71 Rebecca St | 97 m | 30 fl | Proposed - Page 11

davidcappi · #**201** Posted **Feb 24, 2019, 10:15 PM**

I heard from someone on the BNA that the next step for Sonoma is to find a bigger development company to partner with since this project is a little too big for them to do on their own/ they haven’t done anything this big before.

hamilton23 · #**202** Posted **Apr 24, 2019, 3:36 PM**

I haven't heard anything on this project in several months-year. Anyone have any updates?

hamilton23 · #**203** Posted **Apr 25, 2019, 2:37 PM**

This area could really use something big. I have my own personal doubts about this developer and based on some of the stuff i've read in this thread (they are looking for a large developer to partner with) makes me concerned. This was or currently still is a safe injection site. Regardless of my personal views on safe injection sites.... I think something like a high end condo would do wonders in shaping this area and cleaning it up. Doesn't have to be 30 floors as proposed, but something has to go on that land.

Chronamut · #**204** Posted **Apr 25, 2019, 2:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamilton23

This area could really use something big. I have my own personal doubts about this developer and based on some of the stuff i've read in this thread (they are looking for a large developer to partner with) makes me concerned. This was or currently still is a safe injection site. Regardless of my personal views on safe injection sites.... I think something like a high end condo would do wonders in shaping this area and cleaning it up. Doesn't have to be 30 floors as proposed, but something has to go on that land.

I understand your concerns but it is encouraging that people are TRYING - I mean everyone has to start somewhere right? I wish we had more established builders in the city personally but with so little being built in the past it's not like many have a huge track record like they might in toronto or other cities.

hamilton23 · #**205** Posted **Apr 25, 2019, 2:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronamut

I understand your concerns but it is encouraging that people are TRYING - I mean everyone has to start somewhere right? I wish we had more established builders in the city personally but with so little being built in the past it's not like many have a huge track record like they might in toronto or other cities.

I get what you're saying, but if you don't actually have the capital, experience or infrastructure to build something of this scale, don't even attempt it. The only rationale is sitting on the land as it increases in value and then flipping it to another owner/developer with the capabilities.

Chronamut · #**206** Posted **Apr 25, 2019, 3:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamilton23

I get what you're saying, but if you don't actually have the capital, experience or infrastructure to build something of this scale, don't even attempt it. The only rationale is sitting on the land as it increases in value and then flipping it to another owner/developer with the capabilities.

Which is what many are actually doing, and I am sorta thankful - the land beside the piggott building and the corner of james and king william being 2 examples. I'd rather see something great built these places than something half-assed.

Time to dial up some people from other cities to invest in hamilton

It's already happening - I mean look at the new connoly builder - he grew up in hamilton and now has a giant business overseas and is returning to invest here.

hamilton23 · #**207** Posted **Apr 25, 2019, 4:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronamut

Which is what many are actually doing, and I am sorta thankful - the land beside the piggott building and the corner of james and king william being 2 examples. I'd rather see something great built these places than something half-assed.

Time to dial up some people from other cities to invest in hamilton

It's already happening - I mean look at the new connoly builder - he grew up in hamilton and now has a giant business overseas and is returning to invest here.

Yeah, but that same developer hasn't built here yet (which concerns me), but I do like the marketing materials so far and I do think he will build something great over at the old connoly site.

I think the land that sonoma owns is vital to the areas redevelopment. We need someone to do something with this land.

Chronamut · #**208** Posted **Apr 25, 2019, 5:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamilton23

Yeah, but that same developer hasn't built here yet (which concerns me), but I do like the marketing materials so far and I do think he will build something great over at the old connoly site.

I think the land that sonoma owns is vital to the areas redevelopment. We need someone to do something with this land.

The question is can they afford the price tag - real estate downtown is at an all time premium

hamilton23 · #**209** Posted **Apr 25, 2019, 5:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronamut

The question is can they afford the price tag - real estate downtown is at an all time premium

Developers can definitely afford it. I think a lot of us are currently taking a wait and see approach to how the LRT starts to shake up (when and if it does), and if the market will get to a better place in the near future. We're starting to see positive trends with the market, but analysis over a longer stretch is needed before making these large investments.

Chronamut · #**210** Posted **Apr 25, 2019, 6:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamilton23

Developers can definitely afford it. I think a lot of us are currently taking a wait and see approach to how the LRT starts to shake up (when and if it does), and if the market will get to a better place in the near future. We're starting to see positive trends with the market, but analysis over a longer stretch is needed before making these large investments.

lets hope the properties don't degrade too much in the meantime..

hamilton23 · #**211** Posted **Apr 25, 2019, 6:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronamut

lets hope the properties don't degrade too much in the meantime..

I don't think this one specifically will. It's mainly just a parking lot.

I know the City of Hamilton has plans for a public park in front of the proposed building? That's obviously a step in the right direction, but I would love the developer to either do something with this land or sell it to someone who is motivated to do something. Driving down John St on that stretch is pretty depressing. It would really bring some much needed life to that area.

Chronamut · #**212** Posted **Apr 25, 2019, 6:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamilton23

I don't think this one specifically will. It's mainly just a parking lot.

I know the City of Hamilton has plans for a public park in front of the proposed building? That's obviously a step in the right direction, but I would love the developer to either do something with this land or sell it to someone who is motivated to do something. Driving down John St on that stretch is pretty depressing. It would really bring some much needed life to that area.

Yes it is being converted to a park - the underground club is remaining because it is a heritage site now, a small remnant of a much larger complex that used to take up the entire block.

hamilton23 · #**213** Posted **Apr 25, 2019, 7:01 PM**

I love LuLu's! I wonder what the fate of Club 77 is? if this development indeed does move forward at some point in the future? add in the public park being built as well.... It feels sort of out of place for a nightclub.

Chronamut · #**214** Posted **Apr 25, 2019, 7:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hamilton23

I love LuLu's! I wonder what the fate of Club 77 is? if this development indeed does move forward at some point in the future? add in the public park being built as well.... It feels sort of out of place for a nightclub.

It was originally going to be demolished until the heritage thing came up - the question is if it remains a club what happens to the park late at night when people are drunk and loitering in it from the club..

I always felt this was a really bad place for lulus - just this tiny island in the grave of a former juggernaut building.. for me it just reminds me too painfully of the past. Also a waste of a primo spot for some good height density.

anactualalien · #**215** Posted **Apr 25, 2019, 10:08 PM**

Anyone have pictures of what used to stand on The Big One (parking lot to the Northwest)?

Chronamut · #**216** Posted **Apr 26, 2019, 3:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by anactualalien

Anyone have pictures of what used to stand on The Big One (parking lot to the Northwest)?

It was a giant factory. You can see it in the bg of some of the older archive pictures. It's been empty as far back as the 60s though - here you can see an old structure near it

You can see it better here before it was demolished - its that dark hulking building with the white vertical and horizontal bands on it - there do not appear to be any close up images of it - this area always seemed to be cut off when images were taken of the downtown so finding pics of it is very rare. This image is from 1958 - the one above is from the early 60s so in between the 2 this building was demolished - I could be wrong but this looks like it originally took up 2 city blocks, which would explain the 2 parking lots side by side - you can see how it dwarfs the right house in front of it:

This area is a very sore spot for me because very little to no information exists as to WHAT exactly stood here and who it was who was in this area. It was originally a very big building though.

anactualalien · #**217** Posted **Apr 26, 2019, 3:30 PM**

^^thanks. I don't go out of my way to look for old pictures of the city because I get upset haha.

Chronamut · #**218** Posted **Apr 26, 2019, 3:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by anactualalien

^^thanks. I don't go out of my way to look for old pictures of the city because I get upset haha.

I pretty much have 4 eras of the city mapped out in my head - pre-fire, (wooden buildings and awnings) post-fire (stone and brick buildings) 80s-90s era (everything boarded up) and now.

And np - I sent out a request to others to find out exactly what existed here.. we'll see if I get any responses. It just floors me that there are NO up close shots of this area.. it's like a giant mystery.

Chronamut · #**219** Posted **Apr 26, 2019, 5:48 PM**

So I got a response back - the building that was here was the old eatons knitting mill - here is a map that shows some of the other things that used to be in the area as well.

you can find the whole map here:

http://digitalarchive.mcmaster.ca/is...acrepo%3A33341

apparently there was a temple beside the church.. interesting stuff

here is a video of the building:

https://www.facebook.com/VintageHami...0778218200193/

Chronamut · #**220** Posted **Apr 26, 2019, 7:45 PM**

Here is the image of the eatons knitting mill - one of the few out there

and here is the church on the southeast corner of rebecca and john

and here is the church on the northeast side of the building:

That's one big thing I've noticed - back in the day people built manufacturing factories and stores and businesses - now a company creates a condo and waits for some small business to fill in the underneath - we need more big business development that actual businesses that want the land actually build.