154 Main St East | 81.75 m | 26 fl | Complete

[HamiltonBoyInToronto]

.y question is what happens to the finish of this pre-clad buildings? Do the cracks and holes get patched and painted? Do the slabs that are different colour get painted to match the rest ? This one and Platinum look broken and faded ...what happens ??

[ScreamingViking]

So this one may end being closer to the render.

The darker the better. Less sore-thumb.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by StEC

I walk past this building a lot and I want to vomit. It truly is an embarrassment and this building will age horribly and become an even worse eyesore in a couple decades than it already is! 30-35yrs and I bet it gets the wrecking ball. This stretch will be lined with shiny beautiful new skyscrapers by then and this stumpy dump will have people demanding it get torn down for something better, taller and fits with the new tall dense, clean & modern area!

It's fun to dream isn't it...

[jonny24]

Originally Posted by HamiltonBoyInToronto

.y question is what happens to the finish of this pre-clad buildings? Do the cracks and holes get patched and painted? Do the slabs that are different colour get painted to match the rest ? This one and Platinum look broken and faded ...what happens ??

Yep, holes and chips get filled, the final stain/paint coats added. It's easiest to do one coat while the panels are in the shop, less site-work, but it looks like they were pushing them out to meet erection schedule and just had to skip shop-coats on some panels, so they'll need more site-coats.

But final coats always need to wait till near the end so they can cover any construction damage.

[Pulkvedis Pods]

[IMG]154 Main Street East by Pulkvedis Pods, on Flickr[/IMG]

From today. Yummy lunch at Lo Presti's at Maxwell's.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Pulkvedis Pods

From today. Yummy lunch at Lo Presti's at Maxwell's.

I haven't been there in YEARS (in fact probably not since they were separate restaurants!). There's a good reason it's remained.

It looks like a little jailhouse in that photo though ... the hulking mass next door is quite overbearing.

That restaurant, Shakespeare's, La Cantina... all stalwarts along what have been relatively inhospitable streets for decades. Hopefully all the new residential that's coming online nearby will keep them in business decades more.

[Pulkvedis Pods]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

I haven't been there in YEARS (in fact probably not since they were separate restaurants!). There's a good reason it's remained.

It looks like a little jailhouse in that photo though ... the hulking mass next door is quite overbearing.

That restaurant, Shakespeare's, La Cantina... all stalwarts along what have been relatively inhospitable streets for decades. Hopefully all the new residential that's coming online nearby will keep them in business decades more.

You know, with the LRT close to becoming a reality, new projects being built in the city you can really sense how quickly the scene is changing. Add to the mix the existing, historically more significant culinary and retail "institutions", there is much to be hopeful for.
Can't say for sure if this building contributes anything of value to the city other than providing a new housing option, folks here have expressed their dim views on the its aesthetics. But the increase in foot traffic surely will be welcome!

[Chronamut]

I love lo prestis - my parents used to go there for their anniversary too - went there for work a couple times

[TheHonestMaple]

I will admit it doesn't look all that bad from King Street.

[StEC]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

I will admit it doesn't look all that bad from King Street.

They have been busy painting the building. I too will admit it's starting to look better with the brighter whites and blacker blacks. The building itself is still — but the fresh coat of finish paint makes it look less crappy & depressing lol.

[craftbeerdad]

the paint is literally the definition of "putting lipstick on a pig."

[Wigs]

The podium/parking garage is terrible
rest of building with new paint job has been brought up to: meh, acceptable

[Pulkvedis Pods]

Main Street East looking West by Pulkvedis Pods, on Flickr

A quiet Saturday afternoon stroll with the growing skyline in view. There's a feeling I get, when I look to the West...

[Beedok]

Here’s hoping LRT helps bring more life to the shops in the east end.

[ShavedParmesanCheese]

Originally Posted by Beedok

Here’s hoping LRT helps bring more life to the shops in the east end.

Oh it will, there's a lot of commercial buildings just waiting for some tennents

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by ShavedParmesanCheese

Oh it will, there's a lot of commercial buildings just waiting for some tennents

From my recent trip to Kitchener Waterloo to ride their LRT I can tell you that the desirability spreads like tendrils out from each station. Many stations have developments and things being fixed up many streets away from the stops. I did notice that some stations beside vacant lots or industrial areas there's not activity yet, but will likely see movement in the coming years. This shows that Hamilton's most desirable stations will likely be developed first. Hamilton is kind of cool in that it has multiple desirable streets like Ottawa, Kenilworth and Parkdale where a commercial street exists, but is also super close to downtown.

[TheHonestMaple]

Originally Posted by TheRitsman

From my recent trip to Kitchener Waterloo to ride their LRT I can tell you that the desirability spreads like tendrils out from each station. Many stations have developments and things being fixed up many streets away from the stops. I did notice that some stations beside vacant lots or industrial areas there's not activity yet, but will likely see movement in the coming years. This shows that Hamilton's most desirable stations will likely be developed first. Hamilton is kind of cool in that it has multiple desirable streets like Ottawa, Kenilworth and Parkdale where a commercial street exists, but is also super close to downtown.

Really hoping to see some condo developments pop up on Ottawa in the next few years. Would really change the atmosphere of the street and give some much needed support to the businesses there.

[craftbeerdad]

Ottawa Street is doing just fine, don't think it needs any towers. Maybe at Barton if at all.

Ottawa Street has a great encatchment area since you have Crown Point and the Delta within minutes of here and lots of residents supporting all the businesses on Ottawa and Cannon (Shorty's, Osten Beer Hall, Chocolate store).

[TheHonestMaple]

Originally Posted by craftbeerdad

Ottawa Street is doing just fine, don't think it needs any towers. Maybe at Barton if at all.

Ottawa Street has a great encatchment area since you have Crown Point and the Delta within minutes of here and lots of residents supporting all the businesses on Ottawa and Cannon (Shorty's, Osten Beer Hall, Chocolate store).

I don't know about towers, but 4-6 story builds would look great. There's plenty of parking lots along Ottawa that would be great to fill in.

Once the LRT goes in and the area further gentrifies, the developments will follow. Someone will want to make money. No avoiding it.

[davidcappi]

Part of the deal when it comes to accepting funds for transit from the province / feds is some amount of development near all new rapid transit stations - a fact that I don't think Hamilton has really come to terms with.