Downtown Update

[davidcappi]

The stone looks a bit like a sims wallpaper, but hey, I appreciate the improvement to the building!

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by davidcappi

The stone looks a bit like a sims wallpaper, but hey, I appreciate the improvement to the building!

It's def. an improvement to what it WAS, but the bar was pretty low.. I just don't know if it lives up to what it COULD have been is all.

I think what throws a lot of us off the most are those giant blocks which just seem so out of character.. perhaps it's just going to be a retaining wall and we are just seeing the structure before they re-landscape.. I dunno..

also what the heck is up with that diagonal drain pipe doing over the doorway?

[king10]

I kinda like the contrasting brick. Definitely an improvement to what was there.

Props to the owner for putting up money and renovating this place.

[NortheastWind]

I think it will get better with age.

[lachlanholmes]

City reviewing sale of Municipal Parking Lot #76

http://hamilton.siretechnologies.com/sirepub/agdocs.aspx?doctype=agenda&itemid=22996

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/75+Cath...e7fa91cf7!8m2!3d43.2528306!4d-79.8660129

[LRTfan]

16+ storey condo development coming soon downtown.
Same builder as the Jamesville Lofts.

Anyone know anything about this?
http://www.areacor.com/union-condominiums/

Content removed

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by thomax

^ That render is only eleven floors though, not 16+, so either the render is old, or that's another one of their upcoming developments and they are just using that render as a placeholder.

I was going to say that doesn't look anywhere close to 16 storeys

[King&James]

So many projects proposed.... what a change in skyline and downtown environment if all these converted into built space.

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by King&James

So many projects proposed.... what a change in skyline and downtown environment if all these converted into built space.

Kind of exciting. Maybe in the next half decade Hamilton will shake it's shaky reputation. I love Hamilton for what it is, but I know it can be more for a larger diversity of people, and safer. Safety and comfort in the downtown is a big key. Sketchy dark parking lots doesn't help that.

The city should really look at improving the street lighting downtown too.

[LRTfan]

Originally Posted by thomax

The image on the Union Condominiums website shows a building at Catherine and Hunter, Municipal Parking Lot #76...

Google Street View


source

^ That render is only eleven floors though, not 16+, so either the render is old, or that's another one of their upcoming developments and they are just using that render as a placeholder.

Dude...nice catch. That looks to be the parking lot. Someone posted in another thread about this lot being sold. Maybe that's it.

Content removed

[anactualalien]

Really like that they're marketing to families, hopefully the unit sizes make that realized.

[eatboots]

Almost too bad Vranich is not constructing this, they would just throw enough money at that building on the corner for it to go away.

[davidcappi]

The two houses are for sale; they're offices. I wouldn't miss them if they went in favour of new construction on that corner. One of the houses isn't even old; it's a copy.

https://www.realtor.ca/Commercial/Office/18862555/101-HUNTER-Street-E-Hamilton-Ontario-L8N1M5

[LRTfan]

Originally Posted by davidcappi

The two houses are for sale; they're offices. I wouldn't miss them if they went in favour of new construction on that corner. One of the houses isn't even old; it's a copy.

https://www.realtor.ca/Commercial/Office/18862555/101-HUNTER-Street-E-Hamilton-Ontario-L8N1M5

agreed... this isn't like tearing down a great row on Markland or Ferguson. It's one house surrounded by asphalt. The greater good absolutely is a full redevelopment of the empty lot. Not sure someone's going to pay $1.1 million just to buy a tear-down tho.

[Berklon]

Between the office buildings and the parking lot beside it, there doesn't seem to be a lot of space to use for something else anyway. The parking lot behind it belongs to the other building I believe. So there's not a lot you can do without buying both office buildings and also the big parking lot behind it.

Across the street there's a lot more open space consisting of a couple of parking lots. You could do something a lot more meaningful in that area.

That whole area would be great GO train commuters with the Hunter station a 1 minute walk away.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by Berklon

That whole area would be great GO train commuters with the Hunter station a 1 minute walk away.

and as a result probably make it horrendously expensive, as we know proximity to such things makes prices skyrocket..

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by Chronamut

and as a result probably make it horrendously expensive, as we know proximity to such things makes prices skyrocket..

The prices of the units beside the Burlington Go were pretty affordable. The price increase per size of unit was quite steep, but for a 1 bedroom it started at $258,000, and that's in Burlington. Go is a great thing to live near, but with the noise of the train and the amount of traffic, it makes it less desirable as well, so it kind of evens out.

[Berklon]

Originally Posted by Chronamut

and as a result probably make it horrendously expensive, as we know proximity to such things makes prices skyrocket..

I don't think it would be any more expensive than condos that are 2 or 3 blocks from the GO station - since it's really only adding less than 5 minutes difference in getting there. If there's any increase based simply on how much closer it is, it has to be a negligible amount.

Go is a great thing to live near, but with the noise of the train and the amount of traffic, it makes it less desirable as well, so it kind of evens out.

Fortunately (or unfortunately - depending on how you look at it), GO trains run very limited throughout the day there, and I don't think it gets a lot of freight train traffic either. And whatever trains run through there, they go pretty slow - so they don't generate as much noise... however, because they go slow the amount of noise lasts longer.