Hamilton Waterfront

[realcity]

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[CaptainKirk]

Originally Posted by SteelTown

http://www.cbc.ca/hamilton/news/stor...estaurant.html

Ah, here's the scoop on the name.

“Sarcoa” is a play on the owners’ names: Sam and Marco, Destro said. But on UrbanDictionary.com it’s also defined as “to do what’s unexpected,” said Adam Hall, the restaurant’s general manager,

[markbarbera]

Sarcoa is also the acronym for the Southern Alabama Regional Council on Aging.

[realcity]

Originally Posted by realcity

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it still sounds like a type of cancer to me.

[mishap]

The co-owner is named Destro, and not a single GI Joe reference yet? For shame. With all the talk in other threads about businesses fronting for the mob, I think we're overlooking the obvious Cobra connection here.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

^Hehe. Maybe they should have called it Zartan's Zesty Zabaglione Zoo...that's lame. Sorry. I never really liked GI Joe anyway. More of a She-Ra kinda guy.

[Roy Hay]

Actually, speaking of Sarcoma, a few weeks ago, The Spec ran a small article in their weekend paper and called it "SARCOMA" throughout the entire thing!! So much for proofreading!

Can you imagine the reaction of the owners, seeing their brand-new eatery mistakenly referred to as a type of cancer all through an article??

Terrible name regardless.

[realcity]

that's funny. And I think that name will stick with people.

[bornagainbiking]

Went down to the Discovery Centre area last night.
Wow: Honestly I saw a side of Hamilton that calls for more. I thought I was elsewhere.
So all you zoomers, baby boomers and others that remember the roller gardens or skating rinks we used to use the hockey arena in the summer but I understand you had several separate venues here. Roller gardens near Nebo and Stonechurch and another across from the Visitors inn near the 403.
Well, last night I saw people roller skating around the pad next to Williams. It was nice to see some people with gray hair strut their stuff and for a time return to their youth. Not many at first around 6:30 but by 9 filling up nicely. Even had a DJ with songs mostly from the 80s. This is a gold mine and I foresee someone cashing in on this with a converted warehouse or grocery/department store for the winter. They say that people from here have been going to Mississauga.
So check it out, skate rentals are available. I strongly suggest bring a folding chair and some water. This is the start of a good thing.
The new Sarcoa was starting to fill up at 9. Looks fantastic and like from a tv movie. Not my cup of tea, but will steal business from Hess street, not rowdy and more refined and secluded with plenty of FREE parking.
Not to be negative but what could enhance the image.
1. Clean up the East side of the Discovery Centre it robs from the work and effort of the improvements.
2. Mark off the parking lot for buses for cars as it was haphazard and not designed for maximum use. A Honda Civic in the middle of the painted lines intended for a bus left no idea where to park and not block someone off.
3. For the love of God, power wash the deck at Scoops, it looks like crap and starting to rot. A coat of stain would do wonders. This is the first place you see.
4. Rethink the prices for ice cream. I know it is a tourist destination but over $3.50 plus tax for a regular cone. I saw some families uncomfortable with this.
Have a small cone for the kids and families will come for a walk. Seems like gouging.

The new parking lot to East is a welcome relief.
So thanks for lifting the image of the area and don't stop yet.
Maybe have the bike police down there to monitor as booze with kids was the downfall of the rinks and I saw some coolers and people drinking in the park. This would be OK but there were a few drunks going to ruin it for the families.
Williams is right there with a patio and maybe Sarcoa can set up a drive thru.

[mattgrande]

Yes! I meant to mention the roller dancing when I was there a couple weeks ago! It was amazing seeing all those people at the waterfront. Williams was packed, and there was a party on the Harbour Queen as well. I was really pleased.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Originally Posted by bornagainbiking

maybe Sarcoa can set up a drive thru.

You lost me with this one. Not sure if it was meant to be tongue-in-cheek.

I'm not a big drinker but I don't have a serious issue with drinking in public places. It would be nice to be able to take a bottle of wine to the park without being hassled by neo-prohibitionists.

[bornagainbiking]

Yes, it was a bit of sarcasm, I too agree that it should be OK to have a picnic with a beer or a bottle of wine. But, like everything there has to be some common sense.
I seem to recall that part of the demise of the roller rinks was that some underage drinking and other issues were going on in the general area. So there has to be some form of monitoring as if not it will drive away the families and people who just want to go to the park and roller skate. It really looked good there the other night hate to see a good thing ruined.

[arch100]

There is now a petition up to support residential, not commercial for the Barton-Tiffany Lands. Please sign!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/126/0...-tiffany-area/

[Duckyboy]

Originally Posted by arch100

There is now a petition up to support residential, not commercial for the Barton-Tiffany Lands. Please sign!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/126/0...-tiffany-area/

Just curious, but what is wrong with commercial/business around that area?

Is it because the residents want to keep that area residential? Or is there some other reason that I'm not seeing here...

[durandy]

Originally Posted by Duckyboy

Just curious, but what is wrong with commercial/business around that area?

Is it because the residents want to keep that area residential? Or is there some other reason that I'm not seeing here...

I think the NEN wanted the Setting Sail mixed use designation. That was kiboshed near the railyards by CN. By the looks of the picture in that petition site, they want condos, mixed use buildings. I'm not so sure the area will go 'low quality commercial' like they warn - the value of the lands should command a higher class of commercial.

In any case the result will be a vibrant commercial area paying far more taxes than a stadium...bet none of the WH supporters will acknowledge that when it happens.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Originally Posted by durandy

In any case the result will be a vibrant commercial area paying far more taxes than a stadium...bet none of the WH supporters will acknowledge that when it happens.

What in blazes are you talking about? If a referendum had been issued to 'WH supporters' asking whether they preferred a stadium or a wonderful mixed-use development for the area, there would have been no question as to their answer. But that wasn't the question at hand, was it?

There was also the very real question of whether those lands would ever be developed without a major infusion of public monies, like from a major sporting event, etc. That was the issue.

I don't think any WH supporter would take umbrage with a vibrant, mixed-use development in the WH. That's just a little insane.

[durandy]

Originally Posted by pEte fiSt iN Ur fAce

What in blazes are you talking about? If a referendum had been issued to 'WH supporters' asking whether they preferred a stadium or a wonderful mixed-use development for the area, there would have been no question as to their answer. But that wasn't the question at hand, was it?

There was also the very real question of whether those lands would ever be developed without a major infusion of public monies, like from a major sporting event, etc. That was the issue.

I don't think any WH supporter would take umbrage with a vibrant, mixed-use development in the WH. That's just a little insane.

yeah that was pretty much the question at hand, by inference. By supporting a stadium they were precluding the mixed use. You're still singing the tune of a "very real question of whether those lands will ever be developed." And what I'm saying is when those lands are developed, you'll be the one somehow trying to wiggle your way out of the crazy hole you dug for yourself. But fine: if this plan goes nowhere, then I'll happily eat crow. Let's talk in two years.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

I suppose so...

But what I'm suggesting is that few WH supporters were entirely comfortable with the decision to put the stadium there. Of the few options on the table, though, it was the preferred one. Anyway, that's the impression I got from other supporters.

I just hope we're still not discussing this in 15 years.

[arch100]

Originally Posted by Duckyboy

Just curious, but what is wrong with commercial/business around that area?

Is it because the residents want to keep that area residential? Or is there some other reason that I'm not seeing here...

It's the difference between the currently approved plan that does not permit any residential within 150 m of the rail yards and calls for commercial of up to 6000 square metres (the size of the Sobey's in the Meadowlands), compared to the vision this group has put forward for a vibrant downtown neighbiourhood that engages the water's edge.

The currently approved plan can be viewed here: http://raisethehammer.org/static/ima...ng_plan_lg.jpg

While the envisioned plan supported by the petition can be viewed here:
http://raisethehammer.org/static/ima...od_plan_lg.jpg

If you prefer the first, then don't sign the petition. Otherwise, please sign!

[SteelTown]

Hamilton negotiating for key waterfront lands

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...terfront-lands

The city is in negotiations with the Port Authority to take back key sections of waterfront land – a move that opens up integral pieces of the water’s edge to new development.

City Manager Chris Murray has made an offer to the Port Authority for control of Pier 7 and Pier 8, which are being held by the Authority under a long-term lease. Though negotiations are still ongoing, sources say both sides are feeling positive about a deal.

Pier 7, which is slightly to the east of Discovery Drive, was set to come back into the city’s hands in 2015. Pier 8 wasn’t scheduled to come back under city control until 2025.

The move would be a huge victory for the city. One of the main concerns about waterfront development was that the city’s development agency, the Waterfront Trust, was running out of land.

“For me, the biggest obstacle not only for the waterfront trust, but for the city, is that we have no land to develop,” Councillor Chad Collins told the Spectator in early 2010. “We're trying to develop land where there's little development opportunity.”

If the deal is successful, the city would regain control of one of the ripest development parcels in Hamilton.