18-30 King St East | 106.9m | 32 fl | Proposed

[bigguy1231]

If we are talking a $100 million dollar development what use is a $50,00 grant. That paltry amount wouldn't motivate me to allow designation if I was a developer especially if it is going to cost me ten times that to preserve these features.. I can't see Blanchard and associates going for this.

[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by bigguy1231

If we are talking a $100 million dollar development what use is a $50,00 grant. That paltry amount wouldn't motivate me to allow designation if I was a developer especially if it is going to cost me ten times that to preserve these features.. I can't see Blanchard and associates going for this.

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Hamilton Heritage Property Grant Program
For projects valued at $40,000 or less, the grant will be based on 50% of the total project cost to a maximum grant of $20,000 for eligible work under the program. For projects valued over $40,000, the grant will include $20,000 (i.e. 50% of $40,000), plus an additional grant based on 25% of the total project cost over $40,000, to a maximum additional grant of $130,000. In total, no more than $150,000 will be granted for eligible work under the program.

Hamilton Community Heritage Fund
The Hamilton Community Heritage Fund (HCHF), provides interest-free loans to a maximum of $50,000 for restoration of heritage attributes on properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Five designated properties would appear to give rise to the possibility of $600K in heritage grants and $250K in interest-free loans.

And are there other loans/grants still?

[SteelTown]

I can think of a few he would be entitled too....

Tax Increment Grant Program
Multi-Residential Property Investment Program
Gore Building Improvement Grant Program
Commercial Façade Property Improvement Grant Program

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

I can think of a few he would be entitled too....

Tax Increment Grant Program
Multi-Residential Property Investment Program
Gore Building Improvement Grant Program
Commercial Façade Property Improvement Grant Program

Not to veer off-topic too much, but the Burrito Boyz resto is getting screwed by City Hall on their facade.

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/39...-burrito-boyz/

Wondering if the facade grant would be helpful for them? Can't find details of the program on the city's site. Can you provide a link?

[SteelTown]

http://www.investinhamilton.ca/downt...tive-programs/

[movingtohamilton]

Thanks for the link. The whole story is outrageous!

[thistleclub]

I'm actually surprised that glass is the sticking point. Would've imagined that a plywood facade next door to a National Historic Site would make officials itchy. (Even so, frustrating considering the kind of crap that the City lets slide all over Downtown.)

HHPGP and HCHF appear to be the extent of Hamilton’s heritage-specific support programs.

The others cited by SteelTown:

Multi-Residential Property Investment Program
Five-year interest-free loan. The Program is intended to provide financial assistance for projects that result in predominantly residential development including converting existing commercial space into multiple dwelling units; renovations to existing multiple dwelling units; the creation of a new multiple dwelling on vacant land; together with uses accessory to the residential development…. The maximum loan amount per development is $5 million. City Council at its sole discretion has the option, at the time of initially approving a loan commitment, of increasing the maximum loan amount. The maximum loan amount advanced under the program to a single developer or related group will not exceed $18 million at one time.

Tax Increment Grant Program
A five-year grant, in an amount not exceeding the increase in municipal realty taxes as a direct result of the development/redevelopment of the land and/or building. Approved grants shall not exceed 100 percent of the municipal realty tax increase during the first year, 80 percent in year two, 60 percent in year three, 40 percent in year four and 20 percent in year five.

Gore Building Improvement Grant Program
Matching basis up to a maximum of $50,000 per buiding.

Commercial Façade Property Improvement Grant Program
Maximum grant amount will be paid on a matching basis (50%-50%) to a maximum of $10,000 per property for eligible work under the Program. Corner properties will receive an additional grant of $2,500.

[mattgrande]

I can't believe the city is hassling Burrito Boyz about the amount of glass, while Blanchard is just pulling shit off of the buildings he was planning on demolishing two days ago...

[Katrillion]

Originally Posted by mattgrande

I can't believe the city is hassling Burrito Boyz about the amount of glass, while Blanchard is just pulling shit off of the buildings he was planning on demolishing two days ago...

The shit he's pulling off the buildings is actual shit though. He's not pulling anything from the actual historical part, he's removing the added on stucco, signs, etc? Which is good.

[ScreamingViking]

Why is glass such a heritage issue, but not all those gaudy yellow signs, flimsy banners, and wraps/panels that cover entire buildings?

The Burrito Boyz frontage looks so much classier (and fitting) than the street face of many other downtown businesses.

[Katrillion]

Does anyone have a picture of what Burrito Boyz looks like? Lol.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by Katrillion

Does anyone have a picture of what Burrito Boyz looks like? Lol.

There's a series of images in the Spec article linked above.

Shows very well how the Boyz blend with other notable heritage frontages downtown.

Originally Posted by movingtohamilton

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/39...-burrito-boyz/

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk

And are there other loans/grants still?

Those amounts are still paltry in the grand scheme of things and wouldn't even begin to cover the costs of renovating those buildings. Just saving the facades will cost millions.

Don't get me wrong I like the looks of those buildings and would like to see at least the facade's saved. But there is a point when a developer just can't justify the cost and in the case of these buildings that might be the case even with the grants.

[sil]

Don't get me wrong I like the looks of those buildings and would like to see at least the facade's saved. But there is a point when a developer just can't justify the cost and in the case of these buildings that might be the case even with the grants.[/QUOTE]

This whole thing has got me thinking yet again, i don't believe that its whether or not he demolishes the buildings its he has no plans to rebuild at the moment.

[ihateittoo]

Although the issue of these particular buildings in the Gore is pressing I also wish that discussion of the Gore included the north side as well. Something needs to be done and fast, to preserve and re-utilize all of the those beautiful 5 story heritage buildings or else we'll face the same neglect argument in 5 to 10 years time.

At the very least let's start with bylaws against urban alley,subway and co.'s signage.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

I think they're grandfathered. All the City can do is ask nicely. But they probably haven't even done that 'cuz they're useless.

[markbarbera]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

Why is glass such a heritage issue, but not all those gaudy yellow signs, flimsy banners, and wraps/panels that cover entire buildings?

The Burrito Boyz frontage looks so much classier (and fitting) than the street face of many other downtown businesses.

I don't care for the frontage of Burrito Boyz. The low windows and cheap wood paneling makes me think of the old storefronts on Barton that have been converted into apartments. It is very uninviting and really does do a disservice to the building it is housed in.

[mattgrande]

http://i.imgur.com/VFnhYOR

Edit: Woah, sorry, that's way too big. Here's just a link to Mr MacKaye's cartoon.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Ha ha! Great cartoon.

It's true, though, that the Burrito Boyz frontage is poor but in light of everything else that's happening in the Gore, I think we can let it pass and be thankful a decent business has opened in the core. And it's way better than the stucco Blanchard et al pasted onto the buildings they now want to bulldoze.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by markbarbera

I don't care for the frontage of Burrito Boyz. The low windows and cheap wood paneling makes me think of the old storefronts on Barton that have been converted into apartments. It is very uninviting and really does do a disservice to the building it is housed in.

Personally I don't mind it. But while it was meant in a relative sense compared to some of the other crappy frontages downtown, me using the word "classier" was a bit rich.