Royal Connaught Hotel | ? | 36 fl, 33 fl, 24 fl & 13 fl | U/C

[StEC]

Man I feel bad for people who bought east facing units in the original Connought because they are about to be completely blocked in. The separation based off of just this photo looks very minimal. It looks like they could reach out and shake hands with their future neighbours lol.

I've even stared at the parking lot where this 36 story tower is going and unless it's super slim I just can't wrap my head around how they are going to do this without building it right against the existing building.

[Innsertnamehere]

there are minimum code requirements for facing windows - I think it's 11m. I imagine they are doing the absolute minimum here.

Just generally the approved tower separations on this block are ridiculously tight. Spallaci has approvals for two more towers after this one, and I believe all of them are more or less at the minimum code required distance from each other. This is compared to the regular separation distance requirement of 25 metres.

[ScreamingViking]

On the plus side, there's opportunity for this kind of thing... and really gettin' to know your neighbours! wink-wink nudge-nudge

• Video Link

[mikevbar1]

It's crazy to think this property has been subject to a spectre of redevelopment for almost 20 years and were finally going to see something soon. Maybe the same can be said for the Connolly. It's both funny and sad that perhaps the two most newsworthy developments (at least from what I've seen) haven't actually begun until about now (Connaught is only starting phase 3 now that is, obviously It's already 'begun').

[ScreamingViking]

Just noticed the treatment they gave the Hamilton Plaza in that render. Would love to see it reclad in that way, along with its Terminal Towers sisters.

[Crapht]

Biggest disappointment of the year. Of any project in the core that could and should have been iconic Hamilton gets this embarrassing piece of mediocrity. I can't see one redeeming quality in this proposal. Density doesn't count.

[ScreamingViking]

Some details via a CBC Hamilton story. If it's true about the podium consisting of "brick cladding, intricate accents, stones and keystones" then that will be wonderful. EDIT: one might even hope for some good old-fashioned cornices


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamil...erne-1.5985644

36-storey tower at Royal Connaught square to become 2nd tallest downtown Hamilton building
Sales start summer 2021, with tentative date of 2024-2025 for finishing construction

Christine Rankin
CBC News
Posted Apr 15, 2021

Developers of Royal Connaught Square are moving on to the third-phase addition: the addition of a glassy, 36-storey tower of private units to Hamilton's skyline that would make it the second tallest building in the downtown core.

The tower, called The Moderne, will sit along King Street and Catharine Street, and is the first of three new residential buildings planned for the site. A website allowing people to register for the units — one bedroom, one-bedroom plus den and two-bedroom suites — says the tower will be "arising soon."

Online listings for the previous builds show per-unit sale prices range from $450,000 to more than $1 million each.

As for Phase 3, "renovating and revitalizing the historic Royal Connaught was always about ushering in a new era for downtown Hamilton," said Rudi Spallacci, president of the Spallacci Group, which partnered with Valery Homes in 2014 on the project.

"We know that this has been a tough year for the city, but the changes that have occurred in our downtown over the last five years have been dramatic and are here to stay."

A public relations spokesperson for the project said building permits are still required, but sales are expected to begin this summer. Construction will begin after that, and wrap up in 2024 or 2025.

Taller than the escarpment

The only downtown building taller than the tower would be Landmark Place at 100 Main St. E., which has 43 storeys.

Approval of the development came before the 2017 downtown secondary plan, which doesn't allow highrises downtown to be taller than the Niagara escarpment. Under the plan, if a building is at the lowest elevation possible, the limit would be about 30 stories.

The city confirmed planning permissions and zoning for the development, which has a conditional site plan approval, were carried forward.

Burlington-based KNYMH is the architect behind the tower, as well as the first two phases that turned the historic hotel into condominiums. In a release, the developers say the tower will be made up of glass and metals that give it an contemporary urban look.

The podium at street level will include "brick cladding, intricate accents, stones and keystones."

'Playground for high society'

Built in 1916, the Royal Connaught Hotel was named after the Duke of Connaught, who was then governor general of Canada. It had 244 bedrooms and a banquet hall that could hold 1,500 people.

By the 1930s, the bottom floors were turned into offices and shops. The hotel changed hands several times before it went into receivership and closed in 2008.

The developers turned it into condos in spring 2017, people began moving into the first two phases at 112 King Street E. and 118 King Street E.

Toronto-based esQape will design the tower's interior. The release says this will include marble and brass accents, black and gold light fixtures and velvet upholstery. The suites will also have a private foyer and nine-foot ceilings. The eighth floor will be a fireside lounge, co-working spaces, a meeting room, a movie theatre, a scotch-tasting bar and other amenities. The developer is calling it "The Social Club."

[Innsertnamehere]

Ahh that explains the lack of a site plan application - they must have gotten spa approval for this tower when they got it for the first phase.

[Dr Awesomesauce]

Too squishy. I'd prefer it be placed in the back corner of the lot with a plaza out front.

[TheRitsman]

I don't get why you'd need a theatre and "scotch-bar" that will definitely not be used unless it is open to the public or public rental, when there are loads of amenities right outside your doors. I hate these gaudy amenities and what they do to condo fees. The coworking space is interesting because in this new environment where WFH is more common, not sitting in your small unit might be nice to get some work done.

[ScreamingViking]

Those kinds of amenities will probably shift.

But for some workers-from-home, a Scotch bar may be in demand.

[Chronamut]

Well "I" like all the hoity toitiness

and did someone cay CORNICES?!?!?!?!

hahaha.. the fact they are giving the main floor the craftsmanship ive so desperately wanted to see is very fulfilling for me.

[TheRoyalCon]

From Facebook:

According to the legal letter below, Rudi Spallacci Jr, the son and employee of Builder Rudi Spallacci, has been engaging in continuous harassment and bullying of the owners, condo Board of Directors, property managers, agents, and service providers at the Royal Connaught (Wentworth Standard Condominium Corporation No. 566).

The legal letter is a response to Rudi Spallacci Jr’s lawyer (Ms.Vieira) of Gilbertson Davis LLP.

Previously, we were informed that Rudi Spallacci Jr was suing owners at the Royal Connaught for $500,000. This legal letter re-confirms that the note in the financial statements we posted previously to this page arose from the actions of Rudi Jr. It appears that threatening a $500,000 lawsuit is one of a number of tactics used to destabilize the owners at the Royal Connaught and engage in further corrupt practices to extort more money from owners.

His behaviour was described as "egregious" and the examples provided give a frightening snapshot into his true behaviour “behind the scenes”. We have repeatedly heard from owners (and others) that anything contrary to praise and submission to his requests and demands is immediately followed up with threats.

Notably, Rudi Spallacci Jr threatened to conduct a citizen’s arrest against an honest Board member that was campaigning for re-election in a democratic process governed by the Condo Act. Michael Semple, known as Rudi Spallacci Jr’s “sidekick”, aggressively attacked this same honest Board member at his unit door for running against him months later. Meanwhile, Jeff DiBenedetto has already been aggressively placed on the Board to further the agenda of Builder Rudi Spallacci. There is little doubt that Spallacci is forcibly continuing to remove honest Board members and replacing them with individuals such as Jeff DiBenedetto to put in place agreements that are favorable to his bottom line and that will turn a blind eye.

Even more notably, Rudi Spallacci Jr appears all too willing to use his family clout in the real estate and property management industry to render property managers unemployed and disgraced. This seems like the ultimate abuse of power.

Rudi Spallacci Jr decided to share this letter with multiple people and it's now circulated throughout the building. His abuse and harassment were targeted towards people that were just trying to earn a living and people that paid substantial amounts to his father’s company to buy and live in a home.

Unfortunately, it is owners who lose in all of this when a company with deep pockets and multiple employees and lawyers on their payroll can aggressively take over an election to line their own pockets and send lawsuit threats that the owners are forced to defend themselves against.

https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Con-2...03524488594357

https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Con-2...03524501927689

https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Con-2...03524508594355

https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Con-2...03524528594353

[Hawrylyshyn]

Can people stop brining this garbage up in these forums...

[matt602]

Originally Posted by Hawrylyshyn

Can people stop brining this garbage up in these forums...

For real, every time this thread has gotten bumped up in the past 2 years its either someone asking if the project is dead, or its about this drama. Keep it on facebook.

[ShavedParmesanCheese]

Oh for Christ's sake, no more of this shite. Until they start ripping up the parking lot, this thread should be buried.

[catcher_of_cats]

Originally Posted by ShavedParmesanCheese

Oh for Christ's sake, no more of this shite. Until they start ripping up the parking lot, this thread should be buried.

Agreed

[LikeHamilton]

I really don't care what games are being played in phase 1 and 2! Just build 3!

[urban_planner]

Originally Posted by TheRoyalCon

From Facebook:

According to the legal letter below, Rudi Spallacci Jr, the son and employee of Builder Rudi Spallacci, has been engaging in continuous harassment and bullying of the owners, condo Board of Directors, property managers, agents, and service providers at the Royal Connaught (Wentworth Standard Condominium Corporation No. 566).

The legal letter is a response to Rudi Spallacci Jr’s lawyer (Ms.Vieira) of Gilbertson Davis LLP.

Previously, we were informed that Rudi Spallacci Jr was suing owners at the Royal Connaught for $500,000. This legal letter re-confirms that the note in the financial statements we posted previously to this page arose from the actions of Rudi Jr. It appears that threatening a $500,000 lawsuit is one of a number of tactics used to destabilize the owners at the Royal Connaught and engage in further corrupt practices to extort more money from owners.

His behaviour was described as "egregious" and the examples provided give a frightening snapshot into his true behaviour “behind the scenes”. We have repeatedly heard from owners (and others) that anything contrary to praise and submission to his requests and demands is immediately followed up with threats.

Notably, Rudi Spallacci Jr threatened to conduct a citizen’s arrest against an honest Board member that was campaigning for re-election in a democratic process governed by the Condo Act. Michael Semple, known as Rudi Spallacci Jr’s “sidekick”, aggressively attacked this same honest Board member at his unit door for running against him months later. Meanwhile, Jeff DiBenedetto has already been aggressively placed on the Board to further the agenda of Builder Rudi Spallacci. There is little doubt that Spallacci is forcibly continuing to remove honest Board members and replacing them with individuals such as Jeff DiBenedetto to put in place agreements that are favorable to his bottom line and that will turn a blind eye.

Even more notably, Rudi Spallacci Jr appears all too willing to use his family clout in the real estate and property management industry to render property managers unemployed and disgraced. This seems like the ultimate abuse of power.

Rudi Spallacci Jr decided to share this letter with multiple people and it's now circulated throughout the building. His abuse and harassment were targeted towards people that were just trying to earn a living and people that paid substantial amounts to his father’s company to buy and live in a home.

Unfortunately, it is owners who lose in all of this when a company with deep pockets and multiple employees and lawyers on their payroll can aggressively take over an election to line their own pockets and send lawsuit threats that the owners are forced to defend themselves against.

https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Con-2...03524488594357

https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Con-2...03524501927689

https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Con-2...03524508594355

https://www.facebook.com/Royal-Con-2...03524528594353

Mods can you delete this? Clearly this should be considered spam as you can see by the responses above mine nobody wants to see it. Therefore it's spam.

[Chronamut]

I would have to agree - keep this on topic of the development - this isn't a place for peoples wounded egos