10 James Street North

[davidcappi]

It'll be weird seeing those buildings with the brick cleaned. They're almost black right now from all of the grime. It's hard to believe there's bright red brick underneath.

[thistleclub]

Prior to the arrival of Jackson Square, there were also second-storey windows on 14 James North. You can see it in vintage photos of the 1917 Grafton’s fire.

BTW, who owns 8 James North and 5-15 King East ? 11-15 are reportedly connected to 14 James North via its top floor. (And of course those properties (and the businesses therein) back onto this stretch and will presumably be impacted by the reduction of their alleyway to a 5’-wide walkway.)

[LikeHamilton]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Prior to the arrival of Jackson Square, there were also second-storey windows on 14 James North. You can see it in vintage photos of the 1917 Grafton’s fire.

BTW, who owns 8 James North and 5-15 King East ? 11-15 are reportedly connected to 14 James North via its top floor. (And of course those properties (and the businesses therein) back onto this stretch and will presumably be impacted by the reduction of their alleyway to a 5’-wide walkway.)

I was in this building about 5 years ago and you can walk from 14 James N to the Mills building on King Street. I believe they where built separately and connected at the time of the second building being built. And yes no one has swept the floors for 60 years and other than pigeons, I don't think many people have been up there. It would be a great place to explore!

[The Gore]

Was the city not suppose to make a decision on the alley yesterday (Monday)?

[LikeHamilton]

Originally Posted by The Gore

Was the city not suppose to make a decision on the alley yesterday (Monday)?

From the cities web site about the meeting

CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER

[matt602]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

I was in this building about 5 years ago and you can walk from 14 James N to the Mills building on King Street. I believe they where built separately and connected at the time of the second building being built. And yes no one has swept the floors for 60 years and other than pigeons, I don't think many people have been up there. It would be a great place to explore!

I'm incredibly jealous that you got to do that. I would have killed to have an opportunity to explore all of that.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Originally Posted by LikeHamilton

I was in this building about 5 years ago and you can walk from 14 James N to the Mills building on King Street. I believe they where built separately and connected at the time of the second building being built. And yes no one has swept the floors for 60 years and other than pigeons, I don't think many people have been up there. It would be a great place to explore!

Does that not suggest that the old Mills/ Northways building might be part of this deal? I can't wait for someone to get their hands on it - she's in dire need of some lovin'.

[coalminecanary]

I think the city should stop selling off alleys. They are a huge functional asset and add to the character. Getting rid of an alley because people pee in it is like getting rid of a street because people speed on it. It's the wrong solution

[thistleclub]

If nothing else, 2-12 James North & 1-15 King Street East losing the alley seems like it could make garbage collection a more prominent proposition along the street.

[LikeHamilton]

From the spec.com today

James Street South is getting a new taco and tequila joint. Chef Manny Ferreira, formerly of Earth to Table Bread Bar, hopes to open Mezcal Tacos & Tequila (150 James St. S.) by the end of the month.

The restaurant says it will have more exotic mezcal and tequila options than any other restaurant in Ontario. And it's hiring. Servers, bartenders, cooks and general manager-hopefuls can send their resumes to [email protected].

The restaurant will be just down the street from The Mule, the tacos, tequila and bourbon joint on its way from the owners of Rapscallion and Two Black Sheep. The Mule is tentatively set to open on the main floor of the former Sirloin Cellar building (14 James St. N.) in March and will feature unconventional, non-Mexican taco fillings.

[thistleclub]

This debate, originally intended for Public Works' cancelled Groundhog Day meeting, is slated to take place Mon Feb 23. At present, the committee agenda is dominated by the alley closure request.

[oldcoote]

Pretty sure The Mule has abandoned this location in favour of the old Reardon's location on King William. Core Urban owns both.

[LikeHamilton]

Councillors back sale of downtown alley to speed James North reno project

Hamilton Spectator By Dave Churchill 23 February 2015

Hamilton councillors have recommended the sale of a downtown alley that is key to a James Street North revitalization project.

The city's public works committee Monday morning backed a plan that will see the deteriorating alley sold to Core Urban Inc. to facilitate a proposal which would see unused space turned into offices for dozens of workers.

Core Urban Inc. wants to combine a five-storey narrow building at 14 James St. N. with a smaller three-storey structure beside it. To do that, it needs to acquire the alley that leads off James Street between the buildings.

The alley — which is essentially a tunnel with two-stories of unused office space above — would be developed into a lobby and elevator that would service the combined project.

Steve Kulakowski of Core Urban said if the sale of the alleyway gets the approval of council Wednesday, the company is ready to move quickly on its plans.

Drawings have been completed and Core Urban is set to begin the formal approvals process, he said.

"We don't like to wait on properties. We want to get going."

Core Urban has been responsible for a number of recent projects in Hamilton, including the Witton Lofts, the Empire Times Building and the Herkimer Apartments. They recently bought the former Reardon's Meats building on King William.

The project got a boost Monday when a lawyer for DeSantis Group Inc. withdrew its objection to the sale of the alley. DeSantis owns a major piece of property next door to the site, which is currently being used a parking lot but is slated for development.

Scott Snider, a lawyer representing DeSantis, withdrew the company's objections when councillors said they would give written assurance that trespassers would be discouraged from using the DeSantis property and that the city will not impose any setbacks on the future DeSantis development as a result of the sale of the alley.

Rest of the story:-

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/544340...alley-to-speed-james-north-reno-project/

[CRSAutomotiveOakvill]

In any case, it is better that something is happening with that building, which looks amazing and assembly, be ruined and perish.

Content removed

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Great! But the alley's gone so...

[Dr Awesomesauce]

This Core Urban project called The Textile Building is said to be at 14 James N. It looks more like George St. Can't figure it out.

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

This Core Urban project called The Textile Building is said to be at 14 James N. It looks more like George St. Can't figure it out.

I think you're right.

Here's a CoreUrban tweet from today

Core Urban Inc. ‏@CoreUrban 8h8 hours ago
Our new signage for The Textile Building is here! People will definitely notice as they drive along Bay and King! pic.twitter.com/3kXaOFpmxg

14 James N is "The Allley" formerly Sirloin Cellar

[matt602]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

This Core Urban project called The Textile Building is said to be at 14 James N. It looks more like George St. Can't figure it out.

Yeah, they messed up the addresses on most of the projects on their site.

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by matt602

Yeah, they messed up the addresses on most of the projects on their site.

There's no substitute for attention to detail.