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Posted Apr 29, 2022, 5:12 PM
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Ham-burgher
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Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 6,521
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Parking parking parking... always parking.
But what about the rats?
Hamilton Mountain Sherwood Centre development proposal changes again
14-storey condo tower lowered to 12, with 10-storey townhouse building
https://12ft.io/proxy?q=https%3A%2F%...ges-again.html
Kevin Werner
Mountain News via The Hamilton Spectator
Fri., April 29, 2022
The Burlington-based owners of the Sherwood Centre on the east Mountain have changed their plans for the area, once again.
Instead of a 14-storey condominium tower and a 12-storey townhouse building, Elite Developments is now proposing a 12-storey condominium structure and a 10-storey townhouse building, for a total of 470 units at 570 Upper Ottawa St. at the corner of Fennell Avenue East. Instead of underground parking, the developers are now proposing a two-level, above-ground parking garage.
And in a nod to the former Sherwood bowling lanes, the owners are proposing to incorporate a bowling centre within the development.
Mountain Coun. Tom Jackson, who held a public meeting at Carmen’s Banquet Centre April 25 that attracted about 100 people, detailed the owners' new plans. The developers, Sam Sakhi and Hamid Hakimi, who founded Elite Realty Group, were not present at the meeting.
Since the initial public meeting in 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the owners changed their plans. A proposal that included 14- and 12-storey buildings prompted community outrage. Residents’ concerns led to a new plan, and the owners hired new planners to craft the latest proposal, said Jackson.
Earlier, the developers had proposed two four-storey buildings, plus a seven-storey and nine-storey structure, for a total of about 300 units. They also looked at reopening the former 24-lane bowling facility.
“For the last two and half years they have worked sincerely to gain the trust of residents,” said Jackson.
Jackson said latest plan includes reconstructing the bowling lanes, and creating a new medical centre as part of the development's commercial units, with a walk-in clinic, pharmacy, and physiotherapy clinic. Jackson said the current retail outlets, including Tim Hortons and the barber shop will be able to relocate into the new structure. He confirmed that the development will be targeted to seniors.
“This will add further value to the surrounding residential homes in the area,” said Jackson.
A request for comment from the owners, who have not yet submitted an application to the city, was not returned. Jackson said he has scheduled a meeting with the owners at the end of April.
While several residents said the reimagined plan was a step forward, they said issues still need to be addressed.
Christine Crooks, a longtime Mountain realtor, said the buildings will still loom like a wall at the back of her Rendell Boulevard property, even with a property fence and trees.
“This will still have a huge impact,” she said.
There was also the question of overflow parking from those 470 units, as well as customers who drive to the commercial stores. Crooks echoed the comments of several people who worried about streets packed with vehicles and more traffic problems along neighbourhood roads.
“They are not providing enough parking,” said resident Milena Balta. “Parking could be a disaster.”
Ted Arnold, a former parking official for the city, said the plan “is getting really close to a final plan.”
He said parking is a problem at every development, but most of the time it works out.
“So far, the numbers don’t look too bad. But it is the logistics that have to be worked out,” he said.
Fred White, 74, who has lived in the Upper Ottawa and Fennell Avenue area for more than 40 years, was blunt in his opinion about the project.
“I don’t like this idea,” he said. “There are other places where it should be built. All it will do is create more traffic issues. Traffic is already crazy.”
Jackson, though, warned residents that the Sherwood Centre location is “ripe” for development and for better or worse, something will be constructed on the property.
He added the “reality” of development in Hamilton is that builders have been applying for higher towers, from Stoney Creek, the Mountain to Ancaster, and even though council has rejected them, they are being approved by the Ontario Land Tribunal.
“Keep in mind what is happening in the city,” said Jackson.
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