Downtown Update - Page 141

matt602 · #**2801** Posted **Oct 3, 2014, 4:12 PM**

You've gotta be kidding me. And another one going in at James and Vine. This almost looks like a joke.

movingtohamilton · #**2802** Posted **Oct 3, 2014, 4:20 PM**

Matt602, it's possible that this may be a TH popup, and not permanent. It hasn't opened, so time will tell.

Bubba9000 · #**2803** Posted **Oct 3, 2014, 5:07 PM**

When asked, the window vinyl installer would only say "test location".

Bubba9000 · #**2804** Posted **Oct 3, 2014, 5:19 PM**

Facade work at 68 James N. So far some painting on upper floors

King&James · #**2805** Posted **Oct 3, 2014, 9:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidcappi

123 James North has begun bricking the front of the building along James. The old Leon Furs building reveals it's gorgeous new floor to ceiling glass storefront. The old BMO on James Street that received a facelift becomes Jason Farr's campaign office. The James North GO station's steel structure rises above the MacNab street bridge. 150 Main West gets windows, and Bella Tower nearly matches it's height at a soaring 13 floors. McMaster's downtown campus get's its green cladding, and the large glass atrium at the front begins installation.

Busy week in construction. Guess everyone is buckling down before it gets cold.

That is interesting and great to see in motion, what will be your guess today for September 30 2015 on the activity in the core. Certainly the Royal Canaught will be in full swing ( or it had better be). From the base of the mountain to Burlington street, wellington to Hess, what towers are we going see going up. Cranes in place .

HillStreetBlues · #**2806** Posted **Oct 3, 2014, 10:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt602

You've gotta be kidding me. And another one going in at James and Vine. This almost looks like a joke.

I'm originally a Londoner, so though I don't go to Tim Horton's, this doesn't phase me- there are several intersections in London with an outlet on two or three different corners.

Is that a new format for them? Looks okay to me.

matt602 · #**2807** Posted **Oct 3, 2014, 10:56 PM**

I think I may have freaked out a bit too early. I went by the store at Walnut and King today and it doesn't really look like it'll be a regular store. Could just be leasing it for ad space or a temporary event. There's nothing that says "Store Coming Soon" or anything to that effect and the signage is a bit different from the usual. I guess we'll see.

LikeHamilton · #**2808** Posted **Oct 3, 2014, 10:58 PM**

Great location. Police HQ is a block away!

Dr Awesomesauce · #**2809** Posted **Oct 4, 2014, 12:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bubba9000

Facade work at 68 James N. So far some painting on upper floors

Did they strip the paint? What sort of facade work has been done?

davidcappi · #**2810** Posted **Oct 4, 2014, 1:25 AM**

Quote:

That is interesting and great to see in motion, what will be your guess today for September 30 2015 on the activity in the core. Certainly the Royal Canaught will be in full swing ( or it had better be). From the base of the mountain to Burlington street, wellington to Hess, what towers are we going see going up. Cranes in place .

My hope is that we'll see The Connaught, The William Thomas Condos, and the Acclamation Condos well underway, along with a few new infill projects. There are always surprises. Mac's new building might go ahead quicker than imagined depending on what their proposal consisted of. There is also the forensics lab, the downtown mosque, and the potential condo at the stonewalls location. Who knows. We could see proposals for locations that we haven't even thought of. My guess is that those lots between King, James, Cannon and Wellington might fill up quicker than expected. Also there was talk about that parking garage? Anyone have any information on that front?

CaptainKirk · #**2811** Posted **Oct 4, 2014, 12:36 PM**

I'm eager to see Blanchard's Gore park plans with the facades of the pre-confederation buildings preserved.

#**2812** Posted **Oct 4, 2014, 3:33 PM**

Content removed

CaptainKirk · #**2813** Posted **Oct 5, 2014, 3:44 AM**

King&James · #**2814** Posted **Oct 6, 2014, 12:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidcappi

My hope is that we'll see The Connaught, The William Thomas Condos, and the Acclamation Condos well underway, along with a few new infill projects. There are always surprises. Mac's new building might go ahead quicker than imagined depending on what their proposal consisted of. There is also the forensics lab, the downtown mosque, and the potential condo at the stonewalls location. Who knows. We could see proposals for locations that we haven't even thought of. My guess is that those lots between King, James, Cannon and Wellington might fill up quicker than expected. Also there was talk about that parking garage? Anyone have any information on that front?

For me, i think we will see Connelly, RC, and the complex beside the New GO Station. And only one of the other 4 on James North (Acclamation, Tivoli, Liuna's Lister Block Residential, and the the development behind the church near Barton ). And for a surprise, I think we will see yet another tower along Caroline at either Main or George.

King&James · #**2815** Posted **Oct 6, 2014, 12:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

I'm eager to see Blanchard's Gore park plans with the facades of the pre-confederation buildings preserved.

I just see him as an assembler , although I agree it would be great to see this property get some traction, I think it is a bit ambitious. Maybe if the Connelly moves along, then his property at Jackson and McNab could see some activity.

#**2816** Posted **Oct 6, 2014, 12:56 AM**

Content removed

King&James · #**2817** Posted **Oct 6, 2014, 9:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeIsThomas

That's phase 5 of the Vrancor development after the Staybridge Suites, Homewood Suites, 150 Main, & Bella Tower...

22 George Street | ? | 25 fl | Proposed

Yes, that's it, while the project is known, I think Vrancor will just keep up the building pace, and create a market. No others are doing it with such momentum and scale. If they have the lots along Main - Caroline to Hess, I can see them steam rolling along.

mishap · #**2818** Posted **Oct 7, 2014, 2:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidcappi

There will be something on that lot within 5 years. I feel it.

I would like to see a landscaped parkette with a walkway rising from street level to a pedestrian bridge, tying the rooftop of Jackson Square to King William Street. There's an existing +15 outcropping on JS. People tend to think of the core only in terms of street level. There are a lot of interesting things that could be done with that space if people would get a little more creative.

An example: you could have a well-lit, CCTV-monitored pathway connecting the two ends of the Square, maybe with a similar bridged access to Market Street, next to the federal building on Bay. Set up some activity areas. Throw in some seasonal shops, maybe food vendors. It would almost be like a westward extension of King William. That rooftop is quite under-utilized, and it probably has a lot to do with the uninviting stairways around the mall. That old Zellers lot could become a node tying together Upper/Lower Jackson Square, King William St, and the James St corridor.

davidcappi · #**2819** Posted **Oct 7, 2014, 4:01 AM**

Quote:

I would like to see a landscaped parkette with a walkway rising from street level to a pedestrian bridge, tying the rooftop of Jackson Square to King William Street. There's an existing +15 outcropping on JS. People tend to think of the core only in terms of street level. There are a lot of interesting things that could be done with that space if people would get a little more creative.

I'd love to see something like that, but it's highly unlikely unless Jackson Square invests what would be millions in renovations making the rooftop more people friendly. That lot is way more valuable to build something stand-alone.

CaptainKirk · #**2820** Posted **Oct 7, 2014, 12:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidcappi

I'd love to see something like that, but it's highly unlikely unless Jackson Square invests what would be millions in renovations making the rooftop more people friendly. That lot is way more valuable to build something stand-alone.

Anybody else remember the old days when lots of people would be hanging out up on top of Jackson Square with live lunch hour music?