[Waterdown] 16-40 Mill St.

[thistleclub]

Mill Street property for sale for $15M. It's what Waterdown heritage advocates 'have been horrified about'
(Flamborough Review, Mac Christie, Feb 25 2022)

Waterdown heritage advocates are voicing their concern after a real estate listing for a sizeable property on Mill Street highlighted the development potential of the site.

The listing, for 40, 34, 30, 24 and 16 Mill St. North in Waterdown, indicates the property can “potentially be developed into townhomes or mid-rise live/work apartments” due to the property’s C5A zoning to allow for mixed-use medium-density development with a pedestrian focus. The 1.7-acre property — including the historic Nicholson and Stetler Jam factory building, which is believed to have been built in 1865 — is listed for $15.8 million.

Andy MacLaren, the chair of the Waterdown Mill Street Heritage Committee and a resident who lives adjacent to the property, said he and the other community members are particularly concerned about the jam factory building.

The City of Hamilton rezoned downtown Waterdown as part of the city’s updated Official Plan, including part of the heritage district, to C5A that allows for six- to eight-storey development. While MacLaren said they understand the property is a very large lot and something will likely be developed there, a development of the type hinted at in the listing is exactly what the group was worried about.

“Exactly what’s happening now is what we’ve been horrified about,” he said, noting they want to be assured the jam factory building will be protected.

While the in-progress Waterdown Community Node Secondary Plan is supposed to provide protection, the concern is if someone contacts the city about the property, it is technically zoned C5A — even though it is in the heritage district.

Read it in full here

[ScreamingViking]

I don't see why there's a big issue here. The old building fronts Mill St. and needs to stay, the rest of the property isn't remarkable and could become something great. Maybe not 8 storeys of it, but 5 or 6? Even three, taking up more of the area, would be ok IMO.

Change is a scary thing, I guess.

[ohhimark]

The Horror!!