Downtown Update

[LikeHamilton]

Originally Posted by Pearlstreet

A noticable number of fires in the area around Victoria Ave, all will likely take forever to clean up again... The multi-unit buildings at the north side of King St at King and Victoria which burnt down in December are still sitting there untouched with trash everywhere... I wonder what the hold up is. I would love to see something new there.

He had no insurance!

It will eventually be deemed unsafe by the city and he will be ordered to have it taken down. If he does nothing the city will do the work, fence it off and add it to his taxes that will have to be paid on sale of the land. If he does not pay his taxes the city will seizes the property for back taxes. This will take years and the property will sit vacant. Hopefully not as a parking lot!

We can hope that with the renewed interest in downtown, that it will not be long before someone buys the land and redevelops it.

[Pearlstreet]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

He had no insurance!

There goes my theory of insurance fraud.

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[Dr Awesomesauce]

I remember that actually. It's just nonsense, though.

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[Dr Awesomesauce]

Looks sexy. Can't wait to see it take shape.

[LikeHamilton]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

He had no insurance!

It will eventually be deemed unsafe by the city and he will be ordered to have it taken down. If he does nothing the city will do the work, fence it off and add it to his taxes that will have to be paid on sale of the land. If he does not pay his taxes the city will seizes the property for back taxes. This will take years and the property will sit vacant. Hopefully not as a parking lot!

Fire cleanup in downtown Hamilton to begin soon

The pile of rubble that has blocked sidewalk access on King Street East since December will soon be cleaned up — if not by the owner, than by the city.

The owner of 405 King St. E., where a massive Dec. 14 fire started before spreading to four adjacent homes, has applied for a demolition permit, said city building inspection manager John Lane.

But the city will step in if work doesn’t begin in the next two weeks.

“By the end of next week, if we haven’t seen a demolition permit issued, then I would be recommending municipal law enforcement go in,” Lane said. “They would typically issue an order, give (the owner) some time to comply, then go in and clean up the site.”

The Spectator was unable Tuesday to contact Rudy Oster, who previously identified himself as the owner of the building, which housed a coin store and residential unit.

While the city could order a cleanup under its yard debris bylaw, Lane said he expects the owner to go ahead with the work “in a timely manner.”

Lane said it was reasonable to wait until now because of an ongoing investigation into the fire by the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office and Hamilton police. Provincial investigator Greg Olson said via email he can’t talk about the ongoing probe.

“But we are starting to receive calls from the public expressing concerns about access along the sidewalk,” said Lane, referring to a safety fence blocking the sidewalk in front of the row of damaged century homes along King Street East near Victoria Avenue South.

The city has also twice rushed a contractor to the site to repair “breaches” made in the security fence by people determined to access the burned properties. Lane expects public sidewalk access to resume by next week.

Although adjoining buildings were badly damaged by the fire, he said the city will not order any of them demolished.

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/article/897738--fire-cleanup-in-downtown-hamilton-to-begin-soon

[Pearlstreet]

Whew, my wish came true. I'm fairly sure I saw a squatter in the building with the storefront while walking by it today.. His cat and dog were running about in the window too. Definitely time to clear this up.

[mattgrande]

Does it usually take three months to clean up after a fire on a major thoroughfare? I think it's kinda ridiculous that it's taken this long, but maybe this is standard operating procedure?

[bluevue]

Look at the lane closures in this city:

1) McMaster Healthcare campus - I am 100% fine with these lanes being closed
2) King Street/Hess - This is a massive fail on the city it is going on what...2 years having these lanes closed?
3) Downbound on the Claremont Access - these lanes are still closed?

The city must get their act together get some by-laws and enforcement going now, and get their ducks in a row on fixing this Claremont access. Crazy!

[LikeHamilton]

Originally Posted by mattgrande

Does it usually take three months to clean up after a fire on a major thoroughfare? I think it's kinda ridiculous that it's taken this long, but maybe this is standard operating procedure?

Lane said it was reasonable to wait until now because of an ongoing investigation into the fire by the Ontario Fire Marshal’s office and Hamilton police. Provincial investigator Greg Olson said via email he can’t talk about the ongoing probe.

After some fire in the city the building is gone within days if they have a good insurance company.

[coalminecanary]

Originally Posted by bluevue

The city must get their act together get some by-laws and enforcement going now, and get their ducks in a row on fixing this Claremont access. Crazy!

Are you kidding me? The claremont lane should just be given back to the escarpment permanently. Do we need 3 downbound lanes there? Two is plenty. Repairing that is going to cost a ton of money that we don't have - not to mention future maintenance costs.

I'd like to see someone take a picture showing congestion on claremont at any time of day, on any day of the year.

[bluevue]

Originally Posted by coalminecanary

Are you kidding me? The claremont lane should just be given back to the escarpment permanently. Do we need 3 downbound lanes there? Two is plenty. Repairing that is going to cost a ton of money that we don't have - not to mention future maintenance costs.

I'd like to see someone take a picture showing congestion on claremont at any time of day, on any day of the year.

Oh...I totally agree, but get it done one way or another. I had someone in the car with me a few weeks ago who recalled that this happened last year and they still have not fixed it. Ridiculous.

[LikeHamilton]

I drove by 405 King St. E this afternoon and the side walk is clear and the fence has been pushed back.

[coalminecanary]

Originally Posted by bluevue

Oh...I totally agree, but get it done one way or another. I had someone in the car with me a few weeks ago who recalled that this happened last year and they still have not fixed it. Ridiculous.

I think the delay was due to it not being in the budget for last year. Let's hope they do a cleanup and not waste money on rebuilding that lane. Maybe they could put a nice looking barrier with a wide enough shoulder for bikes and call it a day.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by coalminecanary

I think the delay was due to it not being in the budget for last year. Let's hope they do a cleanup and not waste money on rebuilding that lane. Maybe they could put a nice looking barrier with a wide enough shoulder for bikes and call it a day.

It took time to do the engineering and assessment. From what I have heard, on the news, they will be completing the fix this spring.

[SteelTown]

@hamiltonecdev: 10 James Street North (beside Sirloin Cellar) now sold. New tenants for the ground floor and upper floors soon says property owner. #HamOnt

[Dr Awesomesauce]

You mean Happy Nails is closing? A shame...and people say downtown is turning around. Ha!

[Jon Dalton]

Happy Nails has annexed the adjacent building where Sushi to Go moved out.

[Jon Dalton]

In other development news the developers behind Hotel Hamilton are renovating another two units on James, beside History and Heritage, and are seeking other opportunities in the area. Also heard rumors that there is interest in the James Market property. That stretch is really holding the street back so it would be huge news for the area if someone took it on.