Prettiest Apartments in Hamilton

ikerrin · #1 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 1:03 PM**

Hi,

I know this a pretty self serving thread, but maybe it will feed the interests of all you Hamilton folks who want to show of the hidden treasures of Hamilton.

When I was going to Mac, i remember that there was a really lovely old Apartment building near downtown between Main/King and the mountain. I think it was close to the TV station. It looked about from the 1930's and had little iron railings just below the windows. It looked like something you would see in Paris. I was wondering if anyone had any pictures of it.

Also, I would like to put it forward as my pick for Hamilton's prettiest apartment building. I thought I would throw out a challenge though. Are there even nicer apartments (not newer, or ritzier, this is all about the basic bones of a building and what it would look like if properly cared for.)

Anyway, nominate your buildings. If it works well, maybe we can upgrade the thread to Ontario wide and see how our building compare to others in province.

rousseau · #2 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 4:16 PM**

Great idea for a thread, but useless without pics. To continue the futility because I don't have any pics of my own, I nominate two more:

1. That gorgeous apartment on Bold between James and MacNab. I almost moved in there at one time, but decided that the floors were too creaky.
2. That really nice block on King at Tisdale, one building in from the corner (sadly next to a parking lot). Every time I go by I marvel at how very Chicago-esque it is.

Pics, anyone?

realcity · #3 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 4:23 PM**

I'm not sure about the building you mentioned, but if there was also a small balcony behind the railings, then those are 'French Balconies'. vintage french balconies are rare in Hamilton.

I'm a big fan of them, they add character to the facade, and they have a function, you can step out and look down the street. The typical open balcony looks clunky and usually get junked up with stuff.

Good thread. I think it will turn into an architectural opinion and discussion.

Someone here will know that building.

SteelTown · #4 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 4:31 PM**

Forget the name but it's the tallest building on Hamilton Mountain. It looks a lot better now with the renovations. I know realcity knows the building that I'm talking about. Fennell and Upper Gage.

realcity · #5 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 4:40 PM**

^
El Mirador

realcity · #6 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 4:45 PM**

I know this isn't an apartment building (yet) but i would like to see this converted. It has a great lobby too, AND keep the name and sign if it ever is.

This is Hamilton so it'll be named something like 'The Hamilton James South Apartments City Centre'.

BrianE · #7 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 4:54 PM**

I always liked the 3 and 4 story walkups in my area around Sherman and Gage along Main St and King St. I think they add a certain character to the neighborhood. Flar has a bunch of pictures of these in his St Clair and Delta threads if I recall.

I've always had a soft spot for the Pigott building. They're condos now, I believe so not technically apartments... but whateves.

Hammer Native · #8 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 5:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ikerrin

Hi,

I know this a pretty self serving thread, but maybe it will feed the interests of all you Hamilton folks who want to show of the hidden treasures of Hamilton.

When I was going to Mac, i remember that there was a really lovely old Apartment building near downtown between Main/King and the mountain. I think it was close to the TV station. It looked about from the 1930's and had little iron railings just below the windows. It looked like something you would see in Paris. I was wondering if anyone had any pictures of it.

Also, I would like to put it forward as my pick for Hamilton's prettiest apartment building. I thought I would throw out a challenge though. Are there even nicer apartments (not newer, or ritzier, this is all about the basic bones of a building and what it would look like if properly cared for.)

Anyway, nominate your buildings. If it works well, maybe we can upgrade the thread to Ontario wide and see how our building compare to others in province.

Sorry I don't have a picture, but I think you mean the one on the northwest corner of Bay and Herkimer. I believe it's still very well maintained and they are selective about tenants. If somebody is around there and wants to snap a picture.

FairHamilton · #9 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 5:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer Native

Sorry I don't have a picture, but I think you mean the one on the northwest corner of Bay and Herkimer. I believe it's still very well maintained and they are selective about tenants. If somebody is around there and wants to snap a picture.

Yes, I believe those are the ones that were built with servants quarters. Very nice.

rousseau · #10 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 6:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer Native

...I think you mean the one on the northwest corner of Bay and Herkimer.

Dios mio, yes, that one's the most gorgeous place in all of the Hammer. I just did a quick scour of Flar's photos to find the buildings.

Here's the one I was talking about on Bold:

This kind of building is charming, in its way. I don't know where it is, but it's from Flar's tour of St. Clair.

I don't think Flar has a photo of the nice one at King and Tisdale, unfortunately. If he did it would have turned up in the Gibson photo thread.

flar · #11 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 6:26 PM**

I also like this building in Durand:

There are probably close to 100 3-4 storey walkups in the vicinity of King St between downtown and the Delta, many of them are (or would be) really nice.

I probably photographed the building at Tisdale, but I don't know if it made it into an official photo tour.

flar · #12 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 6:38 PM**

Maybe this is the one?

Edit: no wait, that's not at Tisdale, but it's nice.
Edit again: I think it is at Tisdale, someone refresh my memory!

Hammer Native · #13 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 6:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flar

Maybe this is the one?

Edit: no wait, that's not at Tisdale, but it's nice.
Edit again: I think it is at Tisdale, someone refresh my memory!

You're right, just west of Tisdale.

Hammer Native · #14 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 7:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by realcity

I know this isn't an apartment building (yet) but i would like to see this converted. It has a great lobby too, AND keep the name and sign if it ever is.

This is Hamilton so it'll be named something like 'The Hamilton James South Apartments City Centre'.

Yes this is a great building, the upper floors are pretty much unspoiled too. I remember when I was a kid in the 70's they still had elevator operators just like Eaton's.

Hammer Native · #15 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 7:20 PM**

^^^And I was thinking Medical Arts would also make a grand (no pun intended) hotel if the medical offices moved out like they did from the Professional Arts building to the north. That empty parking lot beside it would provide room for expansion, (parking complex, rec. facilities, etc). It's got ambiance and a great location. What an impression that could make to visitors.

Years ago there was a Ramada Hotel proposal for the Piggot building but that fell through. I guess that's the problem, a lot of great proposals not coming to fruition.

rousseau · #16 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 7:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flar

I also like this building in Durand:

The Herkimer Apts. I lived there between 2002 and 2004. They have a living room at the front, a kitchen at the back, two bedrooms and a bathroom behind the kitchen, and three bedrooms and a bathroom along the very long corridor. They're very long, in other words.

And yes, that is the one at King and Tisdale I was thinking of. Nice!

FairHamilton · #17 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 7:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by flar

Maybe this is the one?

Edit: no wait, that's not at Tisdale, but it's nice.
Edit again: I think it is at Tisdale, someone refresh my memory!

Nice, though currently it's showing a couple of tags on the front (and side) in red paint.

discomonkey · #18 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 9:59 PM**

Hello,

Has anybody been inside any of these apartment buildings? Are pictures available? I am looking for a new place to live starting September and would love to get into an older building like the ones mentioned here. I love the one at Herkimer and Bay but there is no vacancy right now. The one on Tisdale is very nice... how is that neighbourhood?

Thanks,

Mike

ikerrin · #19 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 10:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rousseau

Dios mio, yes, that one's the most gorgeous place in all of the Hammer. I just did a quick scour of Flar's photos to find the buildings.

Thanks for finding this Rousseau. It definitely looks like the one. I always imagined moving there and doing grad school when I was at McMaster. Before Mac, I was in farm country, so I think this building was the first place in Canada that I ever associated with urban James Bondesque living

For anyone interested, here is the the write-up on it from wikipedia

"Herkimer Apartments, on the corner of Bay Street South and Herkimer Street, was the first Hamilton apartment installed with an elevator, which ran from the basement to the fifth floor. A New York-style structure was built of fireproof reinforced concrete dressed in rug brick with white, glazed terracotta trim. The building today looks much as it did when it opened in July 1915, minus a wooden pergola that once graced the roof"

Apparently, others have their eye on this place - i.e, for condos:

http://www.tcarch.ca/projects.php?projectID=61

rousseau · #20 Posted **Jul 30, 2009, 11:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by discomonkey

Has anybody been inside any of these apartment buildings? Are pictures available?

I lived here, at 43 Herkimer:

Here's a photo of the lo-o-o-ong hallway in the apartment. To restate what I said in a post above, there is a living room at the front, a kitchen at the back, two bedrooms and a bathroom behind the kitchen, and three bedrooms and a bathroom along the corridor: