Neighbourhood revitalization - Page 5

SteelTown · #81 Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 3:04 PM**

Though wouldn't you think Starbucks might like James St South than James St North?

DC83 · #82 Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 3:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

Though wouldn't you think Starbucks might like James St South than James St North?

Who knows. I can't fig out their strategy!? In TO, they seem to stick em anywhere they can grab property! haha

I'm surprised they haven't opened up in Westdale yet! They fact that they chose Hwy8 & Dewitt in Stoney Creek and Upper James & Rymal before Downtown or Westdale seems to go against what they do in every city I have been to.

But I guess this is just the start for the Hammer?

oldcoote · #83 Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 3:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DC83

Who knows. I can't fig out their strategy!? In TO, they seem to stick em anywhere they can grab property! haha

I'm surprised they haven't opened up in Westdale yet! They fact that they chose Hwy8 & Dewitt in Stoney Creek and Upper James & Rymal before Downtown or Westdale seems to go against what they do in every city I have been to.

But I guess this is just the start for the Hammer?

Starbucks tries to lease space in Westdale years ago, but apparently found the asking price prohibitive. I believe it was the current Saigon, former Pita Planet, KFC location on the corner of King and Paisley.

Hammer Native · #84 Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 4:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelTown

I wouldn't be surprised if another Starbucks is being planned out for Hamilton. It looks like all current Starbucks stores in Hamilton got renovated and a new Starbucks at Locke. Looks like Starbucks is making some serious investment in Hamilton.

Are they franchised like Tim Horton's or all corporate? Does anyone know?

markbarbera · #85 Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 4:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer Native

Are they franchised like Tim Horton's or all corporate? Does anyone know?

Starbucks does not franchise. However, it has arranged licensed agreements with places like Sears at the Toronto Eaton Centre and the cafe at the downtown Hamilton Sheraton.

matt602 · #86 Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 7:32 PM**

I think if anything we'll be likely to see the next Starbucks on James North or South. Most likely South so they can capture the GO Transit users (however North will come under this as well if the James North station happens).

Connaught is a nice idea but the rest of the neighborhood has a long way to go. Starbucks likely won't entertain the idea of being across the street from a strip club.

JT Jacobs · #87 Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 7:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drpgq

Yeah, Richard Florida mentioned this article in his blog:

"Note to skeptics: Read the second graf on how creative economic development strategy is causing the return of young families.. I've already been learning about the remarkable transformation going on in Kirchner-Waterloo, now my eyes are peeled on Hamilton as well."

Would you mind posting a link to that blog entry? I can't find it. Thanks.

raisethehammer · #88 Posted **Mar 25, 2008, 7:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt602

I think if anything we'll be likely to see the next Starbucks on James North or South. Most likely South so they can capture the GO Transit users (however North will come under this as well if the James North station happens).

Connaught is a nice idea but the rest of the neighborhood has a long way to go. Starbucks likely won't entertain the idea of being across the street from a strip club.

they don't mind in Montreal.

Stinson mentioned Starbucks for the corner of Connaught at King and John with the big patio space out front.
Whoever lands that spot will do a booming business.

raisethehammer · #89 Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 2:20 AM**

saw the drawings today for a new 5-6 storey condo project being built next to Acclamation on James North.
Great looking project. 4 floors of condos with the 5th and 6th terraced back with great patio/terraces.
Acclamation will be extended into the new building with a cocktail lounge being the new main entrance to the restaurant. the current entrance will be closed off.
The patio will wrap around onto James along the front of the building and new building with sliding glass doors that open the interior to the street.
A new banquet hall will be built in the new building as well.
And there will be one other storefront on the south end of the streetwall facing James. I hope this gets built, because it's a beauty. Apparently work should begin soon.

JT Jacobs · #90 Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 2:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

saw the drawings today for a new 5-6 storey condo project being built next to Acclamation on James North.
Great looking project. 4 floors of condos with the 5th and 6th terraced back with great patio/terraces.
Acclamation will be extended into the new building with a cocktail lounge being the new main entrance to the restaurant. the current entrance will be closed off.
The patio will wrap around onto James along the front of the building and new building with sliding glass doors that open the interior to the street.
A new banquet hall will be built in the new building as well.
And there will be one other storefront on the south end of the streetwall facing James. I hope this gets built, because it's a beauty. Apparently work should begin soon.

That sounds utterly brilliant! Has this project been approved yet? Any chance that those drawings might make an appearance here soon?

matt602 · #91 Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 3:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

saw the drawings today for a new 5-6 storey condo project being built next to Acclamation on James North.
Great looking project. 4 floors of condos with the 5th and 6th terraced back with great patio/terraces.
Acclamation will be extended into the new building with a cocktail lounge being the new main entrance to the restaurant. the current entrance will be closed off.
The patio will wrap around onto James along the front of the building and new building with sliding glass doors that open the interior to the street.
A new banquet hall will be built in the new building as well.
And there will be one other storefront on the south end of the streetwall facing James. I hope this gets built, because it's a beauty. Apparently work should begin soon.

I really hope that goes through. Sounds like just the thing for James North.

raisethehammer · #92 Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 1:26 PM**

yes, it's been approved. I think they received some residential loan money from downtown renewal during the last round. it will involve the demo of threshold school of building and the new building will go from Vasco de Gama right over to acclamation.
Oh, I forgot to mention, the 2 floors of apartments above acclamation are being renovated and the might add on a 4th floor while they're at it.

sorry, no renderings/drawings.

Hammer Native · #93 Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 2:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

yes, it's been approved. I think they received some residential loan money from downtown renewal during the last round. it will involve the demo of threshold school of building and the new building will go from Vasco de Gama right over to acclamation.
Oh, I forgot to mention, the 2 floors of apartments above acclamation are being renovated and the might add on a 4th floor while they're at it.

sorry, no renderings/drawings.

Sorry to stray from the topic a bit, but does anyone know what the status is of the Threshold School of Building? I heard they may not be able to operate any more because of lack of money. Their purpose was to help the underprivileged in our city acquire building skills and ultimately employment. Too bad if we lose a service like this.

block43 · #94 Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 3:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

yes, it's been approved. I think they received some residential loan money from downtown renewal during the last round. it will involve the demo of threshold school of building and the new building will go from Vasco de Gama right over to acclamation.
Oh, I forgot to mention, the 2 floors of apartments above acclamation are being renovated and the might add on a 4th floor while they're at it.

sorry, no renderings/drawings.

Any word on when they plan to start construction?

raisethehammer · #95 Posted **Mar 27, 2008, 4:34 PM**

they're hoping this summer.

drpgq · #96 Posted **Mar 28, 2008, 12:56 AM**

"Would you mind posting a link to that blog entry? I can't find it. Thanks."

Sorry I can't find the blog post either. If I recall, it was a link to the
star article and not too much else. It would be cool to have Florida
to Hamilton to speak about his ideas, but I would assume as a
ultrasuperstar prof he commands a high speaking fee.

JT Jacobs · #97 Posted **Mar 28, 2008, 3:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by drpgq

"Would you mind posting a link to that blog entry? I can't find it. Thanks."

Sorry I can't find the blog post either. If I recall, it was a link to the
star article and not too much else. It would be cool to have Florida
to Hamilton to speak about his ideas, but I would assume as a
ultrasuperstar prof he commands a high speaking fee.

No problem about the link.

Great idea to bring R. Florida in for a walking tour of the Hammer much like Stinson did to that National Post writer. Best bet would be for this to go through the DeGroote School of Business, I'd guess.

flar · #98 Posted **Apr 8, 2008, 3:18 PM**

Went for a walk through the Annex in Toronto over the weekend. Everyone brags about the Annex, it's a great neighbourhood but what struck me walking around there is how similar Toronto and Hamilton are in terms of their built form. The architecture in the Annex is often a bit fancier than Hamilton's, reflecting Toronto's greater wealth, but generally the density and height of the houses is about the same as Victorian Hamilton. You just don't find this kind of stuff on any scale in other Ontario cities like London or Kitchener, where there are single detached homes on large lots.

I really wish that this city would recognize what a golden opportunity Hamilton's built form offers and take advantage of it. It's an asset that Hamilton is lucky to have but too often I feel like no one appreciates it.

LRT is vital, these neighbourhoods were built around the streetcar. Transportation wise, you can see a world of difference in how things are handled in Toronto compared to here, given the same basic format of dense gridded streets. In Toronto, the main arteries like Bloor are two-way, two lanes with parking and the grid is broken within the neighbourhood, with traffic calming and selective one way streets that make it difficult to cut through. In Hamilton, as we all know, all sidestreets are through streets and the main streets are one way multi-lane roads. Toronto has their alternate forms of transportation, stretcars and the subway; we have prioritized cars. The result is obvious, Toronto's commercial streets mostly flourish while ours are mostly dead. We can't attribute this entirely to Hamilton's post industrial decline, Toronto has plenty of poor people too, and we have good densities to support shops and services here.

I know that we on this forum know all this, but it's such an obvious comparison study I wish that more people could see.

HAMRetrofit · #99 Posted **Apr 8, 2008, 3:51 PM**

Flar, I have been conveying your points here in Toronto for years. I am in complete agreement with you on this. Hamilton's vernacular buildings are actually nicer in 'some' places than Toronto. I love Hamilton's dark red brick three story walkup apartments. The industrial row houses are smaller in scale and if adapted properly could create some of the most interesting urban neighborhoods in either city.

Hamilton does not get the pick of the litter when it comes to urban planning, although this is changing a little. LRT would bring these neighborhoods back to life within about five to six years. Two way streets and dedicated street parking is the way to go through the whole lower city. Hamilton has a lot of catching up to do on all of these things.

We need to also keep in mind that many of these areas are populated by Hamilton's working poor and unemployed. The one way streets are not the only deterrent. It is also Hamilton's inadequate approach to integrating demographic groups and social services, resulting from steady declines in manufacturing employment. Also, the perceived or real air quality problem is the other deterrent. These factors combined contribute to the 'blind eye' the city turns to these neighborhoods.

flar · #**100** Posted **Apr 8, 2008, 3:56 PM**

Hamilton's class segregation has been studied a lot, I actually read recently that Hamilton has been the subject of more social history case studies than any other city in Canada. The problem dates to before the industrial decline.

I agree it is a serious problem with no obvious solution. The pollution thing is more of a problem in the north and east ends where the architecture is less desirable.