480 Stone Church Rd | 8 fl | ? | Complete

[hamiltonguy]

Originally Posted by geoff's two cents

Sorry folks, I was just going off what I saw on Google street view. Something still doesn't seem right to me, but then again I'm not a southern Ontarian, and plunking larger buildings on the outskirts of town, instead of closer to job centers and in more pedestrian-friendly environments (a la Mississauga and Burlington), was a bit of an urban/suburban culture shock for this Vancouverite. Don't take offense.

I've also done my share of bus-riding out to Limeridge and back and hated it, every single time (what I wouldn't have given for some decent clothing shops downtown!) - long waits, narrow sidewalks, crowded buses, you name it. My bet is most of these people, assisted housing or no, will be driving, and I don't blame them.

To be honest I can't see any place for parking on site even for the retail. The buses are packed in this area at rush hour.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by hamiltonguy

To be honest I can't see any place for parking on site even for the retail. The buses are packed in this area at rush hour.

From the looks of it the parking will be on the East side of the building along Limeridge.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by geoff's two cents

Sorry folks, I was just going off what I saw on Google street view. Something still doesn't seem right to me, but then again I'm not a southern Ontarian, and plunking larger buildings on the outskirts of town, instead of closer to job centers and in more pedestrian-friendly environments (a la Mississauga and Burlington), was a bit of an urban/suburban culture shock for this Vancouverite. Don't take offense.

I've also done my share of bus-riding out to Limeridge and back and hated it, every single time (what I wouldn't have given for some decent clothing shops downtown!) - long waits, narrow sidewalks, crowded buses, you name it. My bet is most of these people, assisted housing or no, will be driving, and I don't blame them.

That area has been established for a number of years now. Most of the building going on there now is just infill.

[hamiltonguy]

Originally Posted by bigguy1231

From the looks of it the parking will be on the East side of the building along Limeridge.

That's what I thought but to be honest it doesn't look like it could fit more than 5-6 cars.

[Dwils01]

Photo from today by me.
480 Stone Church Road. It looks almost complete.

[Dwils01]

From Today

480 Stone Church parking lot.


480 Stone Church.


Photos by me.

[Dwils01]

Past by the building today and there are residents living their now so even though the landscaping is not finished, I believe this building is know completed.

[DC1983]

Also take note that the promised retail component never materialized. Shocker.

Honestly.. I hate this building! Desnity is great, but it's in a single-family-home mecca! There are no other buildings even remotely close to this size in this area.

It's ugly, it stands out like a sore (retailess) thumb. The set-back kills the urbanity of this project, and doesn't help the Upp Went/Stonechurch corner at all.

Not a Bitter Billy or anything today, just really dissapointed w/ this development.

[bornagainbiking]

Imagine that this building is occupied by empty nesters that want to be close to the grandkids. Or downsized and sold and still have friends closeby. Any building that is structurally sound and safe is good. Imagine the view.
People living in a new clean condo spending money in town. Density go up not out. This is not a bad thing. With people come business, Necessity is the mother of invention.
If the units are selling someone wants them, to each it's own.

[bigguy1231]

I have an aunt and uncle who just moved into the building. They are both in their eighties and moved from a rural area just to be closer to their family. So Bornagainbiking you hit the nail on the head with your observations.

[DC1983]

Originally Posted by bornagainbiking

Imagine that this building is occupied by empty nesters that want to be close to the grandkids. Or downsized and sold and still have friends closeby. Any building that is structurally sound and safe is good. Imagine the view.
People living in a new clean condo spending money in town. Density go up not out. This is not a bad thing. With people come business, Necessity is the mother of invention.
If the units are selling someone wants them, to each it's own.

There's nothing around for an 80 y/o to shop at? Where? The Dance Supplies store across the street?

Sure, these 80 y/os may be driving to the nearest mall/plaza. I hope all the banks in their areas have their insurance paid up to date, cuz there's gonna be a lot more cars thru their front windows in this area

Seriously though, even for Hamilton standards.. this development is a FLOP!

[bigguy1231]

It's just up the street from Limeridge mall. I think it may be only 2 bus stops away from the mall. It's not like it's in the middle of nowhere.

[DC1983]

Originally Posted by bigguy1231

It's just up the street from Limeridge mall. I think it may be only 2 bus stops away from the mall. It's not like it's in the middle of nowhere.

Then why didn't they build this building IN the Limeridge Mall pkng lot (overflow closest to Limeridge/Upp Went). They would have been ZERO stops from a Transit Node.

The defeatist attitude in Hamilton is really sad, "Well it's better than what was there before" or "At least it adds density" is a weak argument. Sorry.

Anyway, this is just my two cents. I wish we would stop hating on Toronto and actually look to them for urban planning guidance! I can think of at least 3 mall pkng lots which have been and/or are under redevelopment: Sherway Gardens (2 + 1 condo towers), Dufferin/Lawrence (2 condo towers U/C), Don Mills Mall (Shopps at Don Mills walkable outdoor shopping ctr + Parkade + Condo tower).

In Hamilton, a mall on our A-Line Rapid Transit corridor was converted into a Big Box Bonanza where it's stores face inside a giant pkng lot, leaving no room for possible residential development.. ON AN LRT CORRIDOR!
..You gotta admit somethin's wrong w/ our planning dep't when..

[markbarbera]

I will be up that way this weekend, and will reserve my opinion until I have had a first-hand look at the development rather than making a quick judgement on it based on a photo.

Having said that, I seem to recall seeing ground floor space that looked like was geared for retail/commercial use last time I was up that way (I think the big Available sign in the photo is for leasing the commercial space). It sometimes takes a while for retail to commit to a new building. The Gore building at King and John is still trying to find tenants, as is the Spallaci Building further east on King, and those buildings have been completed for several years now.

Assuming there is indeed no retail space available here, there are some shops within a couple blocks of the site. There's a strip mall at Stone Church and Redmond and another at U. Wentworth and Pescara, both within a 5 minute walk, and the mall with the Food Basics is a 10-15 minute walk south to Rymal. And, as pointed out by bigguy1231, the site has (relatively) frequent HSR service at its doorstep.

[markbarbera]

I was by this site and can confirm that there is ground floor retail space as was stated in the original site proposal. The space is vacant, and there is no sign indicating who a future tenant may be. Judging by the layout, I would guess it is geared to accompdate a convenience store and professional services i.e. hairstylist, health services.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by DC1983

Then why didn't they build this building IN the Limeridge Mall pkng lot (overflow closest to Limeridge/Upp Went). They would have been ZERO stops from a Transit Node.

The defeatist attitude in Hamilton is really sad, "Well it's better than what was there before" or "At least it adds density" is a weak argument. Sorry.

Anyway, this is just my two cents. I wish we would stop hating on Toronto and actually look to them for urban planning guidance! I can think of at least 3 mall pkng lots which have been and/or are under redevelopment: Sherway Gardens (2 + 1 condo towers), Dufferin/Lawrence (2 condo towers U/C), Don Mills Mall (Shopps at Don Mills walkable outdoor shopping ctr + Parkade + Condo tower).

In Hamilton, a mall on our A-Line Rapid Transit corridor was converted into a Big Box Bonanza where it's stores face inside a giant pkng lot, leaving no room for possible residential development.. ON AN LRT CORRIDOR!
..You gotta admit somethin's wrong w/ our planning dep't when..

They didn't build in the Limeridge parking lot because they didn't own that property. It's pure folly to believe that this city can tell any developer how to spend their money.

As for Toronto thats a whole different kettle of fish. The demand there is much different than it is here. Because of that demand, the city can demand whatever they want and the developers will comply, because they know they can basically charge whatever they want and the condo's will be snapped up.

As for the former mall on Upper James, I live 3 blocks from it and won't go near the place. I agree with you, it is a bad setup. If they do happen to build the LRT on Upper James, which is nothing more than a pipedream that will never come to be, then those steel and stucco buildings could easily be torn down and replaced if the owner sees an opportunity to profit from doing so.

[DC1983]

Originally Posted by bigguy1231

They didn't build in the Limeridge parking lot because they didn't own that property. It's pure folly to believe that this city can tell any developer how to spend their money.

As for Toronto thats a whole different kettle of fish. The demand there is much different than it is here. Because of that demand, the city can demand whatever they want and the developers will comply, because they know they can basically charge whatever they want and the condo's will be snapped up.

As for the former mall on Upper James, I live 3 blocks from it and won't go near the place. I agree with you, it is a bad setup. If they do happen to build the LRT on Upper James, which is nothing more than a pipedream that will never come to be, then those steel and stucco buildings could easily be torn down and replaced if the owner sees an opportunity to profit from doing so.

You're right, the City has no right as-to how a private developper spends his/her own money! However, it is the City's responsibility to implement Smart Design that coincide w/ their official plans.

I'm not disputing it's contribution to the City's density, just it's implementation in this case. Y'all know my reasoning, so I wont repeat again.

Said Mountain Plaza (and Centre Mall to boot) are prime examples of poor City planning and allowing developers to walk all over us. "But at least it's something" <-- Ugh.

[bigguy1231]

Originally Posted by DC1983

You're right, the City has no right as-to how a private developper spends his/her own money! However, it is the City's responsibility to implement Smart Design that coincide w/ their official plans.

I'm not disputing it's contribution to the City's density, just it's implementation in this case. Y'all know my reasoning, so I wont repeat again.

Said Mountain Plaza (and Centre Mall to boot) are prime examples of poor City planning and allowing developers to walk all over us. "But at least it's something" <-- Ugh.

The building does coincide with the city's official plan. They are currently developing a new plan to intensify developement in and around Limeridge Mall. They are looking at allowing for redevelopement of the current strip plaza's to include high density housing with first floor commercial.

As for the redevelopement of the Centre mall and the Mountain plaza it's kind of hard for the city to change the rules for something that is already zoned for that use. To do so is just asking for an OMB revue and enormous expense with very little chance of winning.

[DC1983]

^^ Good read: http://raisethehammer.org/article/13...velopment_dead