Downtown Update

[davidcappi]

Slate Asset Management and Core Architects are definitely a stronger and more experienced team that Spallacci & SRN. I'm expecting the Corktown Plaza redevelopment to be way stronger than Metro City. The developers even held a preliminary meeting with the community to talk about ideas before they had even started designing the project. The fact that the developer went out of their way to do this when Spallacci doesn't believe they even have to speaks volumes about the quality.

I expect good stuff from Slate.

[durandy]

Originally Posted by LRTfan

Plans are being prepped for a development application of the Corktown Plaza on John South into a mixed-use complex including 2 rental buildings of 34 and 31 stories.
Architect is rumoured to be www.corearchitects.com

I'm sure the Corktown neighbours group will react with same petty, small-mindedness as the DNA does all the time. One great thing about these recent rental proposals is it exposes the phoney's who say they care about Hamilton's rental market or lack of housing options etc.... yet as soon as someone proposes a building in the DOWNTOWN CORE to house these types of much-needed homes, they all act like the world is coming to an end. Ummm, you live downtown surrounded by high-rise buildings. And apparently love it. Chill.

This is 5 rental buildings now proposed downtown to my knowledge....the first 3 are being opposed by neighbourhood groups (Bold and MacNab, 2 buildings and Wellington/Charlton, 1 building next to the Claremont) , and I expect the same will happen here.

IMO you're overstating the impact of NAs. While they certainly supported council on Television city, it was the planning dept that was against it and council was unanimous. The planning department wants midrise, they want to achive but not surpass the targets in the growth plan.

In this case, there are a few factors that suggest a compromise could occur. 34 and 31 stories is close to 30, though the higher elevation at John and Young may reduce that further. These are also rentals so if the developer can promise some affordable housing, they might be able to get some extra density.

[King&James]

Happy to see the John Street South corridor attract these moderate density proposals , so very well positioned on a major transit route and the Corktown Plaza one within a 3-5 minute walk of the Hunter Street Station.

[LRTfan]

Originally Posted by durandy

IMO you're overstating the impact of NAs. While they certainly supported council on Television city, it was the planning dept that was against it and council was unanimous. The planning department wants midrise, they want to achive but not surpass the targets in the growth plan.

In this case, there are a few factors that suggest a compromise could occur. 34 and 31 stories is close to 30, though the higher elevation at John and Young may reduce that further. These are also rentals so if the developer can promise some affordable housing, they might be able to get some extra density.

I disagree. Had there been no hissy fit from the DNA, council would have approved this unanimously. If you read through all the approval documents for 30-32 George St (103 metres...taller than escarpment) there isn't a single word about it's height or escarpment height. That was 1.5 years ago. This whole thing is a fake boogeyman made up by the DNA and they managed to gain support of planning staff with it. The original drafts of the tall building study had no escarpment height issues. It was only after 'public meetings' aka....meetings hijacked by a few dozen NA members that this escarpment height thing appeared. First time in the city's history.
Now it's going to hinder development across the entire downtown because city hall, as usual, pandered to a few people who hate change and don't want our city to grow.

Also, there should be no such thing as 'surpassing growth targets'. If buildings as short as 30 or 40 storeys in the middle of downtown are 'surpassing growth targets' than our growth targets are garbage.

[Sehnsucht]

Originally Posted by LRTfan

I disagree. Had there been no hissy fit from the DNA, council would have approved this unanimously. If you read through all the approval documents for 30-32 George St (103 metres...taller than escarpment) there isn't a single word about it's height or escarpment height. That was 1.5 years ago. This whole thing is a fake boogeyman made up by the DNA and they managed to gain support of planning staff with it. The original drafts of the tall building study had no escarpment height issues. It was only after 'public meetings' aka....meetings hijacked by a few dozen NA members that this escarpment height thing appeared. First time in the city's history.
Now it's going to hinder development across the entire downtown because city hall, as usual, pandered to a few people who hate change and don't want our city to grow.

Also, there should be no such thing as 'surpassing growth targets'. If buildings as short as 30 or 40 storeys in the middle of downtown are 'surpassing growth targets' than our growth targets are garbage.

Exactly. And also growth targets *should be surpassed.* That's the point of targets--exceed expectations for the better.

I'm severing a lot off my property which has a view of downtown. In discussions with the city, I was told that there is no such thing as a right to a view of the lake, escarpment, or skyline. No objection that argues that views will be lost has validity.

No one has a right to views, so if they're obstructed in pockets because of towers, as is the case now, then so what? Move ten feet and your view will be restored.

This escarpment thing is absurd. Currently Landmark and the Olympia and that low-rise junker behind it, block my view. Rather, I prefer to see it, as it were, as breaking up my view in a positive way. Adding tall towers to the skyline adds beauty, character, interest, density, and an improved economy to the city and enhances its natural beauty. They complement each other.

[durandy]

Originally Posted by LRTfan

I disagree. Had there been no hissy fit from the DNA, council would have approved this unanimously. If you read through all the approval documents for 30-32 George St (103 metres...taller than escarpment) there isn't a single word about it's height or escarpment height. That was 1.5 years ago. This whole thing is a fake boogeyman made up by the DNA and they managed to gain support of planning staff with it. The original drafts of the tall building study had no escarpment height issues. It was only after 'public meetings' aka....meetings hijacked by a few dozen NA members that this escarpment height thing appeared. First time in the city's history.
Now it's going to hinder development across the entire downtown because city hall, as usual, pandered to a few people who hate change and don't want our city to grow.

Also, there should be no such thing as 'surpassing growth targets'. If buildings as short as 30 or 40 storeys in the middle of downtown are 'surpassing growth targets' than our growth targets are garbage.

I'd say that since the approval of 30-32 George Jason Thorne and Steve Robichaud have started speaking differently. Maybe the Vrancor approvals were from a phase where the city was happy with anything. Now the dept is tightening up, basking in year over year record setting building permit numbers.

Where this argument would be settled would be if we get more applications for the midrises in areas that the downtown secondary plan is prezoning, right next to residential. If the planning dept rejected those, then I'd agree with you. It seems that the city planners' vision is of mass razing of low level commercial and residential in favour of 6-10 story buildings. Where I live, someone recently plastered the block about a proposal of exactly this scale, so I'm pretty sure lots of locals living on or near arterials will mobilize fiercely against these envisioned proposals.

[LRTfan]

Originally Posted by durandy

I'd say that since the approval of 30-32 George Jason Thorne and Steve Robichaud have started speaking differently. Maybe the Vrancor approvals were from a phase where the city was happy with anything. Now the dept is tightening up, basking in year over year record setting building permit numbers.

Where this argument would be settled would be if we get more applications for the midrises in areas that the downtown secondary plan is prezoning, right next to residential. If the planning dept rejected those, then I'd agree with you. It seems that the city planners' vision is of mass razing of low level commercial and residential in favour of 6-10 story buildings. Where I live, someone recently plastered the block about a proposal of exactly this scale, so I'm pretty sure lots of locals living on or near arterials will mobilize fiercely against these envisioned proposals.

This is why I think the height restriction is nuts. People still plastering neighbourhoods and going bonkers over 6 storeys in Durand? Lol. NIMBYs don't want anything built. 6 or 60 storeys. City Hall should know better.

[mattgrande]

Who is opposing Wellington/Charlton?

[lachlanholmes]

Make your voice heard! The Hamilton City Council Planning Committee will be discussing and voting on the DSP this Tuesday, April 17th at 9:30 am.

I'm just writing up my delegation request right now, and you should too! Let's make sure council hears that Hamilton is pro-development and against this ridiculous NIMBY-inspired plan that will straddle our development for decades.

Read the agenda for the meeting here, and submit a delegation request here.

When submitting your request to delegate, make sure to indicate you're wishing to speak on the Downtown Secondary Plan, and select the Planning Committee as the committee you wish to speak to.

[LRTfan]

Originally Posted by mattgrande

Who is opposing Wellington/Charlton?

Corktown, Jason Farr etc.... it's been on the books for 4 years. The developer finally got tired of the morons running this city and went to the OMB.
He's pitching a 17-storey RENTAL building. These NA groups and the city's new Secondary Plan talk big about wanting more rentals, yet when anyone proposes new buildings they all oppose them.

The same builder has proposed 2 rental towers of 27-29 stories in Durand...immediate response by the NIMBY's was the usual response.

Corktown Plaza owner is planning 2 rental towers on site with retail at base....Corktown whining and crying right away.

Who are these people that move into the middle of the downtown and then complain when buildings are proposed. Clearly they don't mind living near tall buildings....they are already surrounded by them!

[lachlanholmes]

Downtown Secondary Plan Passed.

[hamilton23]

Originally Posted by davidcappi

Slate Asset Management and Core Architects are definitely a stronger and more experienced team that Spallacci & SRN. I'm expecting the Corktown Plaza redevelopment to be way stronger than Metro City. The developers even held a preliminary meeting with the community to talk about ideas before they had even started designing the project. The fact that the developer went out of their way to do this when Spallacci doesn't believe they even have to speaks volumes about the quality.

I expect good stuff from Slate.

It's interesting reading David's posts.

He criticises developers, contractors, architects, municipalities, yet he has 0 knowledge of development, construction, architecture, engineering, etc.

It's easy to look at a rendering or drawings and jump to conclusions. This is your trademark. You don't have the knowledge to back up your opinions. This is fine. Not everyone here has the education or experience in any of the fields mentioned, yet they don't constantly rag on specific developers, architects, etc.

Regarding your comment about our company not listening to the community.... You couldn't be more wrong.

This is a business that was born in Hamilton, has extended three generations (all Hamilton Natives born and raised) with strong community ties that extend behind your closed mind. You don't have the basic comprehension or maybe it's just ignorance on your end.Our ties to the community and the city have been strong for over 60 years.

If we didn't care about the city and the community, we wouldn't have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in countless projects in Hamilton over the last sixty years.

I suggest that you be a little less ignorant and arrogant when speaking of specific individuals or businesses that you have absolutely no knowledge about.

[TheRitsman]

At the discussion regarding the Downtown Secondary Plan, I agreed with some of their points about the height limit reducing speculation. However I cannot believe Landmark place will be the tallest Hamilton building for the next 25 years... Unfortunate.

[LRTfan]

Originally Posted by TheRitsman

At the discussion regarding the Downtown Secondary Plan, I agreed with some of their points about the height limit reducing speculation. However I cannot believe Landmark place will be the tallest Hamilton building for the next 25 years... Unfortunate.

Yep, such a shame. And just when a couple folks were proposing new buildings that would become our new tallest. We sit around in a totally depressed state for 40 years, and at the first signs of life, city hall does what they know best: stifle investment and development. Can't mess with the shrinking status quo after all.

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by hamilton23

It's interesting reading David's posts.

...
I suggest that you be a little less ignorant and arrogant when speaking of specific individuals or businesses that you have absolutely no knowledge about.

But you never accept a critical comment about your development. For someone who joined this forum to cheerlead your family's latest venture you are remarkably thin-skinned.

[hamilton23]

Originally Posted by movingtohamilton

But you never accept a critical comment about your development. For someone who joined this forum to cheerlead your family's latest venture, you are remarkably thin-skinned.

Is that why I joined this forum movingtohamilton? To cheerlead?

I don't need to do that.

I've stated on many occasions, why I joined this forum. To provide updates on our projects.

Am I think skinned? That's a pretty big claim coming from someone who's never met me in person. Are you gathering this opinion from behind your keyboard?

A difference of opinion is healthy. I've never debated or argued with posters on this forum who have a different viewpoint than me and express it like normal human beings.

However, when the comments are fueled by hate, it becomes more than just simply a differing point of view.

What you failed to understand when defending your buddy or maybe this is another of Davids burner accounts.... David faces criminal and civil charges at any given moment. I have security footage and statements from witnesses.

This isn't a matter of David and I having differing views. It's a matter of an individual becoming violent and spreading extremely defamatory comments on several occasions.

I don't plan on moving forward with either charge against him. It's not worth my time.

I rarely post on this board. I actually only started once I heard whispers that a certain someone was telling others and posting on social media, that our development was being completely reconfigured. I didn't have to join and post on this forum. I only started and continue in order to provide the truth and updates on projects.

I will continue to defend against hate, however. Big difference between not liking a design of a building or development and purposely going out of your way to spread hate-filled slander, because you've acted like an immature child in a place of business.

Anyways, it's happend before where this has snowballed into a long conversation. This thread is meant for downtown updates. I said my peace with the comments made by David Capizzano. If you want to continue this conversation, my DM's are wide open.

Let's let the forum posters discuss Downtown Updates here.

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by hamilton23

Is that why I joined this forum movingtohamilton? To cheerlead? ...

I've concluded from your posts that you're thin-skinned. On a forum, that's the evidence.

I've never met David C.

Anyway, once again your history with David C rears its head. Your anger is always at the surface.

Even though he took an ugly swipe at your family's business, you didn't come back with a simple reply regarding a meeting with the neighbouring community. Instead you chose to go on and on about your family's history in Hamilton. A simple "yes we did have a meeting" or "no we didn't" would have been fine.

[hamilton23]

Originally Posted by movingtohamilton

I've concluded from your posts that you're thin-skinned. On a forum, that's the evidence.

I've never met David C.

Anyway, once again your history with David C rears its head. Your anger is always at the surface.

Even though he took an ugly swipe at your family's business, you didn't come back with a simple reply regarding a meeting with the neighbouring community. Instead you chose to go on and on about your family's history in Hamilton. A simple "yes we did have a meeting" or "no we didn't" would have been fine.

Last post in this thread on this subject.... Please DM after if you want to defend your friend.

My anger is never on the surface actually.

I've said everything I will about the situation.

David Cappizano acted violently in one of our places of business, spread slanderous and defamatory comments about certain developments.

I won't get into details, but the violent part of this should make you realize why I respond to him the way I do.

You don't know the details of this situation, so instead of acting ignorant and calling me a cheerleader, why don't you add to the conversation of this thread, as opposed to attacking me?

I'm not going to attack you, so please don't call me a cheerleader or theorize why I joined this thread. It's ignorant and this thread isn't the place for it any longer.

Again, if you want to have a conversation with me or call me every name in the book, send me a DM. I would be more than happy to have a conversation with you in private.

[movingtohamilton]

*

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by hamilton23

Last post in this thread on this subject.....

This is good news. You and David C should settle your long-standing slugfest elsewhere.