think, but shrink at the thought of diving into dealing with city bureaucracy.

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by highwater

Fairhamilton, I don't know what neighbourhood you're in, but one of the first things you should do is join your neighbourhood association.

I think I'm in the same neighbourhood as you. I recall you mentioned that you live in the Scott Park area, and we live in the King & Sherman area. I guess I should contact Morelli's office and ask for some details on such things.

[raisethehammer]

Originally Posted by Millstone

Not being a — to your developers is a surefire way to get them to do more business in your town.

exactly. I don't want them doing anything more in my town. They've ruined enough already.

[ryan_mcgreal]

Not being a — to your developers is a surefire way to get them to do more business in your town.

Having fair, straightforward policies that are enforced consistently is a surefire way to attract reputable businesses that aren't always trying to flout the rules.

[highwater]

Originally Posted by FairHamilton

I think I'm in the same neighbourhood as you. I recall you mentioned that you live in the Scott Park area, and we live in the King & Sherman area. I guess I should contact Morelli's office and ask for some details on such things.

Actually I'm in Westdale. I'm not sure if there's a neighbourhood association in your area, but if there isn't, you could start one! Not sure if you want to get quite THAT involved . Morelli's office should be able to help you out. McHattie has links to the NA's in his ward on his website. Maybe Morelli does too.

[FairHamilton]

Originally Posted by highwater

Actually I'm in Westdale. I'm not sure if there's a neighbourhood association in your area, but if there isn't, you could start one! Not sure if you want to get quite THAT involved . Morelli's office should be able to help you out. McHattie has links to the NA's in his ward on his website. Maybe Morelli does too.

Oops sorry, I'm obviously confusing you with another person on the board. You are right about not wanting to start my own.

Thanks for the navigational help.

[flar]

The neighbourhoods near King and Sherman are St. Clair, Gibson, Blakely and Stipley. St. Clair definitely has an association, many neighbourhoods in Hamilton do. I think BrianE lives near you.

[highwater]

Originally Posted by ryan_mcgreal

Having fair, straightforward policies that are enforced consistently is a surefire way to attract reputable businesses that aren't always trying to flout the rules.

You nailed it. Allowing certain businesses to flout the law gives them an unfair advantage over their competitors. How is that "smart business"? My partner and I own a small business. It drives me crazy when I see other businesses given unfair advantage because they think nothing of disobeying the sign bylaws, etc. If I were a developer or parking lot owner I'd be livid, and would think twice about doing business in this city.

[raisethehammer]

there's obviously some people on this board who work for the criminals at LIUNA. It gets tiring having to point out their slumlord practices and criminal practices over and over and over....

[raisethehammer]

Originally Posted by flar

The neighbourhoods near King and Sherman are St. Clair, Gibson, Blakely and Stipley. St. Clair definitely has an association, many neighbourhoods in Hamilton do. I think BrianE lives near you.

South Stipley started a NA last year or two years ago...Morelli should know how to contact them (if he's ever at work).

[BrianE]

Originally Posted by flar

The neighbourhoods near King and Sherman are St. Clair, Gibson, Blakely and Stipley. St. Clair definitely has an association, many neighbourhoods in Hamilton do. I think BrianE lives near you.

Yep, I'm in the Blakely neighborhood. There's no formal association that i've ever seen. But South Stipley does have something going on, there was an article in the Spec a year or two ago, there might be a webpage too.

[FairHamilton]

OK, please excuse my newness to Hamilton.

I know where the St. Clair neighbourhood is but I live east of Sherman, between Main & King. So where are all the other neighbourhoods listed (i.e. Stipley, Gibson, Blakely)?