Hamilton City Centre | ? | 3x30 & 24 fl | Proposal - Page 22

ScreamingViking · #**421** Posted **Jan 4, 2023, 1:54 AM**

That opening 30 seconds or so should put to rest any worries about the city running out of land for new developments in the core.

Those are some mad drone flying skills. Dangerous with people still in the mall though... even if they could be counted on two hands or less.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Great drone shot of now closed Hamilton City Centre

• Video Link

Chronamut · #**422** Posted **Jan 4, 2023, 5:28 AM**

This video will make for great archival reference in the future so thanks for that

It's sad seeing it so empty - but it's been empty for so long..

King&James · #**423** Posted **Jan 4, 2023, 10:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronamut

This video will make for great archival reference in the future so thanks for that

It's sad seeing it so empty - but it's been empty for so long..

Agree, video was great. Would be awesome to see more of those in and around the downtown.

Chronamut · #**424** Posted **Jan 4, 2023, 10:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by King&James

Agree, video was great. Would be awesome to see more of those in and around the downtown.

The rapid 360 down and up changes made me a bit dizzy though lol..

King&James · #**425** Posted **Jan 10, 2023, 12:58 PM**

Link to photo array of HCC in its closing days

Spec article highlights Photographer and local history fan Mike Heinhold did a couple of photo shoots of the clock tower, inside and out as well outside HCC

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PV6W3VSERPVpu5y36

Chronamut · #**426** Posted **Jan 10, 2023, 1:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by King&James

Link to photo array of HCC in its closing days

Spec article highlights Photographer and local history fan Mike Heinhold did a couple of photo shoots of the clock tower, inside and out as well outside HCC

https://photos.app.goo.gl/PV6W3VSERPVpu5y36

Thank you for this

and ive been looking for a pic of the arches lit - now I have it one last time - thank you.

This was always the magical part of me - I remember being in awe when I first saw it lit around christmas. We'll never have something like this ever in the city again. Wish they coulda done something like this in the internal plaza part for the new development. Can't tell you how many times I walked through the city center to avoid the crappy weather outside..

Davis137 · #**427** Posted **Jan 10, 2023, 5:30 PM**

I agree with Chronamut...this building was the smaller-scale version of the Toronto Eaton center for a lot of people when they were kids. My family used to visit it every now and then, and to me, it felt like visiting the "Big City", without having to go to the GTA or other locations.

Now that I have been living in Ottawa for the second time in the last 15 years, I think the closest thing to resembling the Hamilton City Center, is the Bayshore Mall in the west end of the city, or maybe the Gloucester Center in the city's east end. The Rideau Center downtown used to be similar, but it just finished having a colossal expansion and renovation, and moved up-market, so to speak.

Berklon · #**428** Posted **Jan 10, 2023, 7:35 PM**

I've always liked the look of the interior of the building - even if it may be a little bland.
The exterior left a lot to be desired though (although Toronto's Eaton Centre's exterior isn't exactly 🞵🞵🞵🞵).

It was a good space for shops, but came at a time when people were flocking AWAY from the downtown core.

There's no nostalgia with it for me as I was 21 or 22 when it opened and my visits downtown were rare. I think I've been inside it maybe 10-15 times in my life max. Weirdly enough, I'll still feel a little sad when it's gone for some reason.

Onward and upward.

Pulkvedis Pods · #**429** Posted **Jan 10, 2023, 8:54 PM**

Thanks for the post. Mike is a friend and a very talented photographer. I am very glad to see his work publicly featured!

BCTed · #**430** Posted **Jan 10, 2023, 10:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berklon

I've always liked the look of the interior of the building - even if it may be a little bland.
The exterior left a lot to be desired though (although Toronto's Eaton Centre's exterior isn't exactly 🞵🞵🞵🞵).

It was a good space for shops, but came at a time when people were flocking AWAY from the downtown core.

There's no nostalgia with it for me as I was 21 or 22 when it opened and my visits downtown were rare. I think I've been inside it maybe 10-15 times in my life max. Weirdly enough, I'll still feel a little sad when it's gone for some reason.

Onward and upward.

I am super sad that the place is closed. Putting aside the lack of business and maybe some maintenance, it was a very nice, bright public space and a very unique spot in Hamilton. I would rather have that than condos that will really do nothing for me personally. Also, who knows if those will be done well or even get built?

TheHonestMaple · #**431** Posted **Jan 10, 2023, 10:59 PM**

I can't wait to see this building get demolished. Don't quite understand why people are sad to see it go. There was a beautiful historic building there previously that was shamelessly knocked down for this ugly urban mall.

The condos will add thousands of residents that will bring more foot traffic and money to the downtown than this thing ever did. Brighter days ahead. Glad Hamilton is finally figuring out how to build up a downtown, urban malls are never part of that.

TheRitsman · #**432** Posted **Jan 10, 2023, 11:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

I can't wait to see this building get demolished. Don't quite understand why people are sad to see it go. There was a beautiful historic building there previously that was shamelessly knocked down for this ugly urban mall.

The condos will add thousands of residents that will bring more foot traffic and money to the downtown than this thing ever did. Brighter days ahead. Glad Hamilton is finally figuring out how to build up a downtown, urban malls are never part of that.

Yea, while the mall has a great 90s aesthetic that I just love, and it's really cool inside, it is story of badly designed bygone era that came from not understanding why downtowns were struggling.

If City Centre was a successful mall like Eaton Centre in Toronto, I'd think differently, but Eaton Centre is a rare exception, not the norm. I also think the Hamilton version was badly designed, with units too small to attract proper stores once downtown started filling in. I really hope Jackson Square can attract better tenants based on the population boom adjacent to it through this redevelopment, but it will always struggle because at it's heart it's a badly designed mall.

I really hope the City Centre redevelopment is done with at least the slightest amount of care, and that the commercial liked pedestrian walkways are something that is done tastefully and something that Hamilton is ready for in 7-10 years.

ScreamingViking · #**433** Posted **Jan 11, 2023, 12:21 AM**

I love these two images. Especially the first one.

Jackson Square did not "revitalize" the city's core the way it was envisioned. I think it worked ok for a while, but when the office employment and discretionary spending in the downtown area dried up during the 1980s, that dwindled. Solution? Let's build another mall!

If there were more people living and working downtown perhaps the story would have been different. We're on a path to getting there now, but the City Centre would probably require tens of millions of dollars (or more) to be viable again. I have high hopes the condo development will be a much better use of that land, especially if the pedestrian corridors are a hit and successful for retailers. But the additional population alone will make for a much more vibrant centre city, something the City Centre was unable to accomplish.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronamut

ScreamingViking · #**434** Posted **Jan 11, 2023, 12:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pulkvedis Pods

Thanks for the post. Mike is a friend and a very talented photographer. I am very glad to see his work publicly featured!

Very. I posted some of them on the Canada forum. Please let him know how much we appreciate his artistry!

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=222250&page=1107 (post 22,136)
https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=130447&page=75 (post 1,500)

Chronamut · #**435** Posted **Jan 11, 2023, 8:15 AM**

it will be nice to have storefronts facing james again at least. That outer slab of a wall was an eyesore.. but I dunno.. I liked the fact I could walk from king and james all the way to the end of the eatons center and be INDOORS - I am going to miss that since now I'm gonna have to go outside once I hit.. well there really is no point for me to go into jackson anymore as its like 20 feet to the spot where you went into the city center lol...

mind you in the old days this woulda all been walkable outdoor space, so we're just sorta returning it to that - but I want my lazy corridor spared of the elements lol..

so what happens to the outdoor parking garage and the tunnel above the street connecting it to the city center? is the parking garage remaining? I assume the overhead tunnel will be demolished..

TheHonestMaple · #**436** Posted **Jan 11, 2023, 2:02 PM**

I believe the same group that wants to develop the area and move the men's shelter are taking over ownership of that parking garage.

craftbeerdad · #**437** Posted **Jan 11, 2023, 5:25 PM**

TheHonestMaple is correct; parking garage, men's shelter and another parcel of land are all part of the "entertainment area" build out.

One would guess the overhead connecting path could decommissioned after the city centre is demolished and still used as a parking garage until it ultimately meets its fate (a couple years at least).

Chronamut · #**438** Posted **Jan 11, 2023, 5:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by craftbeerdad

TheHonestMaple is correct; parking garage, men's shelter and another parcel of land are all part of the "entertainment area" build out.

One would guess the overhead connecting path could decommissioned after the city centre is demolished and still used as a parking garage until it ultimately meets its fate (a couple years at least).

Hmmm.. and what do they have planned for said "entertainment" area? They better keep those historic buildings beside the parking garage alone.. they're some of the last ones of their kind we have left - I think the old church with the pillars is the last of its kind in hamilton. I know it's been boarded up but I'd hate to see it demolished.

TheHonestMaple · #**439** Posted **Jan 11, 2023, 5:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronamut

Hmmm.. and what do they have planned for said "entertainment" area? They better keep those historic buildings beside the parking garage alone.. they're some of the last ones we have left - I think the old church with the pillars is the last of its kind in hamilton. I know it's been boarded up but I'd hate to see it demolished.

The historic Coppley Building was purchased last year and will be renovated and turned into high end offices.

https://globalnews.ca/news/8387146/coppley-building-development-downtown-hamilton/

Chronamut · #**440** Posted **Jan 11, 2023, 5:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

The historic Coppley Building was purchased last year and will be renovated and turned into high end offices.

https://globalnews.ca/news/8387146/coppley-building-development-downtown-hamilton/

Yeah I thought I recalled that, but you never know these days.. I am glad.. that's one of my favourite buildings - hopefully it'll have a bit more visibility with the condos going in -it's kinda tucked away. Probably one reason why it still survives.