Downtown Update

[Skully2001]

Anybody know what's going into the old "Mirage Nightclub" building at Main/Walnut. They renovated the exterior pretty extensively and I noticed over the weekend they were painting the exterior green...it's not going to be a Dollarama is it??

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by Skully2001

Anybody know what's going into the old "Mirage Nightclub" building at Main/Walnut?

AKA Don Cherry's Grapevine
AKA Modern India Buffet
AKA Hypothetical Hotel
AKA La Dolce Vita

Originally Posted by Skully2001

I noticed over the weekend they were painting the exterior green...it's not going to be a Dollarama is it??

Doesn't seem big enough to be a Dollarama. That and they don't tend to invest.

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by drpgq

There's a building permit out in front of the old porn theater on King St across from Gore Park. Apparently a MoneyMart type business is going in and they're leaving the top two floors which are theaters vacant...

Once again showing that Hamilton attracts wonderful businesses. This city must have been crowned Canadian "Cash Money store" Champion years ago. Good to know that the residents of the Connaught condos will have plenty of choice on cheque-cashing day.

[matt602]

Wow, what a depressing day for downtown news. A building on Jackson is getting demolished to make way for a parking lot, the old peep show is turning into another god damned cheque cashing place with empty space above, a church is most likely getting ripped down and the place at Main and Walnut is still a question mark.

I swear Hamilton is such a one step forward, 3 backwards kind of place some times.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Unfortunately, Hamilton's got the right demographic for cheque cashing joints. There isn't much we can do about it save for perhaps relegating them to the fringes of the city centre - not sure that's really possible, though. I suppose if property values magically soared in the coming years that would help.

Re. 20 Jackson

The City is showing once again that it's defenseless to the whims of the wrecking ball. It's not just about saving heritage buildings - it's all buildings that are under attack downtown. There should be a moratorium on the building of parking lots in the city centre. Full stop.

[SteelTown]

Originally Posted by Skully2001

Anybody know what's going into the old "Mirage Nightclub" building at Main/Walnut. They renovated the exterior pretty extensively and I noticed over the weekend they were painting the exterior green...it's not going to be a Dollarama is it??

Building permit

Permit Type Status
13-106543-00 Wall Sign New Sign Review
Description
To install two new wall signs. Size and area of sign: 139.99 ft² (13.01 m²) / 92.0 ft² (8.55 m²) Wording on Sign: "DOLLARAMA" + Logo
Permit Type Status
12-123267-01 Stores Alteration Issued
Description
PERMIT REVISED to delete verification of fire alarm system condition. Alterations to the 1-storey commercial building to create "DOLLARAMA".
Permit Type Status
13-105043-00 Stores Alteration Issued
Description
To install sprinklers on the ground floor of the existing 1-storey commercial building for "DOLLARAMA".

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Alterations to the 1-storey commercial building to create "DOLLARAMA".

I stand corrected.

On the plus side, it's corporate presence.

On the flip, Downtown Hamilton is becoming a magical land of payday loans, shawarma counters and dollar stores.

[durandy]

demolished for a parking lot? That's against the official plan, I thought.

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by durandy

demolished for a parking lot? That's against the official plan, I thought.

In Hamilton, isn't the official plan just a suggestion?

[Pearlstreet]

.

[Jon Dalton]

It is no only against the official plan to run a parking lot on the site of a demolished building, it's illegal. I wonder if the building owners know that?

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by Jon Dalton

It is no only against the official plan to run a parking lot on the site of a demolished building, it's illegal. I wonder if the building owners know that?

As important...does the City know (or care)? Permit issued?

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by Pearlstreet

I don't get angry about anything, but wtf is this?...

Pearlstreet, you are the "low-hanging fruit". Easy pickins'. A bureaucrat's dream.

[SteelTown]

The only permit for 20 Jackson St W is...


12-108342-00 Offices Backflow Preventer Issued
Description
To install a backflow prevention device (DCVA, BFP003495, Watts, 007) on the domestic water service within the existing building for premise isolation.

[movingtohamilton]

I have asked ACO/Hamilton to verify that their FB post is valid and reliable, not a rumour. If there is certainty that this building will come down and be replaced by a (illegal) parking lot there will be a public-relations nightmare awaiting the City. I and a bunch of other people will raise a very public stink about it.

[durandy]

Originally Posted by Pearlstreet

I don't get angry about anything, but wtf is this?

There is are burnt ruins of buildings barely standing around me, Cannon St fire to my left, King St fire to my right... A tree fell on my neighbours rental house and nothing was fixed for over a year now...

Today while tuckpointing a brick wall of my house (replenishing mortar) a building inspector pulls up and asks me to get a building permit and to consult a structural engineer!! No changes were being made besides replacing about a few rotted bricks in various places. What a cash grab, this town sometimes... Surely to god there are bigger fish to fry than my house; the only one being fixed up around here. Grrrrrr

Do all outside work on the weekend or evenings (ie after 4). Building inspectors work city hours. How dumb, like you're going to pay an engineer to tell you that repointing bricks is not going to knock down your house.

[thistleclub]

Aside from Doors Open Hamilton, it's also the Jane's Walk weekend. Either way, much of it has gone by at this point, but this one might be interesting:

Beasley Alley Way Walk: Behind the Scenes
Guided by: Charlie Mattina
Date: Sunday, May 5th
Start Time: 1:00 PM
Est. Duration: 2 hours

The Beasley Neighbourhood Association will be undertaking a green alley way project. We need your help to develop an alley way inventory of the neighbourhood and characterize according to key elements such safety, green sustainablity, walkabilty , cleanliness etc. You will never know what you will find.

[thistleclub]

Savour the delicious poetry of the core's four-term federal representative leading the payday loans lobby.

Payday Loan Outlets Target Hamilton Core
(Bay Observer, Steve Spriensma, April 27 2013 )

According to the Canadian Payday Loan Association, there are approximately 44 payday loan locations in Hamilton. Research by the Bay Observer shows that the vast majority of these are within 10 km of Hamilton Centre, statistically the poorest part of the city.

A recent Ontario ruling, alleging overcharging and high interest fees, mean that all branches owned by Cash Store Financial — 11 Cash Store and Instaloan locations — can no longer provide payday loans to customers, reducing the number of Hamilton payday loan operations to 33 stores. CS Financial is appealing the province’s decision.

Stan Keyes, president of the Canadian Payday Loan Association, says that there is a lot of misinformation about payday loan stores and the people who use them.

“The average amount borrowed, as far as a small sum, short term loan is concerned, is about 300 dollars for a period of 8-14 days to coincide with the customer’s next pay day,” he said. “I think we have to remember that payday loan outlets will of course, in a convenient and quick manner, offer individuals a payday loan, but they do want that payday loan returned.”

[realcity]

I wonder if this is the same Stan Keyes who was downtown Hamilton's MP Liberal rep for years?

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

...there are approximately 44 payday loan locations in Hamilton. Research by the Bay Observer shows that the vast majority of these are within 10 km of Hamilton Centre, statistically the poorest part of the city....

Stan Keyes, president of the Canadian Payday Loan Association, says that there is a lot of misinformation about payday loan stores and the people who use them.

Oh please, Stan Keyes, not everyone in Hamilton is a moron.

44 payday loan locations in Hamilton is not a surprise, but disgusting nonetheless.

Does the city have the regulatory power to declare a moratorium on further scumbag cash money stores? Yes, it sounds like the intrusion of the state into private enterprise, but who gives a fcuk? I am a staunch supporter of entrepreneurs and want the state to keep out, but these leeches have 44 places to make money. Do we really need more of them?