Downtown Update

[drpgq]

Originally Posted by matt602

Rumor on facebook is that Waltz is closing down to be replaced by a "chicken wing place". Anchor Bar, I'm guessing. Kinda —... Waltz was getting a bit better in the last year than it used to be.

Hmmm, I thought the Anchor Bar was going in at the old Druxy's. Only because I walked by last weekend and it seemed that they were doing renos in that spot. Or at least looked like it.

[mattgrande]

Does anyone know when Burrito Boyz is planning on opening?

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by drpgq

Hmmm, I thought the Anchor Bar was going in at the old Druxy's. Only because I walked by last weekend and it seemed that they were doing renos in that spot. Or at least looked like it.

Wonder if that might be part of the supermarket reno.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by durandy

The Torstar group is a giant puddle of fluff.

The one good thing about that crappy article is it made me go back and read this brilliant article again.

This line for example:

"In the late 1970s, the Bill Davis government wanted to give Hamilton a light rail transit system that would link its downtown and waterfront to the airport. The government saw it as a chance to test-market something it wanted to sell worldwide. But Hamilton was sure that if the province wanted to give it something like that, there must be something wrong with it. So it said no to a freebie that would have transformed the city."

It wasn't light rail. It was a skytrain like they have in Vancouver. At the time the Ontario government owned the company that was developing the technology. They have the same thing in Detroit as well.

[Frankenrogers]

Originally Posted by drpgq

Hmmm, I thought the Anchor Bar was going in at the old Druxy's. Only because I walked by last weekend and it seemed that they were doing renos in that spot. Or at least looked like it.

Looks like Waltz.

On Twitter on September 19 they said:
"@KevinCoker: @AnchorBar_CA Do you have a location in Jackson Square confirmed yet?" Next to mc donalds. Replacing waltz

And then said that they will have "one maybe two" patios as well.

[Pearlstreet]

Coffee Culture has a sign out front on the Gore building seeking a new franchise owner. I hope that starts the shift eastward for new developments.

So much going on in Hamilton, this forum is a buzz!

[movingtohamilton]

Pearlstreet, I've been going to the Centre Mall location. Dundurn may have a decent selection of craft beer but the store is a mess and the parking is nasty. The Centre Mall LCBO has a good selection and a giant beer fridge where all beer is kept.

If the Jackson Square location can be massively improved, it will get a real uptick in business from people who normally would not shop there. But I'm not optimistic.

[flar]

One time I went to the JS LCBO I was a bit shocked to see some trappist beers in there. Then I saw some scruffy looking guys buying them and it occured to me that it was actually a really good deal to pay three something for one beer with 10% ABV (it's two beers in one!)

[CaptainKirk]

Waltz Live Music, which has had sidewalk-side real estate in Jackson Square for 25 years, is being forced to move. Owner Hannah Hsiao says she hopes to relocate it, preferably downtown. But the circumstances behind the move still sting.

Hsiao's business is in the location of the future Anchor Bar, an iconic Buffalo-based restaurant where the chicken wing was invented. Hsiao was notified by Jackson Square property managers on Aug. 29 that she had until the end of September to vacate.

Hsiao, who has owned the business for eight years, says she's heartbroken.

http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/economy/story/2012/09/27/hamilton-waltz-music.html

[flar]

Hamilton is a strange place. Oodles of vacant retail space, yet viable businesses get kicked out. Oodles of empty lots, yet viable buildings are demolished to build new ones.

I have an idea! Build new buildings in the empty lots and open new businesses in the vacant retail spaces!

[Jon Dalton]

Yale Properties is wierd in that it sits on a half empty mall and kicks out tenants to 'make room' for other tenants. Surely there could have been a better solution.

So Anchor Bar wants frontage on King Street, we can figure that out. How about shuffling some other shops around to better utilize the frontage that exists? The shops closer to James Street barely use any of their frontage.

How about repurposing the old Bank of Montreal for restaurant or retail? It would look really cool overlooking James Street with all that glass. They could even have a two level restaurant.

Something has to be better than losing one bar to gain another. Anchor Bar must have signed a pretty big lease.

[Pearlstreet]

Looks like our city parks are getting some attention!

I have a place nearby J.C. Beemer Park off Victoria Ave. North. I was excited to see a new 'clubhouse' being built! I am not sure of its purpose really. I have tried to look online, but it doesn't say much other than a 'clubhouse'. Does anyone know? This park has had a much needed facelift this summer with addition of a water splash pad, brick entrance way and daytime summer supervision staff!

J.C. Beemer Park Clubhouse:
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]


Victoria Park off King and Locke Streets is seeing a utility shed turn into a now proposed Cafe! Ward councellor McHattie is taking suggestions currently.

If park-side cafes are good enough for Paris, its good enough for me!!!



Random note... I am loving these fun artistic items throughout surrounding James Street area! I'd love to see more!

[mattgrande]

Meanwhile, in Stinson, we had a big park cleanup/makeover last week. Part of this involved painting the utility shed bright yellow, and having kids paint on it. It looked great! Then, over the weekend, the City came by and returned it to it's former drab grey.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Nice to see that park on Victoria getting some love. It's a sad little place.

[AndyLHoang]

On the Commerce Place building, there's a new sign up top that says Canon. Is Canon going to be locating some of its offices there? Or is it more just advertising?

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by AndyLHoang

On the Commerce Place building, there's a new sign up top that says Canon. Is Canon going to be locating some of its offices there? Or is it more just advertising?

IIRC, an office of 40 or so people.

http://www.canon.ca/inetCA/subCategoryHo...39994DDB?msegid=32&catid=555&scatid=4343

[Jon Dalton]

Downtown property up for sale:

Value In Land! This property has very flexible D4 zoning. Opportunity for residential or retail re-development. Eligible for Gov't incentive programs. Very busy corner. Steps from Copps Coliseum, Farmers Market, Hamilton City Centr e, Hamilton Art Gallery, and the Hamilton Convention Centre. Ample parking nearby.

http://www.icx.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=12287846&PidKey=67994335

This property has been a repair shop for as long as I remember. The adjacent lot is where they mostly keep rusty 1980's Volkswagen Golfs for $600 as-is. Can't imagine it getting sold to a Ford dealer or some upscale repair shop - they use like half the building and the rest is boarded up. I hope this becomes residential. The whole area between Cannon and the farmer's market is underutilized like this, and I'd love to see it redeveloped in my lifetime.

[SteelTown]

Harper Government Commemorates Sir Isaac Brock and his Role in the War of 1812

http://dcnonl.com/nw/32270/gc

HAMILTON, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 10, 2012) - Local Member of Parliament for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, David Sweet, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women, today announced that the building located at 55 Bay Street in Hamilton, Ontario, will be named the Sir Isaac Brock Building in recognition of his contribution during the War of 1812.

"I am delighted that this building is being named in recognition of Sir Isaac Brock, who helped shape our nation," Minister Ambrose stated. "Sir Isaac Brock, a hero of Upper Canada, played a crucial role in Canada's development by ensuring victory in the Battle of Queenston Heights."

During the naming ceremony, MP Sweet unveiled a plaque that will adorn the building. "It is fitting that we name this building after Sir Isaac Brock, since it stands just a few kilometres away from the site of the historic Battle of Queenston Heights, where he sacrificed his life defending Canada," said MP Sweet.

This event is part of several commemoration activities taking place this year to mark the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. This anniversary is an opportunity for all Canadians to take pride in our country's traditions and history. The end of the war laid the foundation for Confederation and Canada's ultimate emergence as an independent nation in North America.

The building was constructed in 2003 and was purchased by the Government of Canada in 2008. It is currently occupied by the Canada Revenue Agency, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, National Defence, Veterans Affairs Canada, Correctional Service Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, Health Canada, Industry Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada and a number of commercial tenants.

[drpgq]

Anyone know what's going on at the lot at Young and Catherine? There seemed to be some activity going on there last week.

[matt602]

Isn't that where "The Corktowns" is being built?