Cobalt Luxury Residences On King | 97.5 & 97.5m | 2 x 30 fl | Complete

[Hawrylyshyn]

Great pictures!

Since you haven't been in 3.5 years, it would be interesting to get your take on how the feeling/atmosphere of the city has changed (if at all) since your last visit. I feel like it's harder to notice changes when you're here everyday and see things happen gradually.

[GeneralLea]

Thank you!
If I have to be honest, I didn't visit downtown really at all this time around. Me and my friends just wanted to do a loop around Bruce trail to Tiffany Falls.
I will say, the city felt bigger/more alive with so much construction right on or near James as you get to the central GO station, at least from the bus anyway.

I never visited Locke street, but was pleasantly surprised by the small section I saw on the way back, and how alive and vibrant it looked.

I'm visiting again in a week, but once again, I'm mostly going to a walk up and down the Mountain, although I think I'll take a walk around downtown beforehand.

[HamiltonBoyInToronto]

Originally Posted by GeneralLeeTPHLS

Thank you!
If I have to be honest, I didn't visit downtown really at all this time around. Me and my friends just wanted to do a loop around Bruce trail to Tiffany Falls.
I will say, the city felt bigger/more alive with so much construction right on or near James as you get to the central GO station, at least from the bus anyway.

I never visited Locke street, but was pleasantly surprised by the small section I saw on the way back, and how alive and vibrant it looked.

I'm visiting again in a week, but once again, I'm mostly going to a walk up and down the Mountain, although I think I'll take a walk around downtown beforehand.

You should definitely take a stroll down james and across king William!

[GeneralLea]

Originally Posted by HamiltonBoyInToronto

You should definitely take a stroll down james and across king William!

Yeah, I've decided that's the best option because I'll come in from West Harbour station. I'm really curious how Gore Park feels now that the new office building is complete and those two towers replacing the former Kresges building are topped out.That, and other buildings are being renovated and/or restored. The area looks much better AFAIK from what I've seen on the forum, so I'm curious about how it'll be once I walk down there.
The urban bones over such a big area of Hamilton are great, so I'm very curious how the city continues to grow in the future.

[TheHonestMaple]

Where are you coming from, Toronto?

[King&James]

Thanks, always great to get out and take some shots. Seeing how decades of stagnation and or decline can be reversed from really the grass routes efforts is very impressive.

[GeneralLea]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

Where are you coming from, Toronto?

Yes. I lived in Hamilton at one point years ago, so I've always had a soft spot for the city.

[GeneralLea]

While I was passing through downtown on a walk, I captured a few images of this complex. It's presence downtown is impressive.
May 1st in Hamilton by Draulerin Photographics, on Flickr
May 1st in Hamilton by Draulerin Photographics, on Flickr
May 1st in Hamilton by Draulerin Photographics, on Flickr
May 1st in Hamilton by Draulerin Photographics, on Flickr
I couldn't help but get some reflection shots
May 1st in Hamilton by Draulerin Photographics, on Flickr
May 1st in Hamilton by Draulerin Photographics, on Flickr

[TheRitsman]

Finishing up glass on the final floor, and major plywood hoarding is down giving a better sense of how this will interact with the street:

[Wigs]

can't wait for these 525? units to come online. That's like an extra 1000 or so people right in the heart of downtown

[Chronamut]

I'd really like to see some awnings put up on the first floor windows on the podium and cover up those top level ventilation grates - make them feel more like individual buildings - the podium definitely needs something like that to make it feel warm and inviting and tie into king williams awnings.

Also wish they'd strip the siding off the building next door - there is still beautiful brickwork under it..

I will say this though, as much as the kresges building, back in its time had some cool art deco elements, those were long gone since most of us remember it so this building podium is a definite improvement to what was originally there.. (although I did love the curved glass on the original building). still anxious to see the front of this build and how it looks facing king street - the look of the back and side have made me cautiously optimistic though that it will tie in nicely to the front with some nice heritage looking architecture

If other builds can follow suit with heritage looking podiums and ultra modern looking towers I think we can keep pretty much all of us happy

[Berklon]

That's hawt.

[The Gore]

Looks Good!

[StEC]

This is looking so good, real bricks being laid it's such a pleasure to see!

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by StEC

This is looking so good, real bricks being laid it's such a pleasure to see!

I'm not sure if it's real bricks - if you look closely you can see the "seams" for brick panels have been sealed over that is the trademark of concrete panels with "brick" pattern on the outside.. although that could be an asthetic thing - there is some salt leeching on the side it looks.. so maybe you're right..

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by Chronamut

I'm not sure if it's real bricks - if you look closely you can see the "seams" for brick panels have been sealed over that is the trademark of concrete panels with "brick" pattern on the outside.. although that could be an asthetic thing - there is some salt leeching on the side it looks.. so maybe you're right..

It is real brick, but it's been laid like garbage. The seams shouldn't exist for hand laid bricks. I saw these bricks in a pile before they went up. Whoever installed these should be ashamed.

That being said, if you don't look too closely it doesn't look bad.

[eatboots]

It's not hideous but there is a definite Disneyland/Fake Town/Pretend these are all different buildings vibe happening here

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by eatboots

It's not hideous but there is a definite Disneyland/Fake Town/Pretend these are all different buildings vibe happening here

Oh for sure, but at least they put an effort and didn't just make it all generic spandrel glass.. so at least they .. halfheartedly tried.. I have to agree the way it was executed was sloppy, but as was said, it doesn't look too bad from far away..

I feel craftsmanship is degenerating more and more as time goes on.. it's frustrating to watch.. I mean it's bricklaying, it's not rocket science.. no offense to bricklayers of course..

[Pulkvedis Pods]

Cobalt towers by Pulkvedis Pods, on Flickr

[King&James]

Originally Posted by Pulkvedis Pods

Cobalt towers by Pulkvedis Pods, on Flickr

Originally Posted by thomax

Here's the rendering from the site...


source

for comparison