221 York Boulevard | ? | 15 fl | Approved

[RePinion]

Regardless of the "mediocrity" of their designs, expressions of interest by these companies would clearly signal that Hamilton's downtown residential market had regained a degree of stability - and not only in the eyes of its own residents. You might call their buildings boring, bourgeois, or what have you, but they're still easily superior to anything built/proposed by Hamilton developers.

[RePinion]

Originally Posted by HAMRetrofit

I partly agree with you on this. The big fish eat the little ones in real estate markets and development. The small timers that are nibbling on the bate right now will get the ball rolling. They are there to eventually bate the higher predators. We need a little fish to build something awesome at first to set the bar extremely high.

This is absolutely true. If you count Stinson as a little fish (and I think it is fair to do so), then maybe just such an "awesome" building will come into being in the near future. However, I am worried about Stinson's expressed intention to build something "more traditional" for Hamilton. I originally decried the Sapphire proposal as unsuitable for Hamilton, but now I'm a little worried that we might end up with something more in line with the Chateau Royale (maybe slightly improved, mind you) ...

[raisethehammer]

haha...no way Stinson will build something like Chateau Royale. 1KW would fit Hamilton just fine.

[RePinion]

^ I hate to be the umpteenth person to point this out, but I think you place an undue amount of confidence in Stinson's ability to build something truly outstanding. 1KW is a fine building (although I know it has its detractors, perhaps for good reason) but that is really all he has to go on, as Stinson's only other new-build project, High Park Lofts, is decidedly mediocre.



Still, better than Chateau Royale ...

If we get something like 1KW, I'll be happy. But I don't see this happening, given Stinson's "more traditional" remark. Hopefully he'll change his mind.

[HAMRetrofit]

If it was not for the faux clock tower the building would at least be forgivable.

[JT Jacobs]

I'd be generally pleased to see more condos after Stinson's High Park Lofts project instead of that decidedly Hamilton plague of cheap faux-looking Victorian condos.

If Stinson raises the bar even slightly over all previous Hamilton condo projects, then it will be tremendously successful and he will be encouraged and flush to work on even more ambitious projects. I have the utmost confidence in his vision, and I'm convinced that he will do a marvelous job with the Connaught.

Finally, as to Stinson's vita, even if I King West was his only project, I would consider that testament enough to his ability and vision. It's a gorgeous building on a tiny footprint. Let's just sit back and watch what he does.

[HAMRetrofit]

In a world as shallow as ours everyone reaps what they sow. These reactionary comments from urbanists are a justified response to the decades of worthless slander from suburbanites. Unfortunately, this is the way that the world balances itself, with a bombardment of cheap rhetoric. My suggestion to suburbanites is to ride the tides of change or suck it up.

[fastcarsfreedom]

HAMRetrofit--I actually appreciate your post. Not only is it candid, but I think it's timbre finally will free me from my previous efforts to be civil, cordial and respectful in the way I express my viewpoints. The tit-for-tat nature of your comments are actually archaic--which is entertaining coming from someone who holds themselves up as being on the cusp of change.

[masterwhite]

there has been lots of activity at this location in the past months. Huge storage containers where brought in to the parking lot, filled up with contents of the building and taken away. Foundation has been dug up on the north side. Lots of demotion byproducts are getting taken out of the south side exit.

Anyone know who is in charge of this project and what are the plans?

[strackj]

Is this the Premier Fitness location? I think it is going to be the new location of the Hamilton Downtown Mosque

CBC story: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilt...move-1.2559559

[markbarbera]

This will be the new home of the Hamilton Downtown Mosque. The redevelopment was originally reported on the CBC Hamilton website last month:

The Hamilton Downtown Mosque has made a "miracle" deal to buy a building on York Boulevard, a property the highly multicultural congregation plans to turn into a new hub for spiritual and community life in the city’s core.

The mosque launched a fundraising campaign in October and has collected $1.4 million, almost half the purchase price. The campaign will continue, but the drive to date was enough to close the $3.5-million deal.

'Children and youth will learn there and grow up to be good citizens for Canada'
- Wahed Al Jabry, mosque board director
Mosque leaders shared the news during a service on Saturday at their current Wilson Street location, said Wahed Al Jabry, the director of the mosque’s board.

“We announced it officially in the mosque and people, they shed tears,” he said.

The vision for the new space is for it to eventually feature a recreation centre, programming for newcomers to Canada, a daycare and an elementary school, he said.

“We’ll do our best to avoid so many children going around the street doing nothing getting into drugs, doing things that are prohibited in our religion,” said Al Jabry.

“Children and youth will learn there and grow up to be good citizens for Canada.”

Future Mosque
Future plans for the Hamilton Downtown Mosque include an elementary school, day care centre, community hall and underground parking. (Hamilton Downtown Mosque)

But the first order of business, he said, is renovating the 35,000-square-foot building — currently the site of gym club Century Fitness — to ready it for regular prayers and services

read more here