Downtown Update

[King&James]

Maybe the Ford government will override the Thorne plan like they just did in North Toronto.

[StEC]

Originally Posted by King&James

Maybe the Ford government will override the Thorne plan like they just did in North Toronto.

I sure hope so... This is one idea of his that I actually applaud! I'm going to write to Ford and ask that he do the same in Hamilton and put an end to this absurdity!

[thistleclub]

Maybe the Ford government will override the Thorne plan like they just did in North Toronto.

And midtown Toronto. And and downtown Toronto.

Toronto Star:

In memos sent to all council members Thursday evening, Gregg Lintern outlined key changes to the city’s Midtown in Focus and TOcore plans delivered by the province a day earlier — these are plans that set out the rules and requirements for development in those fast-growing areas — saying there is more review still to be done and that a report to council was being prepared for the July meeting.

In total, the province made 194 modifications to the midtown plan and 224 changes to the downtown plan, Lintern said.

Broadly, the changes highlighted in Lintern’s memos confirm the provincial changes loosen the city-proposed rules to allow taller, denser residential development, while removing requirements for developers to provide more space for new jobs, thereby ensuring mixed, not bedroom, communities in close proximity to transit. It also deletes measures the city introduced to “to ensure development does not outpace infrastructure.”…

Details in the plans both on how far back buildings must be set from public streets to ensure neighbourhoods are more walkable and on other minimum design requirements were replaced with “general direction,” the memos say.

“For example, prescriptive words such as ‘will,’ ‘preserve’ and ‘ensure’ ” were “replaced with more permissive wording such as ‘may,’ ‘generally’ and ‘encourage’.”

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by thistleclub

Between Royal Connaught, William Thomas, Kresges towers, Ripple, Acclamation, that’s around 1,800 units. Downtown added 2,000 jobs in the last 6-7 years.

Employment growth has also been a stronger and more reliable growth curve than residential growth.

Between 1986 and 2001, Ward 2's population increased by 2,575. Between 2001 and 2016, Ward 2's population decreased by 1,285.

So with all of the above projects coming online, Ward 2 may return to the population density of 20 years ago.

For retail, it's not just about the number of people in the market area, but what they're able to spend.

An increase in local residents (and employees) with larger disposable incomes would attract more higher-end stores in Jackson Square.

It's going to take time though, as with "all things downtown."

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

For retail, it's not just about the number of people in the market area, but what they're able to spend.

An increase in local residents (and employees) with larger disposable incomes would attract more higher-end stores in Jackson Square.

Agreed. One day EcDev will be sufficiently impressed with downtown to update their Downtown Hamilton Profile, which illustrates that dichotomy:

• 64% of Downtown residents aged 15 and over have incomes below $20,000 per year
• One quarter of Downtown workers earn $60,000+

That data is now 13 years old. Maybe something to flag.

In any event, creating a downtown filled with high-paying jobs and workers inclined to live within walking distance of those jobs instead of in the suburbs would help a lot.

[Chronamut]

There is also the paradox that a lot of the businesses that people want to go downtown - coffee shops, clothing stores etc now will not pay high enough wages to support actually living downtown. It's now too expensive.

So downtown jobs that provide living wages that can support the price of living downtown is also huge. You think someone working as a barista in a starbucks can afford a condo downtown? Or a rent of 2 grand a month? I think not.

[thistleclub]

Originally Posted by Chronamut

downtown jobs that provide living wages that can support the price of living downtown is also huge.

Not just downtown. Between 2011 and 2014, the rate of full-time employment in Hamilton's workforce dropped at three times the GTHA average, and the city posted the GTHA's highest rates of temporary and contract gigs.

[lachlanholmes]

Is Landmark Place getting a two-tone look or will this nice white material be covered up with the terrible brown-black on the other two sides?













I'm having a tough time deciding whether or not the reclad of these towers is better than the outgoing look:

[Hawrylyshyn]

I preferred the brick - could just used new balconies IMO

[King&James]

Story on CBC, commercial / office vacancy rates and employment.

Downtown Hamilton vacancy rates 'healthy,' jobs increasing: city report
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/vacancy-rate-1.5163924

[King&James]

Noticed on Realtor that Right House 2nd floor upwadr all vacant. What is the story here, wonder how long they can run it empty before wanting to ditch? Super prime spot for so many great uses - maybe office is not one of them. Would be super awesome if they could combine RH with old Woolworth Property (add a dozen or so floors) to breathe som life and density into block. Tough spot to get to and from underground parking (ie access to any street)

[TheRitsman]

Originally Posted by King&James

Noticed on Realtor that Right House 2nd floor upwadr all vacant. What is the story here, wonder how long they can run it empty before wanting to ditch? Super prime spot for so many great uses - maybe office is not one of them. Would be super awesome if they could combine RH with old Woolworth Property (add a dozen or so floors) to breathe som life and density into block. Tough spot to get to and from underground parking (ie access to any street)

The city should have force public parking beneath the King@Hughson development.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by HamiltonForward

Is Landmark Place getting a two-tone look or will this nice white material be covered up with the terrible brown-black on the other two sides?

I'm having a tough time deciding whether or not the reclad of these towers is better than the outgoing look:

I'd be surprised if the white on Landmark stays. Is that horizontal "ribbing" along the concrete facings creeping upward? And will there be paneling or a treatment of some sort to cover the stained concrete between the ribs? (very visible on the lower half of the tower)

Re: Queen's Terrace and Oxford Heights... same pigs, new shade on the lips. I think they've simply replaced out-of-date with drab. At least they're doing it before bricks start falling.

Content removed

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by thomax

Arkledun Ave. Shipping Container House | 6/7/19 by Joe, on Flickr

They should clad the concrete as well - looks like an eyesore in comparison.

[movingtohamilton]

Originally Posted by Chronamut

They should clad the concrete as well - looks like an eyesore in comparison.

Are you sure they have completed all the exterior work?

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by movingtohamilton

Are you sure they have completed all the exterior work?

Mmmm maybe not - there is that blue around the basement windows..

[NortheastWind]

Originally Posted by King&James

Noticed on Realtor that Right House 2nd floor upwadr all vacant. What is the story here, wonder how long they can run it empty before wanting to ditch? Super prime spot for so many great uses - maybe office is not one of them. Would be super awesome if they could combine RH with old Woolworth Property (add a dozen or so floors) to breathe som life and density into block. Tough spot to get to and from underground parking (ie access to any street)

I was in the Tim Horton's at the Right House on Sunday and it had the smell of an musty basement of an old house. TH's is all open at the ceiling so I assume the smell is from the building itself.

[TSteph9]

Originally Posted by hamilton23

Further to this point, I think that the view from the escarpment would actually be more appealing to look down at from up on the mountain if the Downtown had taller and nicer looking buildings to look at. It would increase the property values of those who have views of Downtown on the mountain also...

For sure. A lot of the view is factories right now, so some sleek high-rises would be a nice alternative.

[Crapht]

Anything north of Hunter st is ideal for greater height while maintaining views from the escarpment. Agreed. Developments such as Metro City and Corktown Plaza will only block views from the escarpment. South of Hunter should be kept to 10 storeys max in my opinion.