Lister Block | ? | 6 fl | Renovation

[highwater]

Originally Posted by the dude

this is what happens when you allow your city to be taken over by pimps, rapists and thugs.

Literal or figurative?

[Millstone]

Originally Posted by highwater

Literal or figurative?

I couldn't figure it out either

[flar]

King William has certainly taken a beating. But there is also opportunity there. It could be amazing if something sensible is done to the arcade of the Lister and new buildings are built on the south side of the street and the two empty lots. With the nice narrow street and the beautiful still existing buildings, King William could really be something.

[raisethehammer]

Originally Posted by flar

King William has certainly taken a beating. But there is also opportunity there. It could be amazing if something sensible is done to the arcade of the Lister and new buildings are built on the south side of the street and the two empty lots. With the nice narrow street and the beautiful still existing buildings, King William could really be something.

I've been saying that for 15 years. A decade ago I would go to King William weekly. Reardons, Pettaplace, Gallery, Rude Native/Lounge, Junction Cafe, Bistro Virgo etc.....
All that's left of those is Reardons and new additions like Bread and Roses and Pepperjack are really good too. I probably go there once a month now. Haven't been to Reardons in ages.
The street is definitly going the wrong way.
I thought the Junction was the signal of the 'new' Hamilton and new King William etc.... it's departure has left a huge hole in the street.

[the dude]

Originally Posted by highwater

Literal or figurative?

it was meant to be literal...very literal.

[Millstone]

An olde tyme ad was revealed on the east side, [something] Lithographers.

[adam]

I took a leisurely bike ride downtown with a camera today and snapped this from the parking lot across the street..

[matt602]

Nice stuff. Probably dates back to the same era as the old Coke sign beside St. Deny's.

[adam]

The graffiti above the sign makes it all the more interesting.. here's a better overall view.

[DC83]

Wow neat stuff. Good thing LIUNA tore it down or we would never have been able to rediscover that sign!

ps: I was being sarcastic! That graffiti should say 'LIUNA SMASH' instead!

[matt602]

Well at least it'll look like a nice park.

[SteelTown]

Heritage committee refuses to sink Lister Block agreement

By Kevin Werner
News
Aug 01, 2008

Heritage committee members have refused to make waves on the recent agreement between the city and the Laborer's International Union of North America deal to renovate the historical Lister Block.

Some members earlier this year had expressed an interest in getting the Lister Block on the Canadian Register of Historical Places.

A historic place is one "that has been formally recognized for its heritage value by an appropriate author," stated the Web site.

Since the city is expected to own the building under the $25 million deal, it is up to the municipality to nominate the structure.

A few members remained keen on granting further protection for the Lister Block's heritage value to the city.

The designation does not offer any historical protection to the building, said Sharon Vattay, the city's cultural heritage planner. Nor does the acknowledgement mean any funding, she said.

But the recognition, she said, could allow the owners access to grants.

The Lister Block had been designated in 1996 under the Ontario Heritage Act.

"Rock the boat"

But committee chair Art French said he doesn't want to "rock the boat" and ask councillors to submit the application. At a recent council meeting, Mr. French said he sensed a reluctance from politicians to grant further historical protection to the building without approval from LIUNA.

"The feeling I got was let's not rock the boat," he said. "I'm not going to rock the boat."

Still, committee member Kathryn Wakeman said the officials who are preserving the Lister Block should be recognized for their efforts.

"It rewards what they are doing," she said.

The committee agreed to recommend to the city, once the Lister Block renovations are completed, that the building be placed on Canada's historic places list.

A heritage condition survey and heritage conservation strategy are currently underway. The heritage committee will have the opportunity to review and approve any proposed changes to the building's heritage components that may occur during construction, under the agreement approved by council in June.

The building's heritage conservation strategy is expected to be submitted to the city by Oct. 15, along with a site plan application, and a utility service design.

Under the agreement the the city and LIUNA will apply for heritage and building permits by June 30, 2009. Construction is expected to begin July 2009, and continue until July 2011.

[ryan_mcgreal]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

"The feeling I got was let's not rock the boat," he said. "I'm not going to rock the boat."

Epic fail for a citizen oversight committee.

[BrianE]

We can't be too harsh on them. We have to remember that they're trying to enforce a law that has no real teeth, while working with a council and industry that has no respect for the work they do while being responsible to a populace that doesn't care or understand what it is they're trying to accomplish.

[ryan_mcgreal]

Originally Posted by BrianE

We can't be too harsh on them. We have to remember that they're trying to enforce a law that has no real teeth, while working with a council and industry that has no respect for the work they do while being responsible to a populace that doesn't care or understand what it is they're trying to accomplish.

Then they have nothing to lose, do they?

[DC83]

I found an interesting photo on an Pittsburgh photo-tour here of a neat parkette.


photo by Evergrey

If LIUNA were to do something like THIS in that hole, than I wouldn't be too opposed. But I'm sure it would most likely be just some grass with 4 used benches.

[raisethehammer]

they won't do that. no chance.
wicked parkette though.

[LikeHamilton]

Here is the little parket next to Rardons.

[matt602]

We certainly need more of that generic "green space" downtown. For sure. Look at all those tiny bushes and perfectly laid mulch!

[FRM]

they really didn't spare any expenses when it came to designing this piece of crap