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

[davidcappi]

Demolition approved today by planning committee.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by davidcappi

Demolition approved today by planning committee.

where there's a completely ornamental-less soulless looking building - seriously it looks like stone facade and cinder block material... even what was there before was better..

[SteelTown]

Council has approved the plan.

[davidcappi]

David Blanchard right now:

[SteelTown]

Horwath urges Ontario to save Gore Park buildings
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/70...ark-buildings/

Hamilton Spectator
By Matthew Van Dongen

Provincial NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is urging Ontario's culture minister to step in to save four Gore Park buildings destined for demolition.

The Hamilton MPP wrote Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Eleanor McMahon on Jan. 25, the date city council signed off on a conditional plan to allow the demolition and redevelopment of 18-28 King St. E.

One of those conditions is Hughson Business Space Corp. must preserve the facades of two of the Confederation-era buildings, 18 and 22.

The decision caps years of controversial debate over the crumbling Gore Park Street wall, including council's "Christmas miracle" decision to save the buildings from demolition in 2013 with a last-minute heritage designation.

Horwath's letter scolds the government for a "hands-off approach" to heritage preservation in the province and points to the Gore Park street wall as a "shining reminder" of the importance of local heritage preservation.

"I urge you to take a hard look at this file and come to the table, work with the City of Hamilton to ensure these heritage buildings are preserved," reads the letter.

[King&James]

and then there is this project , will it see the light of day, or are we getting more surface parking for the Gore?

[davidcappi]

It went through DRP again a few weeks ago, and they recommended some tweaking to the retail/ground floor. It's currently at the site plan stage. Hughson Business Space Corp has said on record they have an agreement with the city not to touch the buildings until they are ready to start construction, so there won't be an empty lot here.

[anactualalien]

Looks like they'll be saving all the facades now.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by anactualalien

Looks like they'll be saving all the facades now.

Good! Heritage preservation should have top priority in the core!

[durandy]

well that's quite a twist. Before they were just keeping the facades, now they're keeping all of 24-28 and just the facades of 18-24??

[drpgq]

Glad they are being preserved. I wonder about the 24 units though. Wasn't the original plan way back in the day to use the lot behind to build a tall building? Is that separate or totally gone?

[davidcappi]

At the last DRP meeting Premi said that this would technically be the first phase of a multi-phased redevelopment to happen on that block. The idea is to build a parking garage centrally with buildings fronting main / James, and the parking structure would have direct access to all of the buildings, eventually including the old ones.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by davidcappi

At the last DRP meeting Premi said that this would technically be the first phase of a multi-phased redevelopment to happen on that block. The idea is to build a parking garage centrally with buildings fronting main / James, and the parking structure would have direct access to all of the buildings, eventually including the old ones.

that would be great! It's about time all these missing teeth get filled with practical constructuion - get rid of the parking lots and replace them all with parking garages!

They should do something with the giant parking lot around the LIUNA building on the other side of main as well..

[drpgq]

Originally Posted by davidcappi

At the last DRP meeting Premi said that this would technically be the first phase of a multi-phased redevelopment to happen on that block. The idea is to build a parking garage centrally with buildings fronting main / James, and the parking structure would have direct access to all of the buildings, eventually including the old ones.

That's good to hear.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Seems this project is very much focused on parking. Not terribly inspiring, frankly.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

Seems this project is very much focused on parking. Not terribly inspiring, frankly.

not much different from acclamation condos frankly.. it's got a central parking lot built inside of it.

[atnor]

Originally Posted by Dr Awesomesauce

Seems this project is very much focused on parking. Not terribly inspiring, frankly.

Well, where do you suggest the owners park? Like it or not, parking is vital to every build and people will still drive cars when LRT is built so they will need somewhere to park.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by atnor

Well, where do you suggest the owners park? Like it or not, parking is vital to every build and people will still drive cars when LRT is built so they will need somewhere to park.

yeah the whole "everyone will walk everywhere so we dont need cars" thing is hogwash.

And making it all underground parking can be expensive when it comes to maintenance due to water damage over time.

[Katrillion]

What is up with this project? All winter I had the displeasure of watching these building lay derelict.

This has already been approved, no? Apologies for bumping but who knows what's the latest with this?

[NortheastWind]

Originally Posted by Katrillion

What is up with this project? All winter I had the displeasure of watching these building lay derelict.

This has already been approved, no? Apologies for bumping but who knows what's the latest with this?

Behind the scenes work takes time.